Elgar The Kingdom

The British royal family is set to have its first coronation in 70 years on Saturday (May 6), as King Charles III is set to become the 40th Sovereign to be crowned at Westminster Abbey alongside his wife, Camilla, on Saturday (May 6).

The British royal family is set to have its first coronation in 70 years on Saturday (May 6), as King Charles III is set to become the 40th Sovereign to be crowned at Westminster Abbey alongside his wife, Camilla, on Saturday (May 6).

London, Saturday 6th May, 2023 – Decca Classics is thrilled to announce that The Official Album of the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla is now available! After an undertaking of immense scale and precision (with 192 microphones in the Abbey and using over 7 miles of cable) the final recording was safely delivered and uploaded to digital streaming platforms across the globe, ready to be enjoyed by the public from this evening, complete with an official photograph from the Coronation ceremony as the album cover.

London, Saturday 6th May, 2023 – Decca Classics is thrilled to announce that The Official Album of the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla is now available! After an undertaking of immense scale and precision (with 192 microphones in the Abbey and using over 7 miles of cable) the final recording was safely delivered and uploaded to digital streaming platforms across the globe, ready to be enjoyed by the public from this evening, complete with an official photograph from the Coronation ceremony as the album cover.

SOMM Recordings is pleased to release this set of delightful never-before-released recordings of the music of Gustav Holst in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Here are works of grand and intimate scale, for orchestral and chamber forces, with and without singers, offering a vivid sampling of his oeuvre in meticulous restorations of recorded live performances given in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Chronologically, the earliest recordings are those on Disc 2, curated by Producer Lani Spahr. The live performances of The Perfect Fool suite and The Planets were recorded from New York’s Radio City Studio in 1945 and Boston’s Symphony Hall in 1946, respectively, with British conductors leading orchestras from “across the pond”, where Holst had devoted much time in his later years conducting, lecturing and teaching.

SOMM Recordings is pleased to release this set of delightful never-before-released recordings of the music of Gustav Holst in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth. Here are works of grand and intimate scale, for orchestral and chamber forces, with and without singers, offering a vivid sampling of his oeuvre in meticulous restorations of recorded live performances given in the 40s, 50s and 60s. Chronologically, the earliest recordings are those on Disc 2, curated by Producer Lani Spahr. The live performances of The Perfect Fool suite and The Planets were recorded from New York’s Radio City Studio in 1945 and Boston’s Symphony Hall in 1946, respectively, with British conductors leading orchestras from “across the pond”, where Holst had devoted much time in his later years conducting, lecturing and teaching.

This new release presents a varied range of masterful works from English twentieth century composers- some familiar, and all works of importance. Elgar composed his Enigma Variations at the piano; it was always suitable for a solo version and Elgar himself wrote this. Bowens Flute Sonata is well known- a Romantic staple- as is Leightons Elegy, which deserves to be better known. The piano solo work Folio I is lively and full of fun, while the two Sonnets of Rubbra are exquisitely gorgeous and absolutely essential listening. These are fine performances by pianist Elspeth Wyllie who is an accomplished soloist and chamber musician/accompanist, working throughout the United Kingdom and other countries. She is a founding member of the Metier Ensemble and the Amalie Trio, performing regularly with them and in projects with other musicians from major ensembles, orchestras and opera companies. The young set of musicians here show exceptional talent and musicianship in the recorded works which are very varied yet make up a coherent concert album.