The Inner Light

Best known for her moving and virtuosic performances on a huge range of flutes and recorders, Rachel Brown is an acknowledged authority on historical performance practice, an inspirational teacher and an entertaining and illuminating speaker.

Whilst training on modern flute at Manchester University and the Royal Northern College of Music with Trevor Wye she won numerous prizes leading to performances of flute concertos by Ibert and Nielsen and went on to win the coveted American National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition. She gave first performances of works by Robin Walker, John Ogden, Judith Weir and, for the Park Lane Group, Barry Guy. However, her interest in early music had already been captured by her recorder teacher, Ross Winters, naturally leading to study of the baroque flute with Lisa Beznosiuk and Stephen Preston and an exploration of the many diverse classical and nineteenth-century flutes.

Rachel’s recital discs of French Baroque Music and Quantz Sonatas (for Chandos) established her reputation and her recording of virtuosic works by Schubert and Boehm on simple-system, ring-keyed and Boehm alto flutes has been described as ‘a revelation’. As a soloist she has recorded extensively and toured in Europe, Japan and North America with a comprehensive concerto repertoire from J.S. Bach, Vivaldi and Telemann to Mozart. She has given many performances of the newly discovered Handel Flute Concerto and her championing of the works of the Berlin School has reawakened interest in the largely unknown masterpieces by Quantz. Her dazzling recordings of the Quantz and C.P.E. Bach Concertos (for Hyperion) have won international acclaim. Rachel appears on many Telemann discs with Collegium Musicum 90 (Chandos) and her recording of the complete Handel flute and recorder sonatas op.1 with the Academy of Ancient Music (for Harmonia Mundi) has been described as “enchanting”. She is a founder member and soloist with the London Handel Players with whom she has recorded three discs of Handel’s chamber music (for Somm), described as ‘perfection itself’. Rachel launched her own label, Uppernote, with a tour de force recording of the complete Telemann Fantasias followed by another new disc of virtuosic Quantz Sonatas, entitled Private Passion.

Equally at home in the wind section, Rachel has had a long and distinguished career as an orchestral player; first, on silver flute, with the orchestra of Kent Opera and for many years as principal flute with the Academy of Ancient Music, the Hanover Band, the Kings Consort, Collegium Musicum 90, Ex Cathedra and the Brandenburg Consort. An occasional guest principal with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the English Concert, the erstwhile London Classical Players and orchestras abroad such as the Nederlands Bach Vereniging, the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century and Tafelmusik, Rachel has also appeared as soloist with Arte dei Suonatori in Poland, the Haydn Akademie in Austria and Concerto Copenhagen in Denmark and Germany.

A dedicated teacher, Rachel has given masterclasses in the USA, Canada, Sweden, Poland, Spain, Ireland, Holland, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Croatia, Brazil and New Zealand. She taught for many years at the Royal Northern College of Music, followed by time at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the Birmingham Conservatoire and as lecturer in classical studies at the Guildhall School. She is currently professor of baroque flute at the Royal College of Music. Always enjoying working with children, Rachel has taught recorder at Wells Cathedral School and currently teaches flute and recorder at City of London School. She also runs her own music group for pre-school children.

Rachel is author of the Cambridge University Press handbook to The Early Flute and has composed cadenzas for the new Bärenreiter edition of the Mozart Flute Concertos. Following great interest in her research, Rachel has published two volumes of her favourite Quantz sonatas, supported by subscribers worldwide.

Sharon Bezaly (Israel, 1972) es una flautista de reconocimiento internacional. Fue elegida "Instrumentista del Año" por la revista Klassik Echo en Alemania en 2002 y "Joven Artista del Año" en los Cannes Classical Awards en 2003. Sharon Bezaly toca una flauta Muramatsu modelo de oro de 24 kilates y domina la técnica de la respiración circular.


Biografía

Sharon Bezaly comenzó a tocar la flauta con once años. A los catorce, actuó como solista con la Orquesta Filarmónica de Israel bajo la dirección de Zubin Mehta. Estudió en el Conservatorio Superior de Música de París con Alain Marion, Raymon Guiot y Maurice Bourge y fue alumna de Aurèle Nicolet. Tras finalizar sus estudios, entró a formar parte de la Camerata Académica de Salzburgo donde permaneció hasta el año 1997, año en que decidió centrarse en su carrera como solista. Por otro lado, famosos compositores le han dedicado sus obras. Es el caso de Sofia Gubaidulina, Kalevi Aho y Sally Beamish.


Actuaciones

Sharon Bezaly ha actuado junto a numerosas orquestas, como la Orquesta Filarmónica de Tokio, la BBC National, la BBC Scottish y la BBC Wales, la Orquesta Sinfónica de Goteborg, la Orquesta Filarmónica de Estocolmo, la Nacional Belga, la Rudolfinium de Praga, la English Camber Orchestra, la Orquesta de Cámara de Viena y de Múnich, en lugares como el Musikverein de Viena, el Suntory Hall de Tokio y en diversos festivales como Montpellier o Mozart Festival New York. En música de cámara actúa regularmente con Guidon Kremer y el Cuarteto Bartók.


Discografía

Sharon Bezaly ha grabado veinte discos con la compañía sueca BIS.
Dorati: Música nocturna para flauta y pequeña orquesta. Atzmon.
Kletzki: Concierto para flauta y orquesta. Thomas Sanderling.
Lindberg: A composer's Portrait. Lindberg.
Mozart: Conciertos para flauta (cadencias de Kalevi Aho). Kangas.
Mozart: CUartetos con flauta. Solistas de Salzburgo.
Sheng: Flue Moon. China Dreams. Postcards. Shui.
Takemitsu: A String Around Autum. Otaka.
Gounod, Devienne, Saint-Saëns y Fauré: Aperitif. Música francesa para flauta y orquesta.
Taffanel, Briccialdi, Chopin, Bazzini y Borne. Flutissimo. Obras para flauta y piano. Nagy.
Duruflé, Hahn, Winberg y Nicolaieva. Música de Cámara para flauta y piano. Brautigam.
Aho, Lindberg y Tómasson. Nordic Spell. Conciertos para flauta y orquesta. Lindberg.
Dean, Von Dohnányi, Chaminade, Debussy, Carter, Boismortier, Arnold, Bach, Berio y otros. Solo Flute from A to Z. Tres discos con música para flauta sola.
Ravel, Schulhoff, Sherii, Talmi, Eilam.Amzallag, Braun y otros. The Israel Connection. Obras para flauta y piano. Lazic.

Only the full symphony orchestra can impose the true emotional dynamics of the arctic nature. FLUTE MYSTERY is a collection of five orchestral works by Norwegian composer Fred Jonny Berg. In this distinctive and dynamic surround sound recording, the Philharmonia Orchestra with Emily & Catherine Beynon as soloists on flute & harp are conducted by the legendary Vladimir Ashkenazy.

Vladimir Ashkenazy: I am very fond of Scandinavian mentality, the way people express themselves and their spiritual world. It has always been a very special treat for me to conduct and play Scandinavian music and it is a particular pleasure to introduce to the world a very talented Norwegian composer Fred Jonny Berg whose music in its own way is a genuine reflection of his world.

Berg's music is often described as melodious, accessible and dramatic, yet with a highly original quality. Berg himself tries to explain: It is really as simple as it is complicated - I breathe in what life has to offer, and breathe out what I have to offer life. I have given up trying to grasp what actually happens in the process from impression to expression. In his music Fred Jonny Berg reveals himself as a person who has experienced that life consists of light and dark, but unlike the majority of us he approaches both with a similar undaunted decisiveness; it adds an extra quality to his music: the conviction of an eyewitness.





FLUTE MYSTERY
Only the full symphony orchestra can impose the true emotional dynamics of the arctic nature. FLUTE MYSTERY is a collection of five orchestral works by Norwegian composer Fred Jonny Berg. In this distinctive and dynamic surround sound recording, the Philharmonia Orchestra with Emily & Catherine Beynon as soloists on flute & harp are conducted by the legendary Vladimir Ashkenazy.

- Flute Mystery
- Warning Zero
- Pastorale
- Vicino alla Montagna
- Flute Concerto No.1

Vladimir Ashkenazy: I am very fond of Scandinavian mentality, the way people express themselves and their spiritual world. It has always been a very special treat for me to conduct and play Scandinavian music and it is a particular pleasure to introduce to the world a very talented Norwegian composer Fred Jonny Berg whose music in its own way is a genuine reflection of his world.

Berg's music is often described as melodious, accessible and dramatic, yet with a highly original quality. Berg himself tries to explain: It is really as simple as it is complicated - I breathe in what life has to offer, and breathe out what I have to offer life. I have given up trying to grasp what actually happens in the process from impression to expression. In his music Fred Jonny Berg reveals himself as a person who has experienced that life consists of light and dark, but unlike the majority of us he approaches both with a similar undaunted decisiveness; it adds an extra quality to his music: the conviction of an eyewitness.





Listening to this disc introduced the writer to the pleasant new discovery of the music of Fred Jonny Berg. This innovative Norwegian composer (born in 1973) has written prolifically for a wide range of instruments and instrumental combinations, including the flute and flute family, with compositions being dedicated and performed by such esteemed flautists as James Galway and Emily Beynon. His works are accessible yet distinctive, are largely tonal, colourful and melodic with a convincing emotional pull. The originality of his music can perhaps be linked to his wide experience in range of other areas such as film making, writing, directing and singing.

This disc presents some of the composer’s key works for flute, performed by Emily Beynon, Principal Flautist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (who visited the Australian Flute Festival in Sydney in 2006). She is joined by Catherine Beynon, Principal Harpist with the Orchestra Philharmonic de Luxemburg and the pioneering UK ensemble the Philharmonia Orchestra (with Vladimir Ashkenazy).

The recording features imaginatively named works such as Flute Mystery (the title track; for solo flute, harp and string orchestra - a version for alto flute also exists) and Warning Zero, Pastorale and Vicino alla Montagna (all for orchestra). However, the highlight of the disc for flautists will be the virtuosic 20 minute flute concerto in four movements, written in 2007.

The first movement (Memento) sets the scene with an impressionistic, pastorale opening. This is followed by Reminiscence, an expressive and heavily ornamented flute solo accompanied solely by strings. The quirky Obituary incorporates playful gliassandi in the high register. Extremes of dynamic change quickly and the technical prowess of the player is on full display. Finally, Awakening features glass harmonica, tubular bells and flutter tonguing and trills from the flute soloist. The bells toll in an atmospheric way drawing the work to a close.

An interesting, and forward thinking, feature which sets this recording (released by Norwegian label 2L) apart is its presentation in both CD and Blu-ray formats. For this reason, in December 2009 this disc was nominated for a GRAMMY in the category Best Surround Sound Album.

Recorded at Watford Colosseum in London, the Blu-ray option offers listeners the experience of three-dimensional surround sound. The orchestra was recorded in a circle, all musicians facing each other and surrounding the listener. The liner notes include diagrams of all orchestra set-ups and microphone placements for each piece. The high resolution audio available from the Blu-ray recording is paired with the convenience of using a single player for music, DVDs and CDs. 2L anticipates that this style of musical recording will take off significantly in the future – and if this is so, it is likely that music lovers will be out purchasing Blu-ray players quite quickly, as the difference is distinct.

1. Quinteto Em Forma De Choros - William Bennet/Neil Black/Janice Knight/Thea King/Robin O'Neill

2. Modinha - William Bennet/Simon Wynberg

3. Bachianas Brasileiras No.6: Aria (Choro) Largo - William Bennet/Robin O'Neill

4. Bachianas Brasileiras No.6: Fant Allegro - William Bennet/Robin O'Neill

5. Distribution Of Flowers - William Bennet/Simon Wynberg

6. Assobio A Jato (The Jet Whistle): Allegro Non Troppo - William Bennet/Charles Tunnell

7. Assobio A Jato (The Jet Whistle): Adagio - William Bennet/Charles Tunnell

8. Assobio A Jato (The Jet Whistle): Vivo - William Bennet/Charles Tunnell

9. Choros No.2 - William Bennet/Thea King

10. Song Of Love - William Bennet/Simon Wynberg

11. Trio: Anime - Neil Black/Thea King/Robin O'Neill

12. Trio: Languisamente - Neil Black/Thea King/Robin O'Neill

13. Trio: Vivo - Neil Black/Thea King/Robin O'Neill

'A disc of pure delight from beginning to end. Another example of why Hyperion gets my vote as the most innovative record label. Full marks!' --Which CD


'A disc of outstanding artistry' (The Good CD Guide)


'[A] box-full of ingenious vitality' (BBC Music Magazine)

Diana Baroni (transverse flute), Pablo Valetti (violin), Petr Skalka (cello), Dirk Börner (harpsichord)

Diana Baroni, flautista distinguida

Maria Bania · Irene Spranger (baroque Flutes)
Concerto Copenhagen
Andrew Manze


Johan Joachim Agrell (1701-1765) · Concerto for Flute, Strings and Basso continuo in D major
Johann Adolph Scheibe (1708-1776) · Concerto for Flute, Strings and Basso continuo in A major
Concerto for Flute, Strings and Basso continuo in D major
Johann Adolph Hasse (1699-1783) · Concerto for Flute, Strings and Basso continuo in G major

Philippe Jaroussky 


Philippe Jaroussky es un contratenor, nacido el 13 de febrero de 1978, Maisons-Laffitte, Francia.
Es sopranista y contratenor francés. Estudió violín, piano, armonía y contrapunto en el conservatorio de Versalles. En 1996, comenzó sus estudios de canto con Nicole Fallien y los continuó en el Departamento de Música Antigua del Conservatorio de París con Michel Laplenie, Kenneth Weiss y Sophie Boulin. Recibió su diploma como violinista de la Facultad de Música Antigua del Conservatorio de París.
Philippe Jaroussky actuó por primera vez en 1999 en el Festival de Royaumont. En este mismo año, intervino en el oratorio de Scarlatti Sedecia en los festivales de Royaumont y AMBRONAY con Il Seminario Musicale y Gérard Lesne (CD en Virgin Classics). Con la Grande Ecurie et la chambre du Roy, dirigida por Jean-Claude MALGOIRE, participó en la trilogía de Monteverdi (Orfeo, Il Ritorno di Ulisse y L'Incoronazione di Poppea) y en 2001 cantó el papel de Arbace en Catone in Utica de Antonio Vivaldi , así como el Nisi Dominus del compositor venciano y el Stabat Mater de Giovanni Battista Pergolesi. En 2003, apareció como Nero en el Théâtre des Champs Elysées' en Agrippina Georg Frideric Handel.
Philippe Jaroussky colabora frecuencuentemente con Jean Tubéry y el conjunto La Fenice para los que ha grabado La Morte Delusa de Giovanni Battista Bassani y un Concert chez Mazarin (Virgin Classics). Para el conjunto Matheus, dirigido por Jean-Christophe Spinosi, ha grabado La Verità in Cimento (Opus 111) así como el papel de Ruggiero en el Orlando Furioso en una actuación en el Théâtre des Champs Elysées para el sello Naïve. Con Gabriel Garrido y el Ensemble Elyma ha grabado la L'incoronazione di Poppea y la Selva Morale e Spirituale de Monteverdi.
Se caracteriza por una técnica virtuosista de melisma para animar y obligar a la interpretación de cantatas barrocas y la ópera. Esto ha contribuido a su inusual repertorio de reactivación. Canta bien con violines de Vivaldi (y conjuntos). Recibió en 2007 el premio al mejor artista lírico francés.
Actualmente, la presentación de una serie de recitales con su propio conjunto, Artaserse, ha interpretado a Telémaco en Ulisse con René Jacobs en la Staatsoper de Berlín y a Eustazio de Rinaldo en la Vlaamse Opera dirigido por Andreas Spering.
Fue el primer considerado del disco para el sello Ambroisie con obras de Benedetto Ferrari. Ha recibido la aclamación de críticos, ganando el Diapason Découverte, recommande de Repertorio, Timbre de Platine d'Ópera Internacional, Prix de l'Academie Charles Cros, el Gran Premio del Sindicato de la crítica, etc. Su primer disco, como exclusiva para Virgin Classics, se compone de cantatas para contralto y conjunto de Antonio Vivaldi.
De acuerdo con La Terrasse, "este joven cantante, con el tono de un ángel y el virtuosismo del diablo maldito, ha entrado en el centro de atención en sólo unos pocos años como el nuevo gran talento vocal francés".