NEW HAVEN, CT, October 17, 2014- The New Haven Symphony Orchestra (NHSO) is proud to announce the US release of two new recordings this month: A Portrait Of Augusta Read Thomas and William Walton Project Disc II.
The first CD is an original recording of music by American composer Augusta Read Thomas titled A Portrait of Augusta Read Thomas. Thomas served as the NHSO’s Artist in Residence from 2009-2011; in this role she composed original works for the NHSO and worked with area students as part of the Young Composer’s Project. Under the direction of music director William Boughton, the NHSO recorded her original works at a special concert celebrating Thomas’ 50th birthday on February 27, 2014.
The collaborative recording includes guest performances by Dr. Frederick Hemke, saxophone; Tony Arnold, soprano; Katie Hyun, violin; Mihai Marica, cello; The Elm City Girls’ Choir, conducted by Rebecca Rosenbaum and Tom Brand; and The New York Virtuoso Singers, conducted by Harold Rosenbaum. The CD was released under the Nimbus label this June in the UK and was released in the US this month.
Thomas says, “This album is a celebration of my residency and ongoing relationship with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, capturing my diverse experiences with them, both musical and personal. The CD contains world premiere recordings including pieces inspired by poets and the CD’s performers.”
Hailed as “a true virtuoso composer” by The New Yorker and “vividly imaginative” by The Guardian (London), Augusta Read Thomas has become one of the most recognizable and widely loved figures in American Music. A Member of the Conseil Musical of the Foundation Prince Pierre of Monaco, she has won a Grammy and received the Ernst von Siemens MusicPrize. For Thomas’ full biography, visit www.augustareadthomas.com/biography.
The second CD released this month is William Walton Project Disc II, the second recording of the NHSO and Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Yale University’s “Walton Project.” The collaboration between the two organizations, which has included concerts, lectures, and recordings, was inspired by Beinecke’s authoritative collection of British composer William Walton’s original manuscripts.
These manuscripts were the source for this new album, which includes the NHSO and music director William Boughton performing Walton’s Symphony No. 2, Spitfire Prelude and Fugue, Crown Imperial, and Viola Concerto, on which Curtis Institute of Music’s President Roberto Diaz was featured as viola soloist.
Music Director William Boughton says, “These two recordings perfectly encapsulate our season-long look at tradition and innovation. Although many orchestras have forsaken traditional recording projects, we embrace the medium as a new way to share our music world-wide. Likewise, the content of these two albums spans the realm of the NHSO’s offerings- from traditional orchestral music by a beloved 20th Century European composer to imaginative and breathtaking works by one of our greatest living American composers.”
Both recordings are available for purchase on the New Haven Symphony Orchestra website. Visit www.NewHavenSymphony.org for more information.
Now in its 121st year of operation, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra continues to fulfill its mission of increasing the impact and value of orchestral music for its audiences through high quality, affordable performances and educational programming. In 2010, the Orchestra released its first commercial CD in over thirty years—a disc featuring the music of William Walton on the Nimbus (London) label, which was recognized as a “Critic’s Choice” by Gramophone Magazine. The orchestra received the ASCAP award for “Adventurous Programming” in 2010 and 2014, reflecting its renewed commitment to performing the music of contemporary composers. For more information about the NHSO, visit www.NewHavenSymphony.org.
A Portrait of Augusta Read Thomas received generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts. The William Walton Project is a collaborative recording project presented with Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library.
