NEWS
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Our
look at the world of Music, its reproduction and delivery
Last
updated
31 Jan 2003
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Ted
Perry (1931-2003)
Founder and Managing Director, Hyperion Records
We were shocked
and saddened to hear of the sudden death of Ted Perry at the weekend.
The directors and staff of Chandos would like to offer their deepest
sympathies to Simon Perry and his family, and to Mike Spring and
the staff at Hyperion.
There has always
been a common bond between the 'Independents'. Brian Couzens and
Ted Perry started their companies within a year of each other
and there have been many points of contact along the way. We had
the utmost respect for Ted, he produced so many fine recordings
and he always put the music first. A bright light has been extinguished
in the classical industry this week.
We
hope that Simon and Mike will be able to continue in Ted's footsteps
and in his memory. We wish them well.
13
February 2003
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Special
offer on Enchant CDs
All Enchant
CDs have been reduced to half price, and the price of some boxed
sets has been reduced further.
Click
here to see the whole list of titles. The offer is limited
by stock availablility.
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For more information see www.kathrynstott.com
www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk
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PIANO
2003 MANCHESTER
A 17-day festival of keyboard music with 12 pianos and 28 international
pianists will take place at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester
14-30 March 2003. There will 68 events celebrating the piano including
150 years of Steinway - who will bring along their bright red
Ferrari piano!
There will be pianists
from all corners of the globe performing classical, jazz and tango,
in performances ranging from solo recitals, chamber and orchestral
concerts to poetry and piano-art.
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HONOURED
I'M SURE...
Peter Moores has been given a knighthood in the New Year's Honours
list. Moores is best known in the musical world for his generous
support of opera, particularly the promotion of opera in English
and the sponsoring of the Opera
in English label on Chandos.
Also knighted was
Brian McMaster, director of the Edinburgh International Festival.
CBE's go to the conductor Jane Glover, baritone Bryn Terfel and
Lady Sainsbury for services to music education and ballet.
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OBITUARIES
Ron Goodwin (1925-2003)
Ron Goodwin the film composer famous for the scores of 633
Squadron and Where Eagles Dare.
Doreen Carwithen
(1922-2003)
Mary Alwyn (aka Doreen Carwithen) composer and wife of William
Alwyn.
Roger Webb
(d. 2002 )
Composer, pianist, conductor and arranger.
A personal note
from Brian Couzens, Chairman and Managing Director
It was with
great sadness that I received the news of these three dear friends
all who died within a short time of each other. Through
my friendship with William Alwyn I became aware of Mary Alwyn's
(Doreen Carwithen) music and was very proud to have released some
of it on Chandos. In my earlier days, as a musician and arranger,
I worked with both Ron Goodwin and Roger Webb and have many happy
memories of those times.
The music world
has been enriched by their lifetime of contribution, but will
be made much the poorer by their deaths.
More...
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ROMOPHONE
CEASES TRADING
The historic CD label Romophone, which has been part of the
classical record scene for the past ten years, has ceased
trading due to unfavourable market conditions which resulted
in poor sales and a cash flow problem created by monies owed
not being paid promptly. The company had been very successful
in the past winning a Gramophone award in 1996. |
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Meanwhile Vox has issued plans that makes custom CDs
available, negating the need for retailers by dealing direct
with the customer, not manufacturing larger runs at CD factories
and thus having a smaller stock-holding, while at the same
time as having most titles constantly available. |
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MACMILLAN
GROUP Seek New Owner for Grove
Due to a new and tightly focussed global strategy con concentrating
on the groups particular strengths, social sciences, humanities
and business a new home is sought for the Grove Dictionary of
Music and Musicians.
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BMG and EMI
Since the last 'romance' between the companies a couple of years
ago, talks are again afoot, but this time as a merger of equals
not a buy-out as was previously negotiated, so no share bonuses
for those EMI shareholders.
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EDWARD
GREENFIELD, OBE
Edward Greenfield, one of Britain's leading music journalists,
celebrated 50 years of writing for The Guardian on
Sunday 12th January, at the Art Worker's Guild, London, of
which he was Grand Master in 2002. Though starting out as
a political correspondent, Edward Greenfield is one of the
most well-known personalities in the music industry today.
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Edward Greenfield and Chandos
financial director Sue Revill
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He founded
his Guardian record column in 1954, and in 1960,
joined the panel of Gramophone as well becoming one of the
three writers of the famous Penguin Stereo Guide
(now the Penguin Guide to Compact Discs). From then
onwards, he was a regular broadcaster on Radio 3 and 4,
as well has having his own program on the World Service
The Greenfield Collection - a popular program which
ran for many years.
In 1958, he
published a book on Puccini, and in the 1970s, wrote books
on André Previn and Joan Sutherland. He has given many live
interviews with artists such as Dame Elizabeth Schwarzkopf,
Dame Joan Sutherland, Dame Janet Baker and Sir George Solti,
as well as presiding over countless insightful interviews
with a myriad of artists, both in print and on the radio.
He was awarded the Gramophone Award for Special Achievement
in 1993, and the following year received the OBE for services
to music and journalism.
Without a
doubt, Edward Greenfield's enthusiasm and tremendous energy
have been of enormous importance in encouraging many talented
artists as well as, through his infectious enthusiasm, introducing
thousands of people to great music and great recordings.
His positive influence on the music scene - and on the recording
industry in particular - is strongly felt and is as sharp
as ever. Long may it continue!
Paul Westcott
Press and Promotion
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NORMAN
LEBRECHT WINS PRIZE
The first novel to come from the acerbic commentator of the classical
music world and assistant editor of London's Evening Standard
has won the Whitbread Award for best first novel.
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ENO CHORUS REBELS
A vote of no confidence has been made against the management of
ENO over plans to cut the chorus from 60 to 40.
A period of consultation
with a new business plan is currently underway at the Coliseum,
where falling revenues, partly a result of falling audiences during
the 2001-2002 season, and reports of the opera house going part-time
have prompted drastic action.
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Older
News
Llast updated December 2002
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More
Vaughan Williams in the Charts
The Film Music of Ralph Vaughan Williams is flying high at number
11 in the indepndent Classical Retailer's Chart (ICMR). |
Internet
Sales November 2002
For the first time ever, internet sales
(online sales) broke the one billion pounds sterling mark for one
month of sales. This is twice as much as the same last year and
a growth rate fifteen times greater than standard retail sales. |
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Grade 2 listed
Shed
Britten's
brick shed in Horham Suffolk, where he composed later in life,
has be declared a grade 2 listed building - not fr its architechural
distinction, but its undoubted cultural heritage.
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Older
News
Last updated November 2002
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I Musici de
Montréal awarded CD of the Year
The Quebec Music Council has awarded their coveted 'CD of the
Year' award to I Musici de Montréal Chamber Orchestra and ‘cellist
Yuli Turovsky. Their latest release titled Nocturnal Dances
of Don JuanQuixote (The Modern Cello) (CHAN
9973) won in the category of 'Best Recording of the Year -
Classical, Modern and Romantic Music'.
This prestigious
award was given out in front of 300 guests during the 6th edition
of the Opus Awards Gala held in Montreal on Sunday, November 24th
2002 in the 5th Salle of Place des Arts and represents the orchestra’s
third such award. This recording, the orchestra’s 41st in their
19 year history is made up of music by Bernstein, Sallinen, Hindemith,
Bartók and Castelnuovo-Tedesco.
Moreover, this
excellent recording celebrates Yuli Turovsky’s 25 years of musical
activity in Canada; a quarter century of remarkable accomplishments
which constitute a precious heritage and source of inspiration
for us all.
I Musici de Montréal
Chamber Orchestra has recorded exclusively with Chandos Records
since 1983.
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