Simon Callaghan - V4: Duos for Harmonium & Piano - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The story of Elias Parish Alvars (1808-49) is a journey from obscurity, ascending to something of an international celebrity. He was dubbed 'the Franz Liszt of the harp' by none other than Hector Berlioz (1803-69), who was repeatedly spellbound by concerts Alvars gave in Germany. This sorcerer of the harp (and equally phenomenal pianist) received patronage from the aristocracy and royalty of Europe throughout his short-lived career. A favorite artist at the internationally-renowned Husum Festival of Piano Rarities in Germany, Steinway Artist Simon Callaghan's recent sell-out recital drew praise from audience and critics, with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung describing his Inchcleverly curated recital full of discoveriesInch (VAN Magazine) as Inchtechnically brilliantInch. Callaghan's current repertoire includes over fifty concertos, highlights of the standard solo and chamber works of the 19th and 20th centuries, and much that is rare and unexplored. One cornerstone of Callaghan's work is his commitment to British music, and he has recently begun a projected series with Lyrita, presenting world premiere recordings of British concertos with Martyn Brabbins and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Irish pianist Clíodna Shanahan is much in demand internationally as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. She performs regularly with London Sinfonietta, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Her great passion for 20th century and contemporary music has led to many composer-collaborations, world premières and first recordings.

There are moments on Drunk Tank Pink where you almosthave to reach for the sleeve to check this is the same bandwho made 2018's Songs Of Praise. Such is the jump Shamehave made from the riotous post-punk of their debut to thesprawling adventurism and twitching anxieties laid out here.The South Londoner's blood and guts spirit, that wink andgrin of devious charm, is still present, it's just that it's growninto something bigger, something deeper, more ambitious andunflinchingly honest. The genius of Drunk Tank Pink is how these lyrical themesdovetail with the music. Opener Alphabet dissects the premiseof performance over a siren call of nervous, jerking guitars, it'schorus thrown out like a beer bottle across a mosh pit.Songs spin off and lurch into unexpected directions throughouthere, be it March Day's escalating aural panic attack or theshapeshifting darkness of Snow Day. There's a Berlin era Bowiebeauty to the lovelorn Human For A Minute while closer StationWagon weaves from a downbeat mooch into a souring, soullifting climax in which Steen elevates himself beyond the cloudsand into the heavens. Or at least that's what it sounds like. From the womb to the clouds (sort of), Shame are currentlyvery much in the pink.

R. Schumann - Piano Works [COMPACT DISCS] Digipack Packaging date 02/12/2008