BENJAMIN BRITTEN: A boy was born
WILLIAM MATHIAS: A babe is born
FELIX MENDELSSOHN: Frohlocket ihr Völker auf Erden
TRAD. arr. RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: The Truth from above
TRAD. arr. EDGAR PETTMAN: Gabriel’s Message
MICHAEL PRAETORIUS: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
MICHAEL PRAETORIUS: Quem pastores laudavere
ANON. harm. MICHAEL PRAETORIUS: Es ist ein’ Ros’ entsprungen
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH: In dulci jubilo
MICHAEL PRAETORIUS: In dulci jubilo a 8
GILES SWAYNE: Coventry Carol*
JOHN TAVENER: A Hymn to the Mother of God
GRAHAM ROSS: Lullay, my liking*
TRAD. arr. NOAH GREENBERG: Ríu, ríu, chíu
TRAD. arr. GRAHAM ROSS: Tu scendi dalle stelle*
TRAD. arr. GRAHAM ROSS: Still, still, still*
ANTON WEBERN: Dormi, Jesu
TRAD. arr. DAVID WILLCOCKS: Quelle est cette odeur agréable?
JOHN RUTTER: Nativity Carol
ARNOLD SCHOENBERG: Friede auf Erden
* world première recordings
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
The Dmitri Ensemble
David Miller | lute
Graham Ross | conductor
“These students seem undaunted by difficulties. Throughout this programme the Clare College choir sings superbly, demonstrating again that they are one of the finest Oxbridge choirs. The contributions of the Dmitri Ensemble are similarly excellent. This is a collection of Christmas music that dares to be different. I … found the disc absorbing and the musicianship is consistently excellent”. John Quinn, MusicWeb International
“The singing is first rate”. David Vernier, Classics Today
“The wonderful mixed-voice Choir of Clare College, Cambridge’s new Christmas disc … strikes a great balance between the familiar (all beautifully sung by the clear-voiced sopranos and full but never precocious lower voices) and the unexpected (when did you last see works from the Second Viennese school crop up on a Christmas CD?!). There are also some beautiful arrangements of folk-carols from Austria, England and Italy by the Choir’s young director Graham Ross.” Katherine Cooper, Presto Classical
“This is a very fine successor to earlier Harmonia Mundi recordings from Clare directed by Graham Ross. … [Tavener’s] ‘Hymn to the Mother of God’ has now clocked up 26 recordings; I haven’t heard them all but Graham Ross and his forces capture the timeless quality of his music as well as any performers that I have heard”. Brian Wilson, MusicWeb International
“Mendelssohn ‘Frohlocket’ is first rate, full of warm Romantic harmonies but also the dynamism of storytelling. … The Dmitri Ensemble … sparkle all over Mathias’s ‘A babe is born’ and the Willcocks and Rutter numbers at the end of the disc. Great, also, are the twentieth century works. … Most surprising of all, however, is the final juxtaposition of Rutter and Schoenberg. If it sounds crazy then it works brilliantly; in fact, the Schoenberg is a great way to round off the disc, bringing out the composer’s more approachable side without diluting all that made him such a revolutionary”. Simon Thompson, MusicWeb International
“This is no usual season offering. … The Schoenberg at the end is radiant”. * * * * Richard Fairman, Financial Times
“One of best discs of the season”. Andrew MacGregor, BBC Radio 3 CD Review
“There’s a certain festive chutzpah to Clare College’s latest disc, which manages not only to embrace both Rutter and Schoenberg but programmes them right next to each other as well. Graham Ross pulls off this unlikely feat with aplomb, adding some Webern, Praetorius, Mendelssohn and Britten in there too for good measure. Singing-wise, this might just be the best disc of the year. These young voices are game for anything, impeccably drilled and musically sensitive.” Sinfoni Music, Top 10 Christmas Albums
“full, lush … the variety of music and the nuanced readings of these oft-times difficult pieces make for an enthralling seasonal experience, sung with passion and warmth.” * * * * John Henry, Audiophile Audition
“Matthias’s ‘A Babe is Born’ typifies the choir’s nimble alacrity, crisply accompanied by The Dmitri Ensemble. … Bravely, the CD ends with Schoenberg’s ‘Friede auf Erden’, preceded by Rutter’s ‘Nativity Carol’, possibly the first juxtaposition of these two composers on record.” Performance * * * * Recording * * * * Terry Blain, BBC Music Magazine
“This is one of a group of releases by long-established British collegiate and cathedral choirs to update their repertory a bit in the venerable medium of the Christmas album, and it may be the best of the bunch. Ross’ segues are novel and even startling, but the pieces are linked together convincingly. … The Choir of Clare College, Cambridge … has a clear, appealing sound, and the small Dmitri Ensemble is of a piece with the singers. A major winner in the British holiday album genre.” James Manheim, All Music
“Superb singing of both choir and soloists.” * * * * * * * * Steven Whitehead, Cross Rhythms Direct
WXQR (New York Public Radio) ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Netherlands Classical Radio 4 ALBUM OF THE WEEKUK Specialist Classical Charts TOP 10
Harmonia Mundi HMU907615
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IMOGEN HOLST: CHORAL WORKS
Imogen Holst: *Mass in A minor; *A Hymne to Christ; *Three Psalms; *Welcome Joy and Welcome Sorrow; *Hallo my fancy, whither wilt thou go?; *Rejoice in the Lamb (Benjamin Britten, orch. Imogen Holst)
*world première recordings
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
The Dmitri Ensemble
Graham Ross | conductor
“thrilling… a tribute to the superb singing of the Choir of Clare College under Graham Ross, who has trained the Choir with its impeccable ensemble. Clear, well-defined sound ” Gramophone
“These performances are poised, immaculate” * * * * performance * * * * recording BBC Music Magazine
“This programme, all of which is new to disc, shows her terrific gift for textured harmony, drama and vocal beauty. Performances and recording are of the highest standard, as one might expect.” * * * * * Classical Music Magazine
“admirably committed performances… in very fine sound” International Record Review
“finely sung by the Choir of Clare College” The Observer
“immaculately crafted… The Choir of Clare College brings it all keenly to life” The Telegraph
Diapason d’Or Découverte AWARD
Le Choix de France Music AWARD
2013 Gramophone Award SHORTLISTED
Harmonia Mundi HMU907576
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JUDITH BINGHAM: JACOB’S LADDER
Judith Bingham: *Jacob’s Ladder – Parable for organ and strings; St Bride, assisted by angels; Prelude and Voluntary (from Missa Brevis); Annunciation I; *Hope; *Into the wilderness; *The Gift; *Vol de nuit (arranged from The Secret Garden); *Gothick; Incarnation with the shepherds dancing; Ancient Sunlight
*world première recordings
Tom Winpenny | organ
The Dmitri Ensemble
Graham Ross | conductor
“…highly accomplished… a real sense of commitment behind Graham Ross’s sharply focussed direction.” Gramophone
“…the instantly recognisable ‘Jacob’s Ladder’… Very potent contribution from The Dmitri Ensemble…” David’s Review Corner
Naxos 8.570346
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GILES SWAYNE: STABAT MATER
Giles Swayne: Magnificat I; *The silent land; *Stabat mater; *Ave verum corpus
*world première recordings
The Dmitri Ensemble
Sophie Bevan | soprano
Kate Symonds-Joy | mezzo-soprano
Ben Alden | tenor
Jonathan Sells | bass
Raphael Wallfisch | cello
Graham Ross | conductor
“a very worthwhile disc. … Excellent performances and recordings.” * * * * * performance * * * * * recording BBC Music Magazine
“brilliant playing by Raphael Wallfisch … superb singing from The Dmitri Ensemble. Listeners with any interest in contemporary choral music should seek out this recording at their earliest convenience” Cross Rhythms Direct
“This is contemporary choral music at its best” MusicWeb international
“It would be hard to imagine a better performance ” International Record Review
“A rock-steady fine-tuned choral sound.” Gramophone
“The silent land makes the deepest impact with a powerful performance” Classical Music Magazine
“The Dmitri Ensemble stick to their task with dedication and a sense of achievement. … Excellent sound.” David’s Review Corner
Naxos 8.572595
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RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: FOLK SONGS OF THE FOUR SEASONS
Ralph Vaughan Williams: *Folk Song of the Four Seasons; *In Windsor Forest
*world première recordings
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
The Dmitri Ensemble
Sir David Willcocks | conductor
“This new Albion recording is issued to mark the 90th birthday of Sir David Willcocks on 30 December, 2009. For Sir David to record another major Vaughan Williams disc at the age of almost 90 is remarkable in itself and will ensure national and international interest in this recording. ” Presto Classical
Albion Records ALBCD010
JAMES MACMILLAN: SEVEN LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS
James MacMillan: Seven Last Words from the Cross; Christus Vincit; *Nemo te condemnavit; *…here in hiding… (version for chorus)
*world première recordings
The Dmitri Ensemble
Graham Ross | conductor
”a radiant performance ” * * * * * The Telegraph
“richly rewarding listening, all of it. An exceptional performance.” Gramophone (Editor’s Choice)
“This disc is in a class of its own. It can rarely have been performed as movingly as this. … An essential contribution to the MacMillan discography.” International Record Review
“polished, focus, alert… outstanding” * * * * * performance * * * * * recording BBC Music Magazine (Critic’s Choice)
“an intensity that burns…spot on…The Dmitri Ensemble and Graham Ross belong on anybody’s A-list of contemporary groups” Classical CD Review
“an inspiring performance. … The passion of the cross is almost palpably evident. … I didn’t want it to end.” * * * * Classic FM Magazine
“a gripping, harrowing, beautiful and profoundly moving performance. … The message about this new disc is unequivocal: get it. It’s an amazing performance.” Glasgow Herald
Naxos UK CD of the month, April 2009
Naxos 8.570719
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