Julia 305

A programme of exquisite miniatures, alternative versions and a wonderful quasi-operatic scena: this is a tantalizing Lisztian recital to showcase the artistry of Julia Kleiter.

While Red Priest may sound like the name of a heavy-metal band, it is, in fact, a British Baroque ensemble of four talented classical musicians, folks who take a good deal of pleasure playing period music on period instruments in their own uniquely flashy yet dazzling way. On the present recording the members are Piers Adams, recorder; Julia Bishop, violin; Angela East, cello; and David Wright, harpsichord. As a measure of their typically irreverent, tongue-in-cheek style, the group, which formed in 1997, took their name from the Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi, nicknamed "The Red Priest" because he was a priest with red hair. The fact that the name should also remind listeners of Judas Priest is part of the fun.

Formed as soon as 68 under the name psychotic reaction, this band evolved in two different era, the group changed their name to Missus Beastly (from the Negro doll Mistress Beastly) but was among the first of the jazz-rock progressive group in Germany, but folded after just one album recorded (soon bootlegged with a totally different artwork) in early 70 with a nascent groundbreaking jazz-rock. It must be said that the happy-go-lucky feeling of that era had the group evolve from the standard prog quartet to a sextet and even a heptet within months, obviously not too worried about financial matters, which soon brought the band to an end. The group even managed to have their names stolen from them and an usurping group managed to release a few albums under this name…