Michel Swierczewski - Symphonies 1 & 2/Kleine Dreigroschenmusik - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The Sacconi Quartet join forces again with celebrated composer Jonathan Dove for the latest instalment of their many fruitful collaborations and journeys. The String Quartet no 2 On the Streets and in the sky was written during the recent pandemic and was commissioned for the Sacconi Quartet to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Between Friends, is a world premiere recording, and a memorial to Graeme Mitchison (1944-2018), a multi-disciplined scientist, intrepid adventurer, cyclist, paraglider, mountaineer and a possessor of two pianos on which he and Dove would play together for over forty years. Who Wrote the Book of Love? Is an extended song cycle written for baritone Philippe Sly who performs the work here. Vanishing Gold is a compact five-minute piece written for the 40th anniversary of the Endellion Quartet, who then retired. Dove's previous with the Sacconi Quartet on Signum InchIn DamascusInch was awarded Gramophone Recording of the Month and Presto's Editor's Choice in 2017. ? The beauty of the piece, for tenor and string quartet, is it's restraint. It doesn't sensationalise, get maudlin, moralise or politicise. The words are direct and the music respects that. The performance does, too focused playing from the Sacconi Quartet and lucid, unswerving narrative from tenor Mark Padmore - The Guardian Album Tracks 1. On the streets and in the sky for string quartet~I. Driving 2. On the streets and in the sky for string quartet~II. Lively 3. On the streets and in the sky for string quartet~III. Very gently moving 4. Between Friends for two pianos~Conversation 1 Gently moving - Gradually moving forward - Energetic 5. Between Friends for two pianos~Conversation 2 Dancing 6. Between Friends for two pianos~Conversation 3 Spacious 7. Between Friends for two pianos~Conversation 4 Lively and playful, with mischief 8. Who Wrote the Book of Love? f

An international solo career spanning almost fifty years on harpsichord and organ, Richard Lester; described by the Daily Telegraph and The Times as 'one of our leading players', is universally acclaimed as a prominent interpreter of early music on period and modern keyboard instruments. In 1982, Dame Janet Baker chose his recording of Scarlatti sonatas as her favorite on BBC Desert Island Discs, commenting that 'it would keep my spirits up so well.' Richard's career as an organist is equally celebrated in this country and abroad, where he enjoys performing the Romantic and Modern organ repertoire; especially music by Vierne, Reger, Hindemith and Messiaen. In 1995 he was invited to perform Elgar's organ sonata at St Paul's Cathedral for the 50th VJ anniversary celebrations; and in 2013 his recital at St Mark's in Venice and at Bergamo Cathedral drew capacity audiences. As one of Nimbus Records most popular artists,' his recordings were lauded by Gramophone and twice awarded the 'outstanding' accolade from International Record Review. More recently his Frescobaldi opus on period instruments gained an entry into the Penguin Guide to the 1000 Finest Classical Recordings. In 2018, Musicweb International voted Lester's distinguished survey of Bach's Harpsichord works, Volume 2 as one of their recordings of the year. Album Tracks 1. Toccata in G from 12 Pièces pour orgues 2. Prelude & Fugue in G minor Op. 7 No. 3~Prelude 3. Prelude & Fugue in G minor Op. 7 No. 3~Fugue 4. Sortie in E-flat ILL 51 5. Suite Gothique, Op. 25~Toccata 6. Offrande au Saint Sacrement 7. Toccata in B minor 8. 24 pièces en style libre Op. 31~Berceuse 9. 3 Pieces for organ~Pièce héroïque CFF 104 10. Andante InchChœur de Voix humainesInch Meditaciones religiosas ILL 37 11. Symphony for Organ No. 5 Op. 42 No. 1~Toccata 12. Sortie in B flat ILL 51 13. 24 pièces en sty

Album Tracks 1. Symphony No. 5, for Baritone, String Orchestra & Harp 'Shakespeare's Sonnets' I. Tir'd with All These, for Restful Death I Cry (Sonn 2. Symphony No. 5, for Baritone, String Orchestra & Harp 'Shakespeare's Sonnets' II. That Time of Year Thou Mayst in Me Behold (Sonnet 3. Symphony No. 9, for Voice & String Orchestra I. Introduzione 4. Symphony No. 9, for Voice & String Orchestra II. Burlesca 5. Symphony No. 9, for Voice & String Orchestra III. Marcia 6. Symphony No. 9, for Voice & String Orchestra IV. Toccata 7. Symphony No. 9, for Voice & String Orchestra V. Finale 8. Symphony No. 11, for Voice & Orchestra Introduzione 9. Symphony No. 11, for Voice & Orchestra Tema 10. Symphony No. 11, for Voice & Orchestra Variation 1 11. Symphony No. 11, for Voice & Orchestra Variation 2 12. Symphony No. 11, for Voice & Orchestra Variation 3 13. Symphony No. 11, for Voice & Orchestra Variation 4 14. Symphony No. 11, for Voice & Orchestra Variation 5 15. Symphony No. 11, for Voice & Orchestra Variation 6 16. Symphony No. 11, for Voice & Orchestra Variation 7 17. Symphony No. 11, for Voice & Orchestra Variation 8 18. Symphony No. 11, for Voice & Orchestra Coda