An interview with British composer James Whitbourn about a new Naxos CD of his choral music with Commotio choir, soloists Christopher Gillett, Levine Andrade, Steffan Jones, Andrew Ker, Henry Parkes and special narrator Desmond Tutu, all conducted by Matthew Berry. The texts used in Whitbourn’s music are as varied as the performers as he draws on The Bible, Issac of Nineveh, Julian of Norwich, Buddhist mystic Ryonen and Desmond Tutu.

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Catalogue No.: Naxos 8.570031

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American composer William Schuman, born 100 years ago, was one of the best-known composers of his day. He was also an arts administrator of great skill who was at various times President of The Julliard School and President of Lincoln Centre. In this podcast, Dr. Joseph Polisi, current President of Julliard and Schuman’s friend and biographer, talks about Schuman and his music. The music featured in this podcast comes from a new CD on the Naxos American Classics series featuring the Seattle Symphony conducted by Gerard Schwarz playing Schuman‘s Symphony No. 8, Night Music, and Schuman’s arrangement of Charles Ives‘ “Variations on America”.

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Catalogue No.: Naxos 8.559651

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Maestro Leonard Slatkin talks about Sergei Rachmaninov‘s music, his Symphony No. 2 in E minor, and his new recording of this piece with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where he is now Music Director. In this podcast, Leonard Slatkin talks about what Rachmaninov does that allows this hour-long symphony hold together, and what challenges it presents to the performing orchestra.

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Catalogue No.: Naxos 8.572458

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Roy Harris, along with colleagues such as Aaron Copland and Roger Sessions, were among the leading American symphonists in the first half of the 20th century. Collectively, they helped to create an “American” symphonic sound. In this podcast, conductor Marin Alsop talks about the music of Roy Harris, and his Symphonies 5 and 6 which are featured on this new recording with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

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Catalogue No.: Naxos 8.559609

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On Christmas Day 1999, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, together with the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists, embarked on one of the most remarkable musical projects ever undertaken. The began their “Bach Cantata Pilgrimage” in which they performed all 200 Bach Cantatas, each on the feast day for which they were composed, in one year. Out of that project came recordings of every cantata, and a new record label, SDG, to release them. This podcast looks at the project, and Eternal Fire, a collection of choruses from the cantata project.

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Catalogue No.: Soli Deo Gloria SDG177

[/podcast]

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Our first podcast featuring a release on CSO-Resound, the record label of the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra. All CDs on this label come from live performances by the Chicago Symphony, and feature the orchestra with some of the world’s finest conductors, including Bernard Haitink, conductor of this performance.

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Catalogue No.: CSO-Resound 901916

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American composer Avner Dorman, a protégé of John Corigliano and Zubin Mehta, is emerging as one of the leading composers of his generation. The diverse concertos presented here combine the excitement and spontaneity associated with jazz, baroque, rock and ethnic music. Dorman writes in the liner notes: ‘I have always loved baroque music…the clear rhythms, the strong reliance on the bass, and the extreme contrasts.’ This podcast and CD feature the Metropolis Ensemble and soloists Avi Avital, Mindy Kaufman, Avni Eliran, Lily Francis, Aya Hamada, Michal Korman, Eric Nowlin and Arnaud Sussmann, all conducted by Andrew Cyr.

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Catalogue No.: Naxos 8.559620

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Sir Edward Elgar wrote his Crown of India for a 1912 musical event in London celebrating the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary as Emperor and Empress of India. Although such an event is an historical anachronism today, the music Sir Edward was not. The orchestral suite from this work is one of his most performed pieces. This podcast looks at a new recording of both versions – the full version with narration, and the orchestral suite – with the BBC Philharmonic, Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, and singers Clare Shearer and Gerald Finley, all conducted by Sir Andrew Davis.

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Catalogue No.: Chandos CHAN 10570

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A spotlight look at the new Columbus State University Wind Ensemble’s new CD – a CD that brings together an outstanding band, conductor Robert Rumbelow, and three great soloists: Clarinettists John Yeh and Teresa Reilly, and percussionist Molly Yeh. This podcast features musical excerpts by Michael Daugherty, Michael Burritt, David Gillingham, Jim David and Scott McAllister, plus extended interviews with both John Yeh and Robert Rumbelow.

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Catalogue No.: Naxos 8.572319

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When he graduated from high school, William Schuman enrolled in New York University with every intention of doing a commerce degree. Then his sister took him to a New York Philharmonic concert conducted by Arturo Toscanini. That very night, he decided to become a composer. Schuman went on to become one of the most important American composers and composition teachers of the 20th century. He was president of Julliard School, President of Lincoln Centre in New York, and the composer of eight major symphonies. This podcast looks at a new recording of his Symphony No. 6, Prayer in a Time of War, and New England Tryptich, with the Seattle Symphony conducted by Gerard Schwarz.

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Catalogue No.: Naxos 8.559625

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