William Lewis

Jennifer Vyvyan is the star of Handel’s Semele in an early recording of the opera conducted by Anthony Lewis and recorded for L’Oiseau-Lyre in 1956; this pioneering Handel recording of the 1950s in a new digital remastering, released on Decca CD for the first time.

John Lewis - Orchestra U.S.A. The Debut Recording (1963) {Lone Hill Jazz LHJ 10117 rel 2004} (ft. Eric Dolphy)
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© 1963, 2004 Lone Hill Jazz | LHJ 10117
Jazz / Modern Big Band / Piano

Lewis, the director of the Modern Jazz Quartet until his death in 2001, moved away from improvisation into composition when he formed Orchestra U.S.A. for this 1963 recording. John Lewis formed Orchestra U.S.A. as a vehicle to potentially explore any composed or improvised music, blending elements of jazz and classical music by recruiting some first-rate players from both worlds. The result is one of the more successful third stream recordings. There are two string quartets, plus woodwinds, brass, and a rhythm section present. Collaborating with Gunther Schuller, who conducted the group and did some of the orchestrations, Lewis expanded his work "Three Little Feelings" from its original chart for brass, featuring outstanding solos by alto saxophonist Phil Woods and guitarist Jim Hall.

Following the premiere performance of Handel's opera "Sosarme, re di Media" on 15 February 1732, Viscount Percival remarked that, the work is well received in the city, and quite rightly so, for it is one of the best I have ever heard. The intrigue-laced plot goes back to 14th century historical events, when a dispute about succession broke out between King Dionysius (Denis), his son Alfonso and King Ferdinand IV of Castile. Following the last performance of Sosarme in 1734, the work slumbered for some two hundred years until British composer, conductor and musicologist Anthony Lewis revived Handel's composition in 1954. This recording, featuring the St. Anthony Singers and St. Cecilia Orchestra and conducted by Lewis, vouches for historical authenticity last but not least thanks to an ensemble of singers well-versed in Handel's works, including counter-tenor Alfred Deller and contralto Helen Watts.