We reveal who’s recording what and where...
American harpist Yolanda Kondonassis has launched a new music project with an environmental focus. Five Minutes for Earth sees 15 new works, of five minutes or less, being written for the harp by innovative composers including Chen Yi, Michael Daugherty and Aaron Jay Kernis. Azica Records will release an album in March.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra headed to St John’s Smith Square in
London recently for a recording of Sibelius symphonies with conductor Owain Arwel Hughes. Their recording of Symphonies
Nos 2 & 4 is scheduled for release in February by Rubicon. The label also has a disc of Liszt piano concertos and sonatas in the works, to be recorded in September by Alexander Ullman and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Meanwhile, in Prague, horn player Ond ej Vrabec and the Pavel Bo kovec Quartet have been recording at the Rudolfinum’s Suk Hall. They recorded Peter Seabourne’s Fall and quintets by Robin Holloway and Mozart, plus a quintet arrangement of Beethoven’s Op. 17 Horn Sonata. Sheva Contemporary hope to release the album in October.
The Grammy-winning Attacca Quartet has been signed exclusively to Sony Classical. The quartet has recorded two albums for release this year, both showcasing their innovative approach to programming. Real Life, out on 9 July, defies any kind of genre with electronic works reimagined for string quartet. It is followed by a disc of Minimalist and Renaissance works later in the year.
Another innovative artist, mezzo-soprano Emily D’angelo signed with Deutsche Grammophon days a er making her Royal Opera House debut. The 26-year-old Italiancanadian singer’s first album is set for release in October and features works by composers Hildegard von Bingen, Missy Mazzoli, Sarah Kirkland Snider and Hildur Gu nadóttir.