Description
This new disc contains works for voice and piano by Sir Arnold Bax including the world premiere recording of The Blessed Damozel. Bax was both Master of the King's Music (under King George VI) and Master of the Queen's Music (under Queen Elizabeth II),
Throughout his life, Bax wrote around 125 songs, of which at least twenty are no longer extant but are mentioned in early lists of his music. This disc contains the world premiere recording of the composer's setting of On the Bridge by Thomas Hardy.
Also of special interest is the world premiere recording of Bax's twenty-five-minute setting of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's celebrated poem The Blessed Damozel. Described by Bax as "a musical illustration", with a recitation of the poem set to piano accompaniment, this work gives us a remarkable flavour of how Bax may have improvised in the company of his friends and contemporaries.
Jeremy Huw Williams: A distinguished baritone with a global performance history, Williams has appeared in over seventy operatic roles and numerous recitals at prestigious venues.
Paula Fan: An accomplished pianist with over forty commercial recordings, Fan has performed on five continents and is known for her innovative approach to classical music.
Theodore Buchholz: A renowned cellist and professor, Buchholz has performed at prominent venues worldwide and is a member of the Grammy Award-winning ensemble, True Concord.
