Richard Hickox – Finzi: Violin Concerto, In Years Defaced, Prelude & Romance (2001/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Richard Hickox – Finzi: Violin Concerto, In Years Defaced, Prelude & Romance (2001/2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 54:34 minutes | 492 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Chandos

Tasmin Little is the soloist in a premiere recording of Finzi. This exciting release features the premiere recording of Finzi’s Concerto for Small Orchestra and Violin.

Finzi, one of the subtlest and most seductive of the English elegists, will no doubt be celebrated widely in this his centenary year. But few tributes will match this one for sheer creativity and quality of performance. The disc not only boasts the first recording of the enchanting Concerto for Small Orchestra and Solo Violin, but some new orchestrations of his songs by living British composers, thoroughly in tune with his idiom. The Finzi Trust invited five composers to select and orchestrate a song each, including Jeremy Dale Roberts, who supervised the project. They took as their cue Finzi’s own deft orchestration of the brisk, swinging song ‘When I set out for Lyonnesse’, building around it a circle of more introspective gems. There is Colin Matthews’s visionary response to ‘To a poet a thousand years hence’ and hypnotic bass harp chords give Judith Weir’s ‘At a lunar eclipse’ an apt nocturnal strangeness, while Anthony Payne’s ‘Proud Songsters’ takes flight with ravishing strings and tambourine. Most of Finzi’s songs were written for the baritone voice; here tenor John Mark Ainsley brings an exquisite darkness to these persuasive readings.

“…John Mark Ainsley brings an exquisite darkness to these persuasive readings… [Tasmin] Little could not be a more committed, yet gentle soloist: this is absolutely her repertoire’.” (BBC Music Magazine)

“Little and Ainsley are at their best in this enterprising anthology for Finzi’s centenary.” (Gramophone Editor’s Choice)

“…the violinist, Tasmin Little, provides a sweetly lyrical account…” (Fanfare)

“…this is an outstanding issue. The performances are lovingly conducted, well sung, and beautifully played.” (American Record Guide)

Tracklist:
1-1. Richard Hickox – In Years Defaced: I. To a Poet a Thousand Years Hence, Op. 13a No. 1 (06:01)
1-2. Richard Hickox – In Years Defaced: II. When I Set Out for Lyonnesse, Op. 15 No. 2 (02:10)
1-3. Richard Hickox – In Years Defaced: III. In Years Defaced, Op. 19 No. 2 (03:31)
1-4. Richard Hickox – In Years Defaced: IV. Tall Nettles (02:59)
1-5. Richard Hickox – In Years Defaced: V. At a Lunar Eclipse, Op. 19 No. 6 (03:39)
1-6. Richard Hickox – In Years Defaced: VI. Proud Songsters, Op. 15 No. 10 (03:19)
1-7. Richard Hickox – Prelude for String Orchestra, Op. 25 (05:00)
1-8. Richard Hickox – Romance for String Orchestra, Op. 11 (07:48)
1-9. Richard Hickox – Violin Concerto: I. Allegro (06:16)
1-10. Richard Hickox – Violin Concerto: II. Molto sereno (10:06)
1-11. Richard Hickox – Violin Concerto: III. Hornpipe Rondo. Allegro risoluto (03:38)

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