What sweeter music is the opening track and possibly Rutter’s best-known composition. This is the first time he has transcribed 16 of his shorter choral works for the piano so, without the words, the album including eight carols can be played to enjoy the melodies throughout the year. He has made umpteen recordings (Discogs lists 97) either as composer, conductor, arranger or producer. John Rutter (born 1945) is a very prolific composer of mainly sacred choral works, many associated with Christmas. This CD is a worthy companion to 'Through The Crystal' it may be obtained directly from © 2020 Tony Clayden I believe that he is still actively writing, although I have no idea in which particular genre. However, since 1999, original composition has occupied most of his time, albeit largely for chamber forces, and includes a Bassoon Concertino. The booklet notes mention that following a period of some two years of virtual withdrawal from music, Peter Hope returned to it and for a while concentrated chiefly on arranging, working for – amongst many others – José Carreras, Kiri Te Kanawa and Jessye Norman. As I have previously remarked, Hope's creative talents display remarkable versatility. The compositions are a good mixture of up-tempo, medium and slower numbers, often with lush orchestral arrangements and illustrative of the variety of styles in which their writer was equally 'at home'. All were composed during the 1960s and '70s, several – once again– under the pseudonym of William Gardner.
This disc contains twenty-six tracks and although some titles are duplicated, the majority differ from those on the new set. It was compiled as a showcase for the composer and publisher, and it is likely that copies would have been distributed to many radio, television and film companies both in the UK and overseas, for potential use in their productions. For its concept, content, performance and playing-time it is one of my albums of the year – along with Bocelli, Desplat, The Kanneh-Masons, Mantovani & Calleja, Pourcel, Iain Sutherland, Williams, Willis and Wilson (all reviewed here) – and at the time of writing is available online for less than a tenner.įollowing my review of the recent Peter Hope double CD set 'Through The Crystal', Steve Daniels, of Mozart Edition UK, kindly sent me a copy of this earlier CD, which was issued in 2007. The Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, conducted by Adrien Purrachon, gives support throughout the making of the disc that Capuçon describes as “tremendous”. Like many French people he was deeply affected by what had happened, so for this album asked Maȋtrise de Notre Dame de Paris (a pre-college music school choir) to join him and the orchestra in performing Schubert’s Ave Maria. On April 19 th 2019, Capuçon made a moving tribute on the pavement across the street from the famous Notre Dame de Paris cathedral as firemen attempted to subdue the disastrous fire that nearly destroyed the building. These include Marguerite Monnot’s lovely Hymne à l’amour, one of her many songs written for Ếdith Piaf, that opens the album. He is accompanied by Jérôme Ducros, who is a fine pianist also featured on other tracks with the orchestra, as well as having orchestrated a majority of the works.
The Frenchman, playing a 1701 Matteo Gofriller instrument, is soloist on another four tracks including Monti’s Czardas and a jolly final track in Scott Joplin’s The Entertainer.
And there has to be Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, as it suits the cello so well. It ranges through popular classics – like Albinoni’s Adagio, Debussy’s Clair de Lune, Dvořák’s Song to the Moon, Elgar’s Nimrod and Fauré’s Pavane – to works by Einaudi, Nyman and Richter. It has been an emotional year and this 18-track eclectic collection is contemplative in its choice. Multiple award winner, Gautier Capuçon (born 1981) – the youngest brother of the violinist Renaud Capuçon – started learning the cello at four years of age and today is rated as one of the world’s best players. In Britain, at least, the availability of a vaccine means the candle of hope is now burning brighter. Unless you are into downloads or still have a local record shop, it may be too late for Christmas listening but will provide ear balm for continuing troubled times in the New Year, albeit hopefully less troubled than when the disc was released in early November. This is an album that had escaped my notice until now.