Divine Art Records

Genre: Orchestral

  • Avison: 18 Concerti Grossi, op. 9 & 10

    Avison: 18 Concerti Grossi, op. 9 & 10

    Following the enormous success of the Avison Ensemble’s John Garth CD (DDA 25059) and the Avison/Geminiani Concerti (DDA 21210) we are delighted to present another premiere recording of the finest baroque music. Even before official release, chosen by Classic FM as its disc of the week, this 2 CD set (at the price of 1 CD) is the first complete recording of these concerti. The Avison Ensemble is led by Pavlo Beznosiuk. This set was another step towards the complete Avison Edition, now complete.

    Avison’s concerti can be played in various instrumentations: here we have the “chamber orchestra” version. Six of the op. 9 concerti are performed in the string quartet version on Diversions 24108. All five volumes are also available as a low-price set.

  • John Garth: Six Cello Concertos

    John Garth: Six Cello Concertos

    There are many fine compositions still lying undiscovered, and until recently this was true of the six Cello Concertos by John Garth. This native of Durham in Northern England proves to be a brilliant composer, and these concertos (which are believed to be the earliest examples of the Cello Concerto written in Britain) are surely the equal of those produced by Handel. Played on period instruments by one of Britain’s leading baroque-music ensembles.

    The scores, in cello/piano reduction, are also available.

  • Avison: Concerti Grossi after Geminiani

    Avison: Concerti Grossi after Geminiani

    Charles Avison was long neglected, but is now being recognised as one of the most brilliant and accomplished English composers of the 18th century. These 12 Concerti are based on Geminiani’s opus 1 violin sonatas,are played on period instruments and are recorded here for the first time, by the group which has itself made a reputation as one of the finest instrumental ensembles in Europe. The first of our series of major Avison releases. (All Five Volumes available in a single set at large discount!).

  • Moeran: The collected 78rpm recordings

    Moeran: The collected 78rpm recordings

    Though E.J. Moeran is one of the leading British composers of the 20th century,very little of his music was commercially recorded during his lifetime – this is all of it!
    This performance of the Symphony from 1942 is still widely regarded as the best version ever recorded.
    CD contains:
    String Trio in G major (recorded 1941)
    Jean Pougnet, Frederick Riddle, Anthony Pini
    Symphony in G minor (recorded 1942)
    The Halle Orchestra, conducted by Leslie Heward
    Songs:
    Diaphenia and The Sweet o’ the Year (recorded 1945)

    Heddle Nash (tenor)
    O Sweet fa’s the Eve (recorded 1925)
    Can’t you Dance the Polka? (recorded 1925)
    Sheep Shearing (recorded 1926)
    John Goss (baritone) & Cathedral Male Voice Quartet

  • Elgar: Symphony no. 2 / Hoddinott: Investiture Dances

    Elgar: Symphony no. 2 / Hoddinott: Investiture Dances

    To celebrate the 60th birthday of the oldest national youth orchestra in Europe, a sparkling and brilliant performance of Elgar’s Second Symphony, and the only recording available of the three Investiture Dances by Wales’ premier composer.

  • Coates and Moeran: Violin Concertos

    Coates and Moeran: Violin Concertos

    RARE BRITISH MUSIC!!
    Runner-up, Concerto category, Classic Record Collector Awards 2006

    Colin Sauer (violin) with the BBC Northern Orchestra* conducted by Sir Charles Groves:
    VIOLIN CONCERTO in D (1934) by Douglas Coates

    (live broadcast performance 1951)

    Alfredo Campoli (violin) with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult:
    VIOLIN CONCERTO (1937-41) by E J Moeran
    (live broadcast performance 1954)

    * now the BBC Philharmonic

    A ONE AND ONLY…
    In 1951, the BBC was under the spell of modernism and the Second Viennese School and was awfully dismissive of anything approaching tonality as many veteran composers can attest. So it was that after recording a live broadcast of the unashamedly tuneful and Romantic Violin Concerto by English composer Douglas Coates, the harsh comments about ‘obsolete and meaningless music’ from conductor Charles Groves and the program producers so upset the composer that on his way home he disposed of score and parts (the only copies) into the Thames. As the BBC did not record the concert, the work was totally lost to posterity. Until by a trillion-to-one chance, a collector came across a set of studio acetate discs in a junk shop marked only ‘Coates Concerto’. Long story short – after two years of research and audio restoration of the discs (again the sole copy in existence), producer Stephen Sutton at Divine Art Records was able to release the recording on his Historic Sound label also including a 1950 Adrian Boult performance of the Moeran concerto.

    The one and only performance in remarkable though of course ‘vintage’ sound. End of story and a very popular album. Except that a music fan has been in touch with some news: he was born in Coates’ home town; his wife was actually present at the performance (in Manchester), spent time with the composer and conductor, and (having just discovered the said recording) 69 years later, these wonderful people intend to have the score reconstructed (an expert has been identified..) so that this vibrant work can once again see the light of the concert hall. If the reconstruction is successful the plan is for it to be published by Divine Art and hopefully a gala performance will take place in London at some point.

  • Milhaud: Orchestral Music

    Milhaud: Orchestral Music

    A variety of historic treasures:

    SERENADE FOR ORCHESTRA
    TROIS RAG CAPRICES
    SUITE FROM “MAXIMILIEN”
    CINQ ETUDES FOR PIANO AND ORCHESTRA *
    Vienna Symphony Orchestra / Henry Swoboda
    *with Paul Badura-Skoda (piano)
    SYMPHONIC SUITE No. 2 (Protee)
    San Francisco Symphony Orchestra / Pierre Monteux
    Little Symphony No. 3

    Pougnet, Pini, Kell, Draper & Eskdale, conducted by Walter Goehr
    Trio for Violin, Clarinet & Piano
    Parrenin, Delecuse & Haas-Hamburger

  • Arnold: The Return of Odysseus

    Arnold: The Return of Odysseus

    THE WORLD PREMIÈRE RECORDING of Sir Malcolm Arnold’s wonderful humorous dramatic cantata. With a fine performance of Vaughan William’s beautiful choral work (a Classic FM Hall Of Fame composition) and a rare chance to hear Milhaud’s Suite Française in its full orchestral version.

  • Sibelius Symphonies 5 & 6, Tapiola

    Sibelius Symphonies 5 & 6, Tapiola

    Both conductors on this CD knew Sibelius and their interpretations (in each case the earliest recordings) are considered by many still to be definitive. Kajanus was engaged by The Gramophone Company (HMV) to produce their Sibelius Society sets; however after his death Schneevoigt was brought in to conduct the magnificent Sixth in 1934. The “Finnish National Orchestra” was not a regular ensemble but appears to have consisted of the Helsinki Philharmonic augmented by members of the Finnish Radio Orchestra.

    Definitive Interpretations – these conductors were colleagues and friends of the composer
    Symphony no. 5 and Tapiola recorded 1932
    LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA cond. ROBERT KAJANUS
    Symphony no. 6 recorded 1934
    FINNISH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA cond. GEORG SCHNEEVOIGT

  • Mendelssohn: ELIJAH

    Mendelssohn: ELIJAH

    The first ever complete recording of this favourite oratorio from 1930.
    Cast includes:
    HAROLD WILLIAMS as Elijah

    ISOBEL BAILLIE     as an Angel
    PARRY JONES as Obadiah
    CLARA SERENA as an Angel
    TOM PURVIS as Ahab, with
    BERKELEY MASON (organ), THE WIRELESS SINGERS,
    BBC NATIONAL CHORUS & ORCHESTRA
    conducted by STANFORD ROBINSON
    Superb vintage performances and much critical acclaim.

  • The Isles of Greece

    The Isles of Greece

    As a composer Donald Swann was more prolific, more varied, than might be imagined from those who only know him as half of the Flanders and Swann comedy duo. Fascinated by the Greek islands and particularly Casos, on which he found both peace and disquiet, he used Greek folksong and popular melodies as the basis for these joyful yet thoughtful songs, orchestrated by John Jansson.

    BONUS: The Casos Sonnets, which form a separate subset, were never performed in Donald’s lifetime. We are very fortunate to have secured a tape of these pieces, made by Donald for his own use on his beloved Bluthner piano at his Battersea home, and this CD includes this rare and valuable recording.