Thought all of the following sounded worth knowing about, so I'll copy-paste the email here for interested parties not already on NMC's emailing list:


APRIL RELEASES on NMC - both out 9th April 2007
www.nmcrec.co.uk

Roger Marsh: Pierrot Lunaire - 50 Rondels Bergamasques (NMC D127 [2CDs])

'Roger Marsh has succeeded in (re)making Pierrot as a living resource with a tremendous staged production of Giraud's complete and enigmatic torrent of fantasy.' (Tempo)

Joe Marsh narrator, Linda Hirst mezzo-soprano, Hilliard Ensemble, Red Byrd, Juice Trio, Ebor Singers/Paul Gameson director

Composer Roger Marsh takes all 50 of Albert Giraud's original poems from Pierrot Lunaire and brings the fantastic world of Pierrot, Harlequin and Colombine to life. The narrator takes us on Pierrot's journey, and through a variety of musical styles we experience magic, love, sickness, comedy, death and Pierrot's hallucinogenic, drunken haze as he drowns in a sea of absinthe. The disc includes performances by internationally acclaimed vocal groups, The Hilliard Ensemble and Red Byrd.

Sadie Harrison: An Unexpected Light (NMC D125)

'One of her gratifying qualities - not indispensable to a composer, but it helps - is that she likes sound. This is music that compels the attention.' (The Times)

Rusné Mataityté violin, St Christopher Chamber Orchestra, Vilnius, Donatas Katkus conductor

Sadie Harrison's disc, An Unexpected Light, interweaves traditional Lithuanian music with modern writing to create a minimalist and expressive sound world, bridging the gap between Bartók and Arvo Pärt.


NEXT MONTH...

Martin Butler: American Rounds (NMC D120)

Butler is one of the significant voices in British composition. His work is vibrant with strong echoes of Copland and Stravinsky.

'[Butler's] virtuoso skill at placing and displacing, nudging and manipulating rhythms creates a brilliant pattern of light and movement' (The Times)

Harrison Birtwistle: Punch and Judy (NMC D138)

This re-release on NMC's mid-price Ancora label of a 1980 GRAMOPHONE AWARD WINNER makes available once more the original recording of this truly ground-breaking work, previously available on Decca Headline and Etcetera. Chosen by BBC Radio 3 and The Guardian as one of 'The Vital 50 operas on CD'.

Good to see that Punch and Judy has returned to the catalogue. And very nice to have some more Martin Butler available; not 'frightening the horses' music, but memorably individual for all its accessilblity; I seem to return to his available works (and some off-air dubs) pretty regularly.