Divine Art Records

Genre: Orchestral

  • Jonathan Östlund: Rêveries

    Jonathan Östlund: Rêveries

    Rêveries is the highly anticipated new album from acclaimed composer Jonathan Östlund. Renowned for his evocative and cinematic compositions, Östlund weaves together classical elegance with contemporary innovation.

    Reveries showcases Östlund’s ability to craft immersive soundscapes and ignite the imagination. Each track on the album is a masterful blend of intricate orchestration and emotive melodies, reflecting Östlund’s deep understanding of both the power and subtlety of music. From the sweeping, majestic passages to the intimate, delicate moments, the album captures a spectrum of emotions.

    Collaborating with world-class musicians, Östlund has created an album that is not just heard, but felt. 

    “It was a moving moment for me to record Jonathan Östlund’s poetic, highly musical, and flutistic work” – Myriam Hidber-Dickinson, flute

    ”Jonathan Östlund’s music has this rare emotional freshness, which I really appreciate in music. His style gives us, performers, a lot of ways for searching colors, timbres, images, all that we call ‘interpretation’.” – Evgheny Brakhman, piano

    Jonathan Östlund, a Swedish composer with a BA and MA in Composition from LTU, has completed nearly 200 works, including orchestral pieces and violin concertos. His music, performed by renowned musicians like Einar Steen-Nokleberg and Yuri Revich, is released under Divine Art Records, with acclaimed albums such as “Lunaris,” “Voyages,” “Mistral,” “Imago,” and 2023’s “Elysian”. Östlund’s achievements include premieres and CD releases with the London Schubert Players, awards like the Public Choice Award for his Cello Sonata and the Leicester Symphony Orchestra’s 1st Prize for “Celebration Fanfare.” His works have been performed across Europe, the UK, and the USA.

  • Frederick Paul Naftel: Orchestral, chamber and instrumental works

    Frederick Paul Naftel: Orchestral, chamber and instrumental works

    Frederick Paul Naftel’s new album showcases his eclectic compositional style through a diverse collection of works. 

    3 Premiere Recordings:

    Aphoristic Impressions, composed in 2023 for American pianist Haley Myles, captures the essence of various landscapes through five short piano pieces. These pieces evoke images of the underwater church at Dunwich, Suffolk, the eruption of an Icelandic geyser, the indigenous wildlife of the Australian outback and Uluru/Ayers Rock, a peaceful night-time portrait of a Japanese garden, and Whirlpool Rapids Gorge on the Niagara River.

    Naftel’s String Quartet No.2, composed during the initial Coronavirus pandemic, reflects the era’s tumultuous nature. Unlike his first quartet, this single-movement piece is divided into five sections with an epilogue. The music oscillates between tranquil static passages and furious, violent sections, marked by intervals of a major 7th and minor 2nd. The Lento opening flows serenely but mysteriously, evolving through a relentless Allegro feroce, transitioning to an Adagio Sostenuto reminiscent of plainsong, and culminating in a powerful and enigmatic epilogue featuring recorded cello pizzicato.

    The Folksong Suite for String Orchestra and Timpani draws on six English and Scottish folksongs, including John Peel, Early One Morning, Ca’ the Yowes, Loch Lomond, Dashing Away With The Smoothing Iron, and Lincolnshire Poacher.

    Legacy Recordings:

    Pascal’s Victim for Tuba Quartet, composed for the North West-based Tubalaté, features three movements based on the Gregorian Chant Victamae Paschali. Each movement uniquely fragments the theme, particularly in the slow second movement, where a short melodic motive is varied by gently shifting harmonies.

    Song of Songs: Rhapsody for String Orchestra and Harp is an ethnic-flavoured rhapsody based on Hebraic chants and original material, featuring melodies like “Yigdal” and “Hatikvah.” This piece evokes imagery suited for films set in Biblical times or perhaps documentaries about the Middle East.

    Villancico for Guitar and Small Orchestra bridges the music of the Spanish Renaissance and Joaquin Rodrigo in a charming and lyrical Rondo form, while Aubade Pastorale for String Orchestra is a short tone poem depicting a hazy day in the English countryside, using original themes inspired by the English Pastoral School, particularly Ralph Vaughan Williams.

    Frederick Paul Naftel, born in Manchester in 1956, is an eclectic composer drawing inspiration from diverse sources such as landscapes, nature, and historical events. His compositions span various styles and formats, creating distinct moods and atmospheres. His repertoire includes Concerti for Orchestra, Symphonies, chamber music, and vocal works. Notable works include the Double Concerto for Bass Tuba and Contrabass Tuba, the Bass Clarinet Concerto, Aubade Pastorale, and the Sanctus for female voices, strings, and piano. He received an award from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation in 2020 and was runner-up in the King Lear Arts Competition. Naftel is currently working on his Third Symphony, dedicated to Sir James MacMillan, and future orchestral works. Naftel’s music has been praised for its eccentricity, individuality and distinctive voice in contemporary music.

  • Greg Caffrey: Environments

    Greg Caffrey: Environments

    Introducing “Environments,” from acclaimed composer Greg Caffrey, a poignant journey through landscapes both physical and emotional. Recorded in the heart of Belfast at the historic Townsend Street Church, this album captures the essence of a city marked by its tumultuous history and resilient spirit. Caffrey’s compositions, brought to life by the renowned Ulster Orchestra, reflect his own personal journey from the streets of West Belfast to international acclaim.

    Opening the album is “Aingeal,” a deeply personal work written in tribute to a loved one. Set against a backdrop of strings and percussion, the music captures the raw emotions of grief and loss, offering solace and catharsis in its haunting melodies.

    Environments I and II,” are two pieces born from Caffrey’s residencies in Paris, showcasing his mastery of orchestral composition. From the grandeur of a full symphony orchestra to the intimacy of chamber music, these works explore a range of rich sonic landscapes. Each note is imbued with the composer’s profound connection to his surroundings, offering a window into his creative process.

    “A Terrible Beauty,” the centrepiece of the album, unfolds over three movements inspired by the poetry of WB Yeats. Caffrey’s response to the poetry is both evocative and introspective, weaving together themes of beauty, pain, and resilience. With each movement, the music transports listeners on a visceral journey through the depths of human experience, culminating in a profound exploration of the human spirit.

    Through “Environments,” Greg Caffrey invites listeners to reflect on their own environments, both internal and external, and discover the beauty in life’s most poignant moments.

    Conducted by Sinead Hayes with soloists Craig Ogden (guitar) and Daniel Browell (piano).

    Environments II:
    Prizewinning work in the International Conductors Union Composition Contest, Ukraine 2021

    A Terrible Beauty:
    Recommended work’ in the 4th Uuno Klami Composition Prize

  • Twisted Skyscape

    Twisted Skyscape

    This ground-breaking album is the first of its kind – devoted entirely to new music written for the woodwind orchestra.  It features outstanding performances by the principal woodwind players of the Czech Philharmonic, conducted by Shea Lolin, and includes four world premiere recordings.

    The recording was made to both promote British composers and to give focus to the woodwind orchestra. This program showcases the woodwind orchestra in all its voices: Overture for Woodwinds is bright and lyrical, while Pantomime is joyously comical with moments of heartrending nostalgia. A notable shift in the language comes with Dreamtide, which is a beautiful expression of the subconscious, with delicate and tender lines. Battle Symphony is a pictorial suite containing elements of pastiche in ten highly original sections. The album concludes with Twisted Skyscape, a vibrant and excitingly powerful piece.

    Conductor Shea Lolin is a dynamic and versatile freelance musician living in London. His principal studies were in clarinet performance, composition and conducting at the Colchester Institute, and he has since developed an inimitable portfolio career as a conductor, performer and teacher.

    A second album of world premieres for woodwind orchestra, Chromosphere, will be released by Divine Art early 2024.

  • Elysían: Music by Jonathan Östlund

    Elysían: Music by Jonathan Östlund

    Step into the magical world of Jonathan Östlund with his latest album, Elysían, a stunning collection of impressionist compositions that will transport you to a fantastical, enchanted otherworld. This double album is a feat of collaboration, featuring hand-picked musicians from all around Europe, who come together to bring Östlund’s imaginative and accessible style to life.

    From chamber orchestral works to instrumental and vocal pieces, Elysían is a journey through the liminal states of the subconscious and the supernatural. Östlund’s music acts as a bridge between our world and a magical realm, where fairies and elementals reign supreme. In one case, the fairy even has a name – Titania, for soprano, flute, viola and piano. Östlund’s music has been championed by some of Europe’s best musicians, and it’s easy to see why. His trademark imaginative style delivers copious atmosphere, creating a listening experience that is both seductive and enchanting. Elysían whispers in our ears, inviting us on a voyage through the dominion of dreams, where we fly on the back of Östlund’s music into the realm of the subconscious.

    This album is a testament to Östlund’s talent as a composer and his ability to create music that transcends boundaries and takes us on a journey of the imagination. Fans of impressionist compositions and those who love to be transported to otherworldly realms will find much to love in Elysían.

  • Jonathan Östlund: Imago

    Jonathan Östlund: Imago

    “Östlund’s 2019 double CD Voyages and 2020’s Mistral elevate him to the status of the 21st century’s Debussy.”– Jan Hocek (His Voice)

    Jonathan Östlund (b.1975) is a Swedish composer who has recently been living in Romania and before that London before returning to his home country in 2021. He has manifested an avid interest for music from an early age and has pursued his passion with a BA and MA in Composition at the Luleå Tekniska Universitet, in Sweden. He has studied under the artistic guidance of Prof. Rolf Martinsson, Prof. Jan Sandström and Prof. Sverker Jullander, among others, and has so far completed over 100 works, including several orchestral pieces, a Violin Concerto and a Piano Concerto, and has been awarded many prizes in international competitions.

    This new album follows the distinctive format of previous programs in that it features orchestral, vocal, choral, instrumental and chamber music. Östlund’s primary inspiration is nature which is brought out fully in beautiful Impressionist works such as L’eau de l’oubli and La nuit étoilee. He is also fascinated by the art of composing fantasies and paraphrases on classics and several are included here. A large team of soloists (several of whom also gave the world premieres of these works) were gathered in various locations, often having to work through lockdowns, to record this album. Östlund’s music is very accessible and tonal and often full of wit and humor, and is always atmospheric.

  • Eugène Ysaÿe – Violin Discoveries

    Eugène Ysaÿe – Violin Discoveries

    Belgian violinist, conductor and composer Eugène Ysaÿe (1858–1931) has been recognized as one of the greatest violin virtuosos of the 19th and early 20th centuries; regarded as the “King of the Violin” by Nathan Milstein, his legacy has inspired generations of musicians. Ysaÿe was also a true avant-garde composer whose works feature revolutionary modern violin technique, unique expressive devices, profound musicality and harmonic originality, which eventually served as the bridge between the era of the Romantic virtuoso and contemporary music. It is odd, then, to realise that many of his works remain unknown, unpublished and unrecorded. This album presents for the first time several works for violin and piano ranging from 1885 to 1924, and a previously unknown Violin Concerto in G minor from 1910, which was orchestrated by Sabin Pautza.

    Romanian violinist Sherban Lupu is internationally known; he studied in London with Yehudi Menuhin and other leading teachers and has a very busy career, being best known for his discovery, publication and performance of the music of Enescu, but also has held prestigious posts in Italy and Romania and as concertmaster of San Francisco Opera, USA. He is accompanied here by the bright young pianist Henri Bonamy (who was Professor of Piano in Seoul, Korea and now teaches in Munich) and the fine orchestra of Liepāja, Latvia. The conductor is Paul Mann who has made a name recently with many recordings for Toccata Classics.

  • ‘From Russia’ – music for clarinet and orchestra

    ‘From Russia’ – music for clarinet and orchestra

    Pure enjoyment is provided by this delightful new recording of popular Russian music arranged for clarinet and orchestra by Robin White. From Rimsky-Korsakov’s Clarinet Concerto – originally scored for military band – to the Andante Cantabile from Tchaikovsky’s first string quartet (a staple for arrangers for decades) this is a beautifully played album by one of Britain’s busiest orchestras. An interloper (but a welcome one) from Italy (but of Eastern European style) provides a superb finale.

    Ian Scott is the principal clarinet of the Royal Ballet Sinfonia and has been guest principal with several top London orchestras. He has previously made premiere recordings of Clarinet Concertos for ASV and Dutton. Arranger and conductor Robin White has enjoyed a very busy and varied career; his first recording (1992, Chandos) was very popular and he has made other recordings of light music for several labels. He has managed his own orchestra and choir and appeared, with his choir, in a pivotal episode of the British TV drama series EastEnders. As an arranger of light music, his work has been broadcast by BBC orchestras many times.

  • Marius Constant: Orchestral Works

    Marius Constant: Orchestral Works

    Marius Constant (1925-2004) was born in Romania and began formal music education at the Royal Bucharest Conservatory at the age of 11, also being enrolled in the Lycée Français: he later moved to France where he developed his remarkable career. Best known in musical circles for his ballets, and by the general public for the Twilight Zone theme, he is truly one of the 20th century’s most gifted and inspired composers, and one of the most cruelly overlooked. His orchestral works here are inspired by nature and art and encompass beauty and emotional power in a unique contemporary style.

    The Riverside Symphony was founded in 1981 and comprises many of the best of New York’s finest musicians. Acclaimed for its devoted championing of unfamiliar and new works, its annual concert series at Lincoln Center have brought much praise for their innovative programming. Olivier Charlier, soloist in 103 Regards dans l’eau, has been recognised internationally for his superlative playing; he has played with over 50 French orchestras as well as orchestras from around the world.

    This album was originally released by Riverside in 2014 but in the USA only. It includes a video with archival clips of the composer and discussions with the orchestra directors (formatted for computer playback).

  • Mistral: Music by Jonathan Östlund

    Mistral: Music by Jonathan Östlund

    Jonathan Östlund is a Swedish composer who has recently been living in London and is now in Romania. He has manifested an avid interest for music from an early age and has pursued his passion with a BA and MA in Composition at the Luleå Tekniska Universitet, in Sweden. He has studied under the artistic guidance of Prof. Rolf Martinsson, Prof. Jan Sandström and Prof. Sverker Jullander, among others, and has so far completed almost 100 works, including several orchestral pieces and concertos for both violin and piano, and has been awarded many prizes in international competitions.

    This is Divine Art’s third album devoted to Östlund. It is similar to the previous albums in that it features orchestral, instrumental and chamber music with inspiration from nature and also showing the skills of the composer in various genres. Fine young musicians have been hand-picked to perform, alongside the excellent Moscow Bow Tie Orchestra. Östlund’s music is very accessible and tonal and often full of wit and humor, and always atmospheric. For those reasons a number of respected critics and journalists are taking much note of the composer’s work.

  • Vyacheslav Artyomov – Retrospective Series (discount set)

    Vyacheslav Artyomov – Retrospective Series (discount set)

    According to many, including us, Artyomov is by far the greatest composer in Russia today. This set includes all eleven of the albums issued in 2017-2020 including orchestral, choral, chamber and vocal works. Three of these albums are brand new recordings (DDA 25143, 25144 and 25184) while others have been remastered from originals made by Melodiya and other Russian labels and also previously unissued tracks. Available on CD and in CD-quality FLAC and MP3

    Digital downloads include all 11 booklets which have all contents in both English and Russian. This bulk set provides a 25% discount over the items bought separately.

    Details of each volume (including reviews and track lists):
    DDA 25143 Symphony: On the Threshold of a Bright World (and other works)
    DDA 25144 Symphony: Gentle Emanation (and other works)
    DDA 25164 Sola Fide / Tempo Costante
    DDA 25171 Symphony: The Way to Olympus (and other works)
    DDA 25172 A Symphony of Elegies (and other works)
    DDA 25173 Requiem
    DDA 25174 A Sonata of Meditations (and other works)
    DDA 25175 Symphony: In Memoriam (and other works)
    DDA 25176 Star Wind (and other works)
    DDA 25184 Symphony: In Spe / Latin Hymns
    DDA 25198Album XI: Chamber music

  • Found in Winter – Music by Helen Habershon

    Found in Winter – Music by Helen Habershon

    Helen Habershon’s writing is instinctive and inspired. She is passionate about ‘our incredible natural world’ and it is the main source for her music. ‘Found in Winter’ expresses the many different faces of winter with its varied moods, and the ever-present threat of climatic change both cyclic and man-made.
    The music has been wonderfully arranged for small orchestra (most tracks) by John Lenehan and is unashamedly tuneful, though never simplistic; impressionistic and almost visual in its impact. This album follows two previous CDs which were Album of the Month and Album of the Week respectively on Classic FM.

    Helen is principally a clarinettist with a distinguished international concert, radio and TV career; after a serious injury to both wrists, she turned to composition and has never looked back, though now once again able to perform – as she does on this album.

    The performers on the album have all established themselves as leading lights; John Anderson is one of the most recorded oboists in the world and professor of oboe at the Royal College of Music; Andrew Fuller left the RPO to follow a very successful career in solo and chamber performances, and John Lenehan has appeared on over 70 albums including solo recordings for Sony, receiving many plaudits. The London Primavera was formed in 1986 and consists of the foremost chamber musicians in Britain. It has appeared at many international festivals, has made two TV series, and several recordings. Anthony Halstead has made over 50 CDs all around the world with leading ensembles and is one of Britain’s most sought-after and versatile conductors