Format Details:
Release Date: 27 September 2019
Label: NMC Recordings
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 5023363025126
Description
Drama, or a fascination with theatrical possibilities, is present in many of David Sawer's works, and he has written a number of scores for the theatre and for radio. Operas include From Morning to Midnight which received an Olivier Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Opera, Skin Deep with librettist Armando Iannucci, and The Skating Rink, which premiered at Garsington Opera to critical acclaim.
All three of the pieces on this album (David's third for NMC) have a connection with dance: the Rumpelstiltskin Suite (2011) originated in Sawer's 2009, 70-minute ballet Rumpelstiltskin; the early ensemble piece Cat's-Eye (1986) was choreographed by Richard Alston for Rambert in 1992; and premiered in concert in 2016, April\March was commissioned for the Royal Ballet.
David Sawer describes Rumpelstiltskin as "a grotesque fable for our times". He leaves it to us to ponder the modern-day resonances of this dark tale of greed, deceit, cruelty and abuse.
Cats-Eye is inspired by the fantascope projector, with its spectacular optical tricks that shocked audiences in the 1800s. A simple device called "l'oeil-de-chat", caused these images to appear and disappear: as the eye closed, the source of light was extinguished. In this piece Sawer brings in instruments together – often in pairs – then they are pulled apart or pitted against others. Past and present is explored in April\March – the back to front calendar of the title pointing to a reversal in time.
This album also includes the bonus track Between, a gentle, beautifully ethereal work which captures a kind of otherworldly essence of the harp completely without sentimentalism. Available for FREE with all purchases of the Rumpelstiltskin album. Also available separately.
Tracklisting
Martyn Brabbins, Daniel Pioro, Anna Dennis, Andrew Gourlay, Elena Schwarz
Freya Waley-Cohen, Manchester Collective, Heloise Werner, Katie Bray, Fleur Barron, Tamsin Waley-Co
Slide Action
Siwan Rhys
BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Singers, Alice Farnham
Lisa Illean, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, GBSR Duo, Juliet Fraser, Explore Ensemble
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins, Andrew Davis
BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, London Sinfonietta, Ryan Wigglesworth, Huw Wa
Francesco Ledda, Opera Discovery Orchestra, Stefanna Kybalova, Valer Borin, Marcello Lippi, Paolo B
Horst Wolf
Sophie Gordeladze, Hector Sandoval, Luca Grassi, Martin Piskorski, Rory Dunne, Cappella Aquileia, T
Tina Gorina; Vivica Genaux; Giulio Pelligra; German Olvera; Riccardo Novaro; Ugo Guagliardo; Pawel
Marta Torbidoni; David Astorga; German Olvera; Aleksey Bogdanov; Matheus Pompeu; Paulina Boreczko;
Anita Cerquetti
Bayerischer Staatsopernchor & Orch, Keilberth
Marina Rebeka, Orquesta y Coro del Teatro Real, Madrid, John Fiore
