Ivor Bolton

Sinfonieorchester Basel, Ivor Bolton – Saint-Saëns: Symphonic Poems (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 49:13 minutes | 852 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Prospero Classical

To mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Camille Saint-Saens, the Basel Symphony Orchestra under its conductor Ivor Bolton had set itself the goal of giving the public an insight into the composer’s well-known as well as lesser-known symphonic works.

The present recording is dedicated to the lesser known, but nevertheless no less important symphonic poems.

Been recorded for the first time, including the popular “Bacchanale” from Samson et Dalila, according to Hugh Macdonalds’ new critical edition published by Barenreiter.
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Sinfonieorchester Basel, Ivor Bolton – The Secret Fauré 2 (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:06:32 minutes | 1,16 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Sony Classical

For the album “The Secret Fauré”, released in 2018, the Basel Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Principal Conductor Ivor Bolton received fantastic reviews: “The music of Fauré … unfolds its attraction only gradually and very subtly, with a gentle, addictive spell can make.” (NDR Kultur) In his new album, the orchestra presents a number of other orchestral and concert works by the French composer, Gabriel Fauré. Most of the recordings are based on the new critical edition of Fauré’s works published by Bärenreiter-Verlag, whose score has been edited according to the latest scientific criteria. The recording begins with the famous “Berceuse”, originally for violin and piano, which premiered in February 1880 with Fauré on the piano. The piece appears on this album in the version for violin and orchestra by Fauré, which premiered in April of the same year. The “Romance”, originally composed for violin and piano and premiered in 1883, was later orchestrated by Fauré himself. But after the disappearance of the manuscript created Philippe Gaubert a new orchestral version. Fauré’s elegant “Ballade” reminiscent of Chopin and anticipating Debussy was inspired by “Waldweben” in Wagner’s Siegfried. Originally written for solo piano in 1879, it was later adapted by Fauré for piano and orchestra on the advice of Liszt. This piece appears on this album as a world premiere release after the new Bärenreiter Complete Edition, which was recently released. The “Élégie”, originally for violoncello and piano and remarkable for its sad melody, was premiered in late 1883 and orchestrated in 1895. The musical comedy “Masques et Bergamasques”, first performed in Monte Carlo in 1919, is composed in part of previously composed pieces that Fauré compiled into a rousing orchestral suite. Fauré’s famous “Pavane” enjoys great popularity today, especially in its numerous arrangements, but can be experienced on this album in its original version for orchestra. The “Allegro” of the F major symphony has long been known only in the transcription for piano four hands. The orchestral version of the work, which was now entitled Symphony, was premiered in 1874. However, Fauré decided not to include it in his catalog raisonné. Also the “Allegro” of the F major symphony appears on this album as a world premiere recording after the new complete edition of Fauré’s works.
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Sinfonieorchester Basel, Ivor Bolton – Messe de Requiem, Op. 48/N 97b (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 34:23 minutes | 599 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Sony Classical

Ivor Bolton and the Basel Symphony Orchestra continue their exploration into Fauré’s music with the third instalment in their series, devoted to religious music this time. Although he was the organist for the Madeleine Church in Paris, Fauré was not religious and only wrote a handful of religious pieces. While the Requiem is featured as the main attraction in this album and is still very well-known, by contrast, the Messe des pêcheurs de Villerville (Mass of the fisherman of Villerville) is a more simplistic treasure to be discovered.
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Ivor Bolton, Sinfonieorchester Basel – Britten: Our Hunting Fathers, Quatre Chansons Françaises, Suite from “Gloriana” (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:09:42 minutes | 1,03 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Prospero Classical

Ivor Bolton has been principal conductor of the Basel Symphony Orchestra since the beginning of the 2016 / 17 season and has always had a special affinity with British music. The present album with rather unknown music by Benjamin Britten was therefore a very special concern for him from the beginning. The program consists of the early cycle Our Hunting Fathers (with the tenor Mark Padmore), the Quatre Chansons francaises (a stroke of genius by the only 14-year-old) and the suite from the unfortunately rarely performed opera Gloriana, which, by the way, was written for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

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