Angela Portella

Angela Hewitt turns her attention to the piano music of Emmanuel Chabrier. Chabrier was a sensitive soul, prone to weep on hearing a single chord of Wagner, yet he cultivated a gaiety and sense of joy that is clearly heard in his music. Chabrier’s most important works are for the piano. The ten contrasting and evocative Pièces pittoresques form the centrepiece of this recording, and were described by Poulenc as being “as important for French music as the preludes of Debussy”. The remaining works are charming and varied character pieces. All are played with style and affection by Angela Hewitt, who with her renowned warmth and communicative flair makes a very special case for this music.

Why will nobody give little Grace a home? Foster carer Angela is determined to find the answer.

"Let Me Be The One" is the 6th album by Angela Bofill, released by Arista Records in 1984. "Let Me Be the One" was produced by David Frank and Mic Murphy who, at the time, were enjoying much success as The System. Let Me Be the One was much more synth-heavy R&B flavored than her earlier jazz-oriented works. The title song reached #84 on the Billboard R&B Chart.

Angela Hewitt’s new album is clearly destined to become a favourite. Some of the best-known musical declarations of love across the centuries, heard in transcriptions by some of the great pianists (including Angela herself); this is simply exquisite and not to be missed.

Drawing on her experiences of motherhood and of raising her newborn son Max during the Covid lockdowns, Davis has created an extended work in five movements, full of beautiful harmonies and melodies.

Fans of Angela Hewitt will be delighted to find her in chamber mode, accompanying Andrea Oliva (described as ‘one of the best flutists of his generation, a shining star in the world of the flute’ by Sir James Galway) in a programme of J S Bach’s flute sonatas (including one by his most famous and talented son, CPE). Of unfailingly remarkable quality, all these works exploit the full potential of an instrument which was only just coming into its own when they were written. Oliva’s lyricism and agility coupled with Hewitt’s musicianship - not to mention her lifelong rapport with Bach’s music - make this an album to treasure.