New CD from Edition Peters Sounds: The Complete Verlaine Settings

“Intensely emotional: Gabriel Fauré. … sung … with an exhilarating, passionate urgency by the American tenor Tony Boutté, expertly supported by pianists Emily Kilpatrick and Roy Howat”  (Guardian)

Inspired by Verlaine’s expressive poetry, Gabriel Fauré’s compositions mark one of the summits of all art song. From the first setting of Clair de Lune to the legendary Venetian and La Bonne Chanson song cycles, the collection presents music of extraordinary emotional depth.

Tenor Tony Boutté has established himself as a first-rate singer of many styles, including opera, art song, oratorio, and chamber music from the Baroque period to today. Described by Opera News as “possessed of a radiant, communicative tenor”, the Louisiana native has performed across the United States and Europe. Tony is on the faculty of Sam Houston State University (Texas, USA) and is artistic director of New American Voices.

Scots-born Roy Howat is internationally known as performer and scholar. As pianist Roy has appeared worldwide with an array of distinguished chamber music partners and singers, also giving masterclasses, broadcasts, and lectures. His acclaimed critical editions include numerous volumes of Fauré’s piano and chamber music for Peters Edition, as well as the complete songs, co-edited with Emily Kilpatrick.

Pianist and scholar, Australian-born Emily Kilpatrick enjoys a varied career as soloist, duo player and vocal accompanist. Emily is co-editor of the new Peters edition of Fauré’s Complete Songs, and a major contributor to the Edition Peters volumes on Tido Music.

Available from Edition Peters Sounds

Eriks Esenvalds in Asia

To start his 2017-2018 season Eriks Esenvalds travels to Manado (Indonesia) and Shenzhen (China). Eriks is a popular jury member for international choral competitions, and he will be working with Manado Cantat. Following that he travels to Shenzhen, China, at the invitation of the Shenzhen Lily Choir to hear the premiere of their commission “Song of the Flower”. The opportunity for Eriks to help shape the premiere performance of his pieces is one taken up by choirs and orchestras across the world. Keep an eye on all of Eriks travels here and at www.eriksesenvalds.com

Stephen Cleobury releases recording of King's College restored organ

The King of Instruments: A Voice Reborn

This new recording from King’s College Chapel celebrates a voice reborn: the first surround-sound recording of the famous Harrison & Harrison organ since its once-in-a-generation restoration in 2016. A varied programme of music from Bach to Franck and a newly recorded work by George Baker demonstrates the restored organ in all its glory played by Stephen Cleobury and recorded in high definition and 5.1 surround-sound. The accompanying booklet features some of the best images from the restoration project, a short history of the organ, and comprehensive music notes.

“To celebrate the refurbishment of the Harrison & Harrison organ at King’s, Cambridge, the college’s musical director presents a captivating sequence centred on Bach. Six of his chorale preludes are highly absorbing, not least because Cleobury finds a different registration for each. Franck’s Pièce héroïque mines a deep shaft of basso sonority that contrasts with the prevailing textural delicacy, and indeed deliciousness, of the Bach and a Mendelssohn sonata. The effect is magnificent.” – The Sunday Times

The Harrison & Harrison organ in King’s College Chapel is, like the College Choir, famous the world over. The organ case with gilded pipework, which surmounts the 16th century screen, is a striking feature of nearly every depiction of the interior of the Chapel, while the instantly recognisable sounds of the instrument have become inextricably associated with those of the Choir.

In January 2016, the instrument – including its 4,300 pipes – was removed from King’s College Chapel for the most significant restoration since the 1960s. Just nine months later, the project was completed, with the famous organ secured for future generations.

Recorded just a few months after the restored organ was heard in public once more, this album celebrates a voice reborn, with a varied programme of music that shows off this magnificent instrument at its very best.

Unusually for such a busy conductor, Cleobury has remained active as an organist. A former president of the Royal College of Organists, he gives regular performances in the weekly recitals at the King’s Chapel, while his recordings have been championed for their virtuosity and musical insight.

Stephen said: “In celebration of this once-in-a-generation restoration, I have chosen a programme of music that makes the most of the instrument’s size, versatility, and the range of subtle colour that it can offer. The six Bach chorale preludes present six different registrations, and are placed on either side of the three substantial romantic works that allow for the full range of the organ to be heard. I am particularly pleased to include the contemporary works by Simon Preston and George Baker – the latter of which is recorded here for the first time.”