Avril Coleridge-Taylor: Piano Concerto & Orchestral Works
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This landmark album is the first ever dedicated exclusively to Avril Coleridge-Taylor's orchestral music. It comes out of five years of research into Coleridge-Taylor's life and work, and includes the world premiere recordings of her Piano Concerto, orchestral works To April and the Comet Prelude, and a new interpretation of Sussex Landscape. In its week of release, the album entered the specialist classical charts. It was Album of the Week on BBC Radio 3 Essential Classics, spotlighted on Radio 3 shows including In Tune and Record Review, was a highlighted release by both Gramophone and Presto, and a featured album on Chicago's WMFT. It has been broadcast internationally, including in the United States, Canada and Australia. Buy from Resonus here. |
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Reviews
‘There’s such a distinctive, quasi-cinematic musical imagination at work in every piece on this album that it seems incredible that this is the first-ever album to be devoted to Coleridge-Taylor’s works… Andrews and the BBC Phil sound completely under the skin of the music. Brilliantly despatched by Ege, the Piano Concerto has a Rachmaninoff-esque scale and sweep without ever sounding like pastiche, and the electrifying Comet Prelude … seems to pave the way for John Adams's Short Ride In A Fast Machine. Scintillating stuff, all of it.’ (Presto, Team Choice)
A ‘landmark album…Hearing all her orchestral works in one sweep is an enjoyable experience. … The BBC Philharmonic and John Andrews are on excellent form, and the whole project has been brought together with great care by Ege, Andrews and musicologist Leah Broad. A valuable achievement.’ (BBC Music Magazine)
‘Samantha Ege is an ardent advocate, never shying away from the music’s muscular demands, nor its tendency to wear its heart on its sleeve. She’s aided by John Andrews’ incisive conducting and fine playing by the BBC Philharmonic. This is very likeable music indeed and a work that grows on you the more times you hear it. Programmers should take a look.’ (Limelight, Editor’s Choice)
‘[Coleridge-Taylor’s] time may be coming… [The Concerto slow movement is] played with reverent stillness and a beautifully projected line in the piano. I certainly hope this recording leads to more performances of a piece that I really enjoyed… Leah Broad’s typically fascinating liner note covers Coleridge-Taylor’s bumpy life story with clarity and sympathy… This album makes a persuasive case in favour of the music.’ (The Arts Desk)
‘Samantha Ege has the full measure of this music and is particularly impressive in more ruminative moments… The music reveals a thoughtful, original voice, which has never been given the opportunity to be heard — I, for one, was grateful for the chance to hear this repertoire.’ (The Classic Review)
‘There is a great deal to enjoy here and the BBC Philharmonic play with conviction. The conductor John Andrews seems to have an unerring touch when approaching music which is little known, having been little performed. Samantha Ege is a most persuasive soloist… All those involved are to be congratulated.’ (British Music Society)
‘An excellent way to learn more about [Avril Coleridge-Taylor's] story. Excellent performances and notes.’ (BBC Radio 3, Record Review)
‘There’s such a distinctive, quasi-cinematic musical imagination at work in every piece on this album that it seems incredible that this is the first-ever album to be devoted to Coleridge-Taylor’s works… Andrews and the BBC Phil sound completely under the skin of the music. Brilliantly despatched by Ege, the Piano Concerto has a Rachmaninoff-esque scale and sweep without ever sounding like pastiche, and the electrifying Comet Prelude … seems to pave the way for John Adams's Short Ride In A Fast Machine. Scintillating stuff, all of it.’ (Presto, Team Choice)
A ‘landmark album…Hearing all her orchestral works in one sweep is an enjoyable experience. … The BBC Philharmonic and John Andrews are on excellent form, and the whole project has been brought together with great care by Ege, Andrews and musicologist Leah Broad. A valuable achievement.’ (BBC Music Magazine)
‘Samantha Ege is an ardent advocate, never shying away from the music’s muscular demands, nor its tendency to wear its heart on its sleeve. She’s aided by John Andrews’ incisive conducting and fine playing by the BBC Philharmonic. This is very likeable music indeed and a work that grows on you the more times you hear it. Programmers should take a look.’ (Limelight, Editor’s Choice)
‘[Coleridge-Taylor’s] time may be coming… [The Concerto slow movement is] played with reverent stillness and a beautifully projected line in the piano. I certainly hope this recording leads to more performances of a piece that I really enjoyed… Leah Broad’s typically fascinating liner note covers Coleridge-Taylor’s bumpy life story with clarity and sympathy… This album makes a persuasive case in favour of the music.’ (The Arts Desk)
‘Samantha Ege has the full measure of this music and is particularly impressive in more ruminative moments… The music reveals a thoughtful, original voice, which has never been given the opportunity to be heard — I, for one, was grateful for the chance to hear this repertoire.’ (The Classic Review)
‘There is a great deal to enjoy here and the BBC Philharmonic play with conviction. The conductor John Andrews seems to have an unerring touch when approaching music which is little known, having been little performed. Samantha Ege is a most persuasive soloist… All those involved are to be congratulated.’ (British Music Society)
‘An excellent way to learn more about [Avril Coleridge-Taylor's] story. Excellent performances and notes.’ (BBC Radio 3, Record Review)