Iceland Symphony Orchestra - Archora / Aion - BLU-RAY

Occurrence is the third, and at least for now the last, in a hugely illuminating series devoted to works by contemporary Icelandic composers, as performed by Iceland's 70-year-old national orchestra. Speaking for myself - and surely for many others, as well - the series has been a milestone project, one that any conscientious collector of symphonic music simply must have on the shelf. Across three albums now, Sono Luminus has capitalized shrewdly on swelling global interest in the music of Daniel Bjarnason and Anna Thorvaldsdottir, using their works as a means by which to introduce seven more composers with original, substantial voices. Three of the composers represented on Occurrence return from previous installments in the series. In addition to Bjarnson - who also has served as an insightful, sympathetic conductor throughout - we hear new works from Þuri´ður Jonsdottir, whose Flow and Fusion opened the initial disc, Recurrence, and from Haukur Tomasson, whose Piano Concerto No. 2 was a highlight of the second in the series, Concurrence. These repeat engagements prove serendipitous, showing off fresh facets of these newly familiar creators. One, Bjarnason's own Violin Concerto, scarcely requires introduction, having proved it's merits and attractions already on concert platforms around the globe since it's 2017 world premiere at the Hollywood Bowl. Pekka Kuusisto, the violinist for whom the piece was written, demonstrates his consummate skill as a technician, a melodist, a collaborator and - not least - a whistler, and the orchestral accompaniment, no surprise, is vivid and alert. 21.99 0.00 30 IN STOCK //mediacdn.aent-m/prod-img/500/83/3890483-2660847.jpg //mediacdn.aent-m/prod-img/500/83/3890483-2660847.jpg //aentmedia.blob.core.windows.net/prod-img/1500/83/3890483-2660847.jpg //aentmediacold.blob.core.windows.net/raw/83/3890483.jpg

The title piece, Equilibrium IV Windbells, was the seed this whole album grew from. It was premièred under rather unusual circumstances at the 2005 World Expo in Japan in a venue that more closely resembled a stadium than a concert stage for classical music. I was an integral part of the performance due to the interactive electronics in the piece. We had practiced that I would maintain eye contact with the musicians during performances, just a few meters from the stage. However, the mixer I was operating at the concert was housed in something that resembled an air traffic control tower some 100 meters away from the stage. Or at least it felt that way. From my perspective, the musicians were like tiny ants in one corner of the enormous stage and they could not see me at all. Despite these outlandish circumstances, we somehow managed to perform the piece. It has since become one of my most performed chamber pieces and has received several awards and recognitions. It has never been recorded in a studio up until now. So, after a recent performance with Reykjavík Chamber Orchestra, where it received very warm reviews, we decided it was time to do something about it. That snowballed into what is now this album... (Hugi Guðmundsson)

Lettuce with the Colorado Symphony is a genre-defying, electrifying performance that captures the powerhouse fusion of funk, jazz, and orchestral grandeur. Recorded live with the Colorado Symphony in 2018, this album features Lettuce's signature groove-driven sound paired with the rich, sweeping power of a full orchestra. It's a unique and breathtaking experience that showcases the band's improvisational brilliance alongside orchestral precision. Available on digital, vinyl, CD and Blu-ray, this is a must-have for fans of both Lettuce and orchestral music, offering a fresh, exciting take on the live performance experience. Get ready to groove to the rhythm of symphonic funk like never before!