Crouch End Festival Chorus, London Mozart Players, David Temple – Fanny Hensel, Felix Mendelssohn: Choral Works (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:11:53 minutes | 1,26 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Chandos
David Temple conducts the Crouch End Festival Chorus and London Mozart Players with a formidable group of soloists on this album celebrating the works of the siblings Felix Mendelssohn and Fanny Hensel (nee Mendelssohn). Fanny’s cantata Hiob, based on the Book of Job, is the second of three cantatas composed between February and November 1831, although it remained unpublished until 1992. Later in her short career, encouraged by her brother and her friend Robert von Keudell, Fanny did begin to publish her works. The Gartenlieder, Op. 3 for unaccompanied choir were composed in 1846, and inspired by the gardens and summerhouse at the family’s Leipzigerstrase residence, in Berlin, where she held her choir rehearsals. Mendelssohn’s Die erste Walpurgisnacht is a secular cantata, a setting of the poem by Goethe, originally performed in 1831. Mendelssohn revised the work extensively in 1843, and it is this later version that is performed here. His Christmas cantata Vom Himmel hoch, based on a Lutheran chorale, was completed in 1831.
Read more
Hertfordshire Chorus, David Temple, London Orchestra da Camera – Karl Jenkins: The Armed Man (Ensemble Version) (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:07:02 minutes | 1,16 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Signum Records
The Armed Man, composed by Sir Karl Jenkins, is one of the most popular classical pieces in the world. Until now there has been only one recording, made over 20 years ago of the full score version which requires a large orchestra. In order to make the work more affordable to choirs and others, there is an ensemble version for fewer players. This new recording is the first to have been made of the alternative, reduced version scored for a smaller orchestra. The excellent arrangement does not lessen the impact of the work; still a big sound with driving rhythms, thundering climaxes, fearful moments and tender, memorable melodies. Hertfordshire Chorus, directed by David Temple MBE, bring huge energy, engagement and emotion to their performance. Kathryn Rudge is the soloist, Jamal Aliyev the cellist and Osama Kiwan the Muezzin, all of whom have performed the work many times with the composer.
David Temple has worked with Sir Karl on many live performances and brings his own interpretation to this moving and thought-provoking work.
Read more