Divine Art Records

Genre: Vocal/Choral

  • Ithaka: vocal and choral works by Lydia Kakabadse

    Ithaka: vocal and choral works by Lydia Kakabadse

    British composer Lydia Kakabadse (with roots in Greece, Austria, Russia and Georgia) reflects her cultural heritage in music that has western and mediterranean elements – while this is strongest in her choral music, it is heard to good effect in her chamber works, which are often written in modal intonation; her previous recorded collections have been very positively reviewed. This album is in two parts – first the stunning choral work ‘Odyssey’ – absolutely traditional in its rich harmony but carrying one or two surprises, a work commissioned by the Hellenic Institute at Royal Holloway University of London and premiered in2018; and a set of songs written in 2018 and 2019 spanning a range of styles from ballad, to arioso to folk jazz, Romantic, antiphonal and minimalistic!

    The performers are all top rate: Clare McCaldin is an outstanding mezzo-soprano with a significant recorded legacy already. Paul Turner specializes in chamber music and has accompanied eminent singers and instrumentalists. Sara Trickey is well known as a fine violinist and Cecily Beer is in demand as both singer and harpist. The Choir of Royal Holloway is considered to be one of the finest mixed-voice collegiate choirs in Britain.

    Odyssey: Choir of Royal Holloway, Cecily Beer (harp), directed by Rupert Gough
    I Remember: Choir of Royal Holloway, Sara Trickey (violin), Cecily Beer (harp), directed by Rupert Gough
    Other songs: Clare McCaldin (mezzo-soprano), Paul Turner (piano)

  • Visions of the Greek Soul

    Visions of the Greek Soul

    Cilia Petridou was an accomplished pianist until her career was ended by major surgery, since when she has concentrated on composition. Moving with her family to the UK, she was hugely affected by the Turkish invasion of north Cyprus which destroyed their home town of Famagusta; her music is often informed by that political and social tragedy and also by the landscapes of Cyprus, ancient literature and the Greek Orthodox liturgy.

    This double album is in two parts: The Asmata is a collection of songs inspired by modern Greek poetry, divided between two sopranos. A small vocal ensemble then presents the Byzantine Doxology, a new setting of Orthodox liturgical texts. Most is sung in Greek and is suffused, even in the case of a setting of Emily Dickinson, with the musical traditions of that country. The composer has also been much inspired by the ancient writings of Anyte of Tegea.

    More music by Cilia can be found on ‘Sounds of the Chionistra‘ and ‘The Mystery of Christmas‘

  • Jonathan Östlund : Voyages (CD)

    Jonathan Östlund : Voyages (CD)

    Jonathan Östlund is a Swedish composer who has recently been living in London. 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 approximately 80 works, including several orchestral pieces and a Piano Concerto, and has been awarded many prizes in international competitions.

    This second double album was issued in digital download only in March 2019 and here is the CD version by popular demand. It is similar to the previous album ‘Lunaris’ in that it features orchestral, vocal, instrumental and chamber music with inspiration from nature, in an even wider variety than on the previous release. A team of top European soloists (several of whom also gave the world premieres of these works) were gathered to record this album. Östlund’s music is very accessible and tonal and often full of wit and humor, and always atmospheric.

    To access the DIGITAL DOWNLOAD version which includes two extra tracks click HERE

  • Vyacheslav Artyomov: Symphony In Spe / Latin Hymns

    Vyacheslav Artyomov: Symphony In Spe / Latin Hymns

    Vyacheslav Artyomov is considered by many to be Russia’s greatest living composer. His music is deep, ultimately spiritual and brilliantly crafted, with influences from the Russian symphonic tradition colored by Mahler, Scriabin, Honegger and Messiaen to name a few – but melded into a unique voice.

    The Divine Art Artyomov Retrospective (which to date has received wonderful reviews internationally) is a mix of new recordings and former Melodiya and Boheme releases. This is the tenth album, containing 2018 recordings of two majestic and brilliant works. The Symphony In Spe (In Hope) with concertante violin and cello broke new ground in Artyomov’s writing in its use of polydynamic, ever-changing textures while retaining his deep spirituality.

    Latin Hymns presents four sacred texts in the most virtuosic writing for choir and soloist, not only prayers to the Virgin Mary but recreating her persona in music. The performance by Nadezhda Pavlova is simply stunning.

    NOTE: The digital version of the album has the Symphony (which is in one movement) in a single track. On the CD, the Symphony is indexed into 21 continuous tracks.

  • Jonathan Östlund : Voyages (Download album)

    Jonathan Östlund : Voyages (Download album)

    Jonathan Östlund is a composer from Sweden who has pursued his passion for music with a BA and MA in Composition at the LTU, in Sweden. He has so far completed more than 100 works, including several orchestral pieces, a Piano Concerto and a Violin Concerto, and has been awarded many prizes in international competitions.

    ‘Voyages’, his second release under Divine Art (after ‘Lunaris’, in 2016), is a double album (issued in digital form only), featuring vocal, instrumental and chamber music, as on ‘Lunaris’, while in addition also featuring two orchestral recordings and works for organ. This new album with a focus on nature, enigmatic atmospheres and introspective journeys, is presented by top international soloists, some of whom have given the world premieres of these works.

    Östlund writes music with natural poetic melodies and highly sophisticated harmonies, blending tradition with contemporary expression.

    This album can also be obtained as a double CD (two tracks omitted in order to fit on 2 discs) HERE

  • ‘To the Northeast’ – Choral music by John Buckley

    ‘To the Northeast’ – Choral music by John Buckley

    John Buckley is one of a group of highly talented and inspired composers from Ireland who have embraced today’s need for music which is rich and diverse, complex but accessible too. His considerable output includes chamber and vocal works as well as his exceptional choral music of which we have a selection here. From folk song adaptations to classic text settings and a range of serious, pastoral and witty pieces, the new album ‘To the Northeast’ is one that stands out from the crowd and is truly memorable.

    Also from Dublin, Mornington Singers are superbly conducted by Orla Flanagan, and provide a performance which in each work is totally in tune with the text and the setting. Most songs are in English, though the Five Two-Part songs for children are sung in Gaelic Irish.

  • The Mystery of Christmas – Greek Kalanda (Carols)

    The Mystery of Christmas – Greek Kalanda (Carols)

    There is a tradition among the Greek peoples of the singing of carols (‘Kalanda’) on Christmas Eve. This album is a set of carols newly composed by Greek-Cypriot composer Cilia Petridou. As musical works they also qualify as art-song in fine performances by three excellent sopranos. For those who love Christmas music but want something new, this album will fit the bill.

    The three sopranos each take a number of solo carols and form a trio for the last two; Lesley-Jane and Alison have both worked with the composer for some time and also made several highly-praised recordings for Divine Art and Metier.

    Cilia Petridou was an accomplished pianist until her career was ended by major surgery, since when she has concentrated on composition. Though she moved to England in 1965, she is deeply affected by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and the still unresolved political situation on the island. While some of her music such as that included on the album “Sounds of the Chionistra” reflects this tragedy, her Kalanda are bright and full of joy.

    The Carols are sung in Greek. texts and English translations included in the booklet.

  • Artyomov: Requiem

    Artyomov: Requiem

    Vyacheslav Artyomov is considered by many to be Russia’s greatest living composer. Since the fall of the Soviet regime his music has travelled the world to great acclaim. It is deep, ultimately spiritual and brilliantly crafted, with influences from the Russian symphonic tradition colored by Mahler, Scriabin, Honegger and Messiaen to name a few – but melded into a unique voice.

    The Requiem, together with his massive Symphony cycles, was the work which brought enormous acclaim to Artyomov both in Russia and in the USA. It was the first Requiem to be written by a Russian after the 1917 Revolution and the first to be performed in the former USSR. Dedicated ‘to the Martyrs of Long-Suffering Russia’ it is a true masterpiece in which several parts of the mass are given treatments very different from the ‘norm’. Exciting, moving and bristling with power and passion, this is a Requiem to stand alongside the established great Requiems of the past. The performers are those who gave the Moscow premiere, and give a stunning performance.
    Soloists: Yelena Brilova, Inna Polianskaya & Lyubov Sharnina (Sopranos); Alexei Martynov (tenor); Mikhail Lanskoi (baritone); Andrei Azovsky (treble);
    Oleg Yanchenko (organ); Sveshnikov Boy’s Chorus; Kaunas State Chorus.

  • Sappho, Shropshire and Super-Tramp – English Art Song

    Sappho, Shropshire and Super-Tramp – English Art Song

    The title ‘Sappho, Shropshire and Super-Tramp’ reflects three major threads (though not all) in this exceptional album of new English art-song made with the English Poetry and Song Society.

    Shropshire is represented by several settings from Housman’s ‘A Shropshire Lad’ which has been among the most popular sets of poems for composers since its publication in 1896. From the ancient world, Sappho’s writings were set by Ivor Gurney, recently discovered, edited and published by Richard Carder.

    Super-Tramp is the exceptional hobo-turned-gentleman poet W.H. Davies.

    Altogether 12 composers and 52 songs, some in cycles and some stand-alone items, make this a feast of new and fascinating work for the song lover. Performed by top soloists Sarah Leonard and Johnny Herford, accompanied by Nigel Foster, who has been described as ‘today’s Gerald Moore’.

  • John Turner – Christmas Card Carols

    John Turner – Christmas Card Carols

    For over twenty years, Britain’s foremost recorder player, John Turner, has composed a carol and sent the score as his Christmas Card. Until now just a personal gift to his friends, John was persuaded to record a selection, which has led to this beautiful album.

    Presented by the chamber choir Intimate Voices and featuring sopranos Sasha Johnson Manning, Eleanor Gregory and Philippa Hyde in solo and duet pieces, with obbligato harp and oboe in some, this is a lovely mixed program of Nativity carols, composed very much in traditional style, in new settings of ancient texts.

    John Turner is a fine composer but is chiefly known as a recorder player and champion of contemporary composers, with dozens of recordings to his credit, many from Divine Art and Métier.

  • Artyomov: On the Threshold of a Bright World

    Artyomov: On the Threshold of a Bright World

    The foremost composer living in Russia today, Artyomov is producing works in the grand symphonic and post-Romantic traditions, unquestionably masterpieces of the modern age. The ‘Threshold’ symphony, part of his tetralogy ‘Symphony of the Way’ is typically underpinned by his deep spirituality but is universal and cosmic in scope. ‘Ave Atque Vale’ is another major work – for percussion and orchestra, while ‘Ave, Crux Alba’ is a far more traditional (and very beautiful) choral piece.

    A companion CD contains the symphony ‘Gentle Emanation’ and ‘Tristia II’ for piano and orchestra (DDA 25144). The Artyomov series continues with a further nine albums.

  • Henderson: New York, Sing Me!

    Henderson: New York, Sing Me!

    This beautiful ballad is from the album ‘From the Old World to the New World’ from composer Philip Henderson. It tells in music the story of a young man leaving the rural landsape of Kent, England, in the 1930s and traveling to America by working as a galley boy on a merchant ship. In this song, the spirit of New York calls out to him.

    The full album: From the Old World to the New World (DDA 25141)