Divine Art Records

Artist: Scott Robert Shaw

  • Gods, Ghosts and Monsters

    Gods, Ghosts and Monsters

    This debut album, from Germany based ensemble Conceptus, features music for tenor and ensemble by Butterworth, Warlock, Holst and Bridge, in addition to Timothy Collins’ Sea Song. Collins has composed and arranged extensively for the ensemble.

    Sea Song – Timothy Collins
    Originally composed in 2018 and set to the poignant poetry of Katherine Mansfield, this evocative piece delves into themes of ageing, sorrow, and loss. Conceptus has brought Collins’ musical narrative to life with an accompanying 10-minute music film available on Apple Music and Youtube.

    Six Songs from a Shropshire Lad – George Butterworth
    Delving into themes of nostalgia and the tragedy of lost youth, this collection, originally composed in 1911, captures the essence of Alfred Edward Housman’s timeless poetry. Collins’ arrangements embellish the poignant resonance of Butterworth’s work, forever etched in the annals of English song.

    The Curlew – Peter Warlock
    Peter Warlock’s masterwork, “The Curlew,” meticulously arranged for Conceptus by Timothy Collins. Woven from the poetry of William Butler Yeats, this haunting composition, originally scored for string quartet, cor anglais, and flute, delves into macabre imagery and desolate landscapes.

    Hymns from the Rig Veda Opus 24 – Gustav Holst
    “Hymns from the Rig Veda,” is transfigured by Conceptus with these arrangements from Timothy Collins. Drawing inspiration from ancient Sanskrit texts dating back to 1500 BCE, Holst’s solo vocal triumph offers a reverent exploration of Hindu philosophical thought. Experience the profound resonance of Holst’s sacred compositions as Conceptus breathes new life into these timeless hymns.

    Three Songs by Frank Bridge
    From the reflective tones of “Come To Me In My Dreams” to the mythological allure of “Love Went A-Riding,” Conceptus navigates the emotional depths of Bridge’s compositions with grace and finesse.

    Conceptus is an international, multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary ensemble with membership drawn from Germany, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Poland and Australia. Formed in 2021, the ensemble is dedicated to bringing new life to great works of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and beyond, with a particular emphasis on Late Romantic British vocal music and song cycles.

    Conceptus has also commissioned works by award-winning German composer, organist and conductor Christoph Ritter, whose Requiem is set for a world premiere and recording in 2024. Conceptus Artistic Director, Scott Robert Shaw, released his acclaimed debut “The English Tenor” on Divine Art in 2023

  • The English Tenor

    The English Tenor

    Scott Robert Shaw’s debut “The English Tenor” takes us on a beautifully performed journey through a who’s who of great English composers and their vocal works. The names Ivor Gurney, Benjamin Britten, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gerald Finzi and Roger Quilter are synonymous with English Song, and a Golden Age of British music. The wide variety of accompanying instruments and artists, the broad range of text settings and the mix of cornerstone works of the repertoire alongside lesser-known cycles make “The English Tenor” a thrilling debut album.

    A product of the English church music tradition, Australian-born Scott Robert Shaw has been performing works in this oeuvre since childhood. Whether on the operatic or oratorio stage, as an ensemble singer or soloist, his deep cultural roots to the British music world are laid bare for all to see. This deeply personal album stands as testament to his background, and as a homecoming to his earliest steps as an artist.

    Beginning his career and training as a boy soprano at the St George’s Cathedral Perth Choir, Scott then attended the McDonald College of the Performing Arts in Sydney, studying music and acting in the Stanislawksy/Laban tradition, and was awarded a full scholarship for Excellence in Performance. He then attended the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and was given the Most Exceptional Contribution to the Arts award from Wesley College, University of Sydney. In London he continued his studies with the English National Opera’s Baylis Programme for young performers and was regularly engaged to perform as a recitalist and operatic tenor in festivals and opera companies in both the United Kingdom and France. He then completed his studies at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague where he studied Early Music and Classical Singing, and now based in Düsseldorf, is regularly engaged as a soloist in The Netherlands and Germany, with a particular focus on Bach oratorios and Evangelist roles in the Passions.

  • Conceptus: Sea Song sung by Scott Robert Shaw

    Conceptus: Sea Song sung by Scott Robert Shaw

    This is the premiere recording of Sea Song performed by the ensemble Conceptus.

    The song was composed by Australian composer Timothy Collins with lyrics from ‘Sea Song’ -a poem by New Zealand poet Katherine Mansfield.

    Released to coincide the centenary of Mansfield’s death which is being notably marked in her native New Zealand. Alongside the release of this single, Divine Art are releasing the Sea Song music film digitally, a fully realised narrative film featuring Conceptus artistic director and tenor, Scott Robert Shaw and actress Patricia Aragon. Conceptus’ debut album “Gods, Ghosts and Monsters” is set for release on Divine Art in 2024.