Presteigne Premieres CD release 28 May
The Presteigne Festival Orchestra’s first commercial CD on the Resonus Classics label is released on Friday 28 May. Made in August 2020, the disc features a collection of Presteigne Festival orchestral commissions.
Including world premiere recordings from no fewer than 11 living composers, the album features performances from four outstanding soloists – Amy Dickson saxophone, Rebecca Afonwy-Jones mezzo-soprano and flute and harp duo Katherine Baker and Suzy Willison-Kawalec. The orchestra is conducted by George Vass, artistic director of the Presteigne Festival.
Physical CDs and digital downloads are available from the usual retailers or directly from Resonus Classics via this link
The full programme is detailed below, but for all lovers of British string music, this is a must have release.
Variations on ‘Lovely Joan’ (2017)
THOMAS HYDE, DAVID MATTHEWS, ADRIAN WILLIAMS, MICHAEL BERKELEY, CHRISTOPHER GUNNING, HUW WATKINS, SALLY BEAMISH and MATTHEW TAYLOR
Concerto for soprano saxophone and string orchestra (2009)
MARTIN BUTLER
Amy Dickson saxophone
Beginnings: Three Early Songs, for mezzo and string orchestra, Op 54 (2010)
HUGH WOOD
Rebecca Afonwy-Jones mezzo-soprano
Mnemonic, for flute, harp and string orchestra (2004)
JOE DUDDELL
Katherine Baker flute | Suzy Willison-Kawalec harp
Divertimento, Op 51 (2007)
HUGH WOOD
Presteigne Festival Orchestra
George Vass conductor