We reveal who’s recording what, and where…
The Doric Quartet heads to Snape Maltings to record the complete Britten string quartets ahead of its performances as part of the venue’s annual Britten Weekend.
The recordings, which will be released by Chandos, are to feature Britten’s own 1843 viola given to him by Frank Bridge in 1939.
Another quartet heading to the studio is New York’s innovative Publiquartet, an ensemble that blazes trails with mostly contemporary music and improvisation. Its next project, however, sees it highlighting the work of women composers, including Hildegard von Bingen, Jessica Meyer and Shelley Washington.
Decca Records is celebrating 30 years working with Cecilia Bartoli with new Vivaldi recordings and a comprehensive box set of Rossini. Not only that, an imprint label called ‘Mentored by Bartoli’ has been announced that will see releases by upand-coming artists whose talents have been nurtured by the leading mezzo-soprano.
The first release is to be the debut album by Mexican tenor Javier Camarena.
Tenor Roberto Alagna and soprano Aleksandra Kurzak have been getting very comfortable in front of the microphone of late, with the husband and wife turning in recordings for both Sony Classical and Warner Classics. For the latter they have taken on the roles of Araquil and Anita in Massenet’s La Navarraise, while Sony’s forthcoming Puccini in Love finds the pair truly wearing their hearts on their sleeves for what is their first duets album together.
Pianist and sound artist Belle Chen was not only noted as one to watch by Brian Eno, she has also been appointed an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. Belle is studiobound this month to work on a third album, Departure, transforming the sounds of the piano to create vivid musicscapes.