BRITTEN
Before Life and After
Mark Padmore
Roger Vignoles
Harmonia Mundi HMU907443
£10.99 (1 CD)
Special price
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The follow-up to Mark Padmore's superb Handel recital disc, this collection of Britten features two major song cycles, Winter Words and The Holy Sonnets of John Donne. Also included are a number of Britten's beguiling folksong arrangements, as well as realisations of Purcell - notably the Evening Hymn.
Padmore's characterful singing is accompanied by his long-time accompanist, Roger Vignoles, resulting in an outstanding vocal recital.
SHOSTAKOVICH
The Nose
Mariinsky Soloists
Mariinsky Chorus and Orchestra
Valery Gergiev
Mariinsky MAR0501
£18.99 (2 SACDs) Special price
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"Disc of the Month" in the July edition of BBC Music Magazine, this is the first release on the new Mariinsky label. Conducted by the irrepressible Valery Gergiev, Shostakovich's opera, The Nose has vocal parts for almost 80 soloists. This complex work is ideally suited to CD and Gergiev makes the most of its satirical character. Brilliant and challenging.
* Stop press*
We have just received the next release on the Mariinsky label - Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1, coupled with the extraordinary No. 15 - available from 29 June.
