The British Project

This week Deutsche Grammophon have released the entire “British Project” that we at the CBSO recorded with Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla, pairing Elgar’s Sospiri and Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis with the previously released EPs of Britten’s Sinfonia da Requiem and Palmer’s suite from Walton’s Troilus & Cressida. My thoughts on each of the previous EPs from when they were released have been collected together below. To be honest, I’d been really looking forward to hearing how the Vaughan Williams would turn out, as throughout the season and for this recording, I was lucky enough to be playing the double bass part for the distantly placed chamber orchestra. As it turns out, DG decided to really keep us “really far away”, so I very rarely hear as much of my own single bass contribution as I thought I might. I think the whole thing is a polished release, and something of which I’m sure the whole orchestra is proud.

Click on the cover below to be directed to the Deutsche Grammophon website for download and streaming options.

Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem- This recent release on Deutsche Grammophon was recorded in the beautiful new Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, on our last tour before the covid pandemic hit. It’s part of a number of works recorded over the week, and DG seems to have decided that this is the one to catch people’s attention. Listening back to it months after it was recorded I found it quite astonishing just how scintillating it is. The CBSO sound on top form here, and it’s something I’m incredibly proud to have been involved in recording. It’s available as a digital download or on all the usual streaming services.

Walton: Troilus & Cressida- Another new Deutsche Grammophon release from the CBSO’s “British Project” series of concerts and recordings at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, 2020. I didn’t know Christopher Palmer’s suite from Walton’s “Troilus and Cressida” before we began rehearsing this patch, but it became very close to my heart over the course of the weeks we explored it. What wonderful music this is- oftentimes rich and lush, with turns of playfulness, it really showcases all of the sections of our orchestra.