Martin Yates’s authoritative cycle of the Richard Arnell Symphonies is now completed on Dutton Epoch, with the First and Sixth Symphonies and the early Sinfonia quasi Variazioni, which in effect is ‘Symphony No.0’ and the work in which Arnell first triumphantly developed the many characteristic features of his symphonic style. If you have enjoyed any of the previous volumes this is a must-have release, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, now with the Arnell style in their blood, play like angels.

CDLX 7217

Dutton Epoch’s expansive York Bowen series continues with the two-piano music in a cheering and invigorating programme, brilliantly played by Michael Dussek and John Reid. Even more than the solo piano music, York Bowen’s writing for two pianos in the Second Sonata, the Theme and Variations and three concert encores is powerful and rewarding. To complete the programme Michael Dussek also plays a solo encore, the heart-on-sleeve Rhapsody Op.8, which is terrific, barnstorming young man’s music. This is a cracker of a programme!

CDLX 7218

Three remarkable chamber music discoveries make this an unmissable release. The world premiere of Paul Adrian Rooke’s performing edition of three Elgar sketches ranging from the early 1880s to 1920 is an essential listen for all Elgarians, presented by Rooke in true Elgarian style. The early Frank Bridge Piano Quartet is a delightful and engaging score, which has not been heard for over a hundred years, while Adela Maddison – said to be Fauré’s mistress – produced a large scale and gripping Piano Quintet from the dark years of the First World War. All are now revived in powerful performances by the Fibonacci Sequence with pianist Kathron Sturrock.

CDLX 7220

In an earlier Dutton Epoch recording of York Bowen’s Violin Concerto (CDLX 7169), one critic compared Lorraine McAslan’s playing with that of Heifetz, and here in three little-known violin concertos she again presents performances of such eloquence that one immediately wonders why the pieces have not been performed. Dutton Epoch’s revelatory Arnell series continues with McAslan’s gripping reading of Arnell’s substantial Concerto in One Movement, Op.9, music preceding Samuel Barber’s Concerto by two years but clearly celebrating the same world. Guirne Creith’s lyrical and engaging Violin Concerto was played by Albert Sammons in the 1930s, but the music has long been lost and its discovery by her family has given us the opportunity to hear it again. Manchester-born Thomas Pitfield wrote his tuneful Concerto Lirico when it was not OK to be so heart-on-sleeve. A remarkable group strongly directed by Martin Yates.

CDLX 7221

David Matthews’s symphonies crown a wonderful catalogue of orchestral music that is widely recognised, but until now they were unrecorded. The first volume of Dutton Epoch’s David Matthews Symphony cycle is powerfully presented by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Martyn Brabbins. The orchestra responds strongly to Brabbins’s eloquent readings of music that is at once brilliant and powerfully expressive.

CDLX 7222

Dutton Epoch’s tribute to the late Vernon Handley comes with this reissue of a programme that was one of his triumphs from the 1980s, but has long been unavailable. Kathryn Stott’s ringing performances and Handley’s inspired direction of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra remind us piquantly of Handley’s all too brief association with Dutton Epoch.

RE-ISSUE - CDLX 7223

Pianist Leslie De’Ath’s traverse of the vast piano music of Cyril Scott has received remarkable critical plaudits, and here he completes his survey in a two-CDs-for-the-price-of-one package (another wonderful Dutton Epoch bargain), which constitutes Volume Five. This may well turn out to be the most popular of the lot as it includes many of Scott’s most celebrated numbers including Lotus Land.

Download poems' text

CDLX 7224

Joseph Spooner’s eloquent cello finds exactly the right style for this survey of largely Victorian cello music, including the Cello Sonata in E minor of 1861 by Walter Macfarren, notable for its lyrical impetus and cascading piano accompaniment. Also heard are Michael Balfe’s tuneful Sonata in A flat from the late 1860s, and Edgar Bainton’s imposing Sonata of 1924, contemporary with sonatas by Delius, Bax and Ireland and with which it shares period and imagery. Coleridge-Taylor’s Variations in B minor, Rosalind Ellicott’s A Reverie (1888) and a charming Roger Quilter song arrangement (To Daisies) complete a tuneful and original programme.

CDLX 7225

CDLX 7226

CDLX 7227

CDLX 7228

Download songs' text (29.8 kB)

CDLX 7229

CDLX 7230

CDLX 7231

EPOCH HISTORIC • CDLX 7232

CDLX 7233

CDLX 7234

CDLX 7235

CDLX 7236

CDLX 7237