New Zealand

Both works on this the third volume in Koch’s superb series of Rozsa’s orchestral music were inspired by suggestions from the cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, the Op. 29 (1966) being a direct commission for a double concerto for himself and Jascha Heifetz. Despite having to juggle with the temperamental demands of his two eminent soloists, both of whom would object if the spotlight seemed to be favouring one instrument more than the other (which probably explains why Rozsa reduced the piece by over ten minutes following its poorly received premiere in Chicago under Jean Martinon), the resulting showcase, with its passionate opening movement and highly rhythmic finale, is further evidence of the composer’s abiding affection for his native Hungary.

Classical guitar music has flourished in New Zealand in recent years, and Bruce Paine, among the country’s leading composers for the instrument, is one of the most imaginative and original. This album charts the course of his writing from one of his earliest pieces, the poetic, witty tone poem Sea Suite , to the recent and substantial Waitematā Reverie. Drawing on an impressionistic palette Paine conjures up chime arpeggios as well as the natural world in Oakura Chimes . The four settings of Māori folk songs were arranged expressly for this album.

One of the unsung heroes of the rock and roll era, Gene Pitney crossed paths with a wide array of rock royalty while amassing a sizable string of hits. Pitney arrived on the scene in the late Fifties as a gifted songwriter, capable musician and incredible singer. His dramatic tenor, given to piercing climaxes, was among the more remarkable voices of the age. In Australia and New Zealand, Pitney is one the most successful recording artists of all time. Achieving an astonishing 27 Top 40 hits, 12 of which made the Top 10.

Janácek’s final decade saw an almost unprecedented creative renewal during which he wrote some of his greatest works. Among them were his chamber music masterpieces, the two String Quartets. The first was inspired by Tolstoy’s novella The Kreutzer Sonata, a torrid tale of adultery and murder to which Janácek responded with music of increasingly frenzied passion. The second was subtitled Intimate Letters, a freely evolving work full of yearning and amorous defiance. Originally cast for four violins, the two youthful Sonnets date from 1875 and balance the archaisms of the first with the lyricism of the second.

The ‘warm voice’ of the viola has long been associated with pioneering British performers such as Lionel Tertis, for whom Vaughan Williams wrote his tuneful and elegantly crafted ‘Suite.’ Tertis famously rejected the score of Walton’s ‘Viola Concerto,’ but instantly regretted his decision on hearing its lyrical warmth and piquant blend of delicacy and bite at the premiere performed by Paul Hindemith. Howells’s somber but noble ‘Elegy’ is a memorial for a student colleague killed in action during World War I. Hailed as “one of the world’s greatest violists” (American Record Guide), Helen Callus continues to captivate audiences with her lyrical tone, technical command, and profound artistry. She is a sought-after recitalist, chamber musician, and concerto soloists. She has performed with such world-class ensembles as the Tokyo and Juilliard String Quartets, the BBC Concert Orchestra, and delighted audiences across the world. She is an award-winning recording artist and her seven releases have been met with the highest critical acclaim.