Recordings
BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2017 Catriona Morison released her debut recital disc on Linn Records with Malcolm Martineau. ‘The Dark Night Has Vanished’ includes songs by Grieg, Brahms and Robert Schumann alongside songs by Josephine Lang, a composer who has been forgotten but who was championed by Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn and Clara and Robert Schumann and whose works are now being rediscovered. In their 4-star review The Times said ‘hers is a voice of many colours, wielded with innate musicianship and sensitivity across its considerable range.’
linnrecords.com/recording-dark-night-has-vanished
Pianist Joseph Middleton appears on another new disc this month, this time with bass-baritone Ashley Riches, in a collection of animal-themed songs, from Schubert’s trout to Shostakovich’s cockroach, titled ‘A Musical Zoo’ and released by Chandos.
chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%2020184
House debut
Louise Alder made an unusual house debut at Wiener Staatsoper, singing Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro to an empty house. The show was filmed live and broadcast on Austrian television and on the Wiener Staatsoper website. Louise will also appear in Manon, Der Rosenkavalier and Les Contes d’Hoffmann during this season in Vienna.
Awards
Kathryn Rudge was named as one of 12 ‘inspirational and supportive’ RNCM alumni who are being honoured with a new Associates of the RNCM (ARNCM) award.
rncm.ac.uk/news/rncm-honours-inspirational-alumni/
Ed Lyon appears in the title role in a recording of The Dancing Master by Malcolm Arnold that has been shortlisted in the opera category for the 2021 BBC Music Magazine Awards. You can support Ed by voting online here:
classical-music.com/news/bbc-music-magazine-announces-nominees-for-2021-awards/
Other news
Samling Artists have active in highlighting the difficulties with visas and permits that British musicians are now facing when working or touring in Europe. Anna Patalong and Nicky Spence were among artists from a range of fields who gave evidence to the House of Commons about the effects of the new rules and Joseph Middleton wrote a piece for The Guardian on the same topic, saying ‘The people who will suffer most are the next generation and we should be doing everything to enrich their lives and to support them.’
theguardian.com/music/2021/feb/12/brexit-is-destroying-music-why-has-the-government-let-this-happen