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That flattering review doesn't mention a crucial element I reckon: the sound quality of that recording is awful.

That is strange - I have listened to the physical disc a few times and haven't noticed any audio issues. Can I ask what media you're listening from?

I thought this might be of interest. Widor may not be considered unsung for recordings of his organ works (including the ubiquitous Toccata from Organ Symphony No. 5); Daniel Grimwood has recently released a disc devoted to Widor's piano works. It contains the first recording of his Carnaval Op.61, doubtless inspired by that of Schumann. Full disclosure: I was involved in the genesis of this recording, so perhaps a little biased in my opnion, but I do feel that this music has much to say, and shines a light on a neglected corner of the piano repertoire.

A glowing review from Jeremy Nicholas in Gramophone: https://www.gramophone.co.uk/reviews/widor-piano-works-daniel-grimwood

Physical and digital copies available here: https://danacord.com/product/charles-marie-widor-piano-works/

cheers,
Daniel

An update here: I have it on good authority that Simon Perry is leaving or has now left the business as Artistic Director. What next?!

Readers may be interested to know, I've just published a first edition of William Yeates Hurlstone's Piano Concerto of 1895. It includes a history of the work as well as a comprehensive list of editorial changes made. Sources consulted include the corrected set of performance parts, as well as the composer's original full score and two-piano rehearsal score. This work would not have been possible without the generous support and involvement of the Library at the Royal College of Music. Sample pages are available here.

cheers,
Daniel Mitterdorfer

The Dupré Violin Sonata is a great work;  it has been recorded before, but never released on CD. I have the LP and a very generous friend is digitising it. I'll place it on YouTube once I have the files and try to remember to post the link here.

cheers,
Daniel

Readers may be interested to know that Vierne orchestrated various movements (the Scherzo from the Second Symphony, Adagio from the Third Symphony and the Final from the First Symphony) from his organ symphonies into a Pièce Symphonique. It looks like the recording is now out of print but I imagine second hand copies can be found on Ebay, etc. More information here: https://ohscatalog.org/louis-vierne-volume-4-christine-kamp-and-orchestra/

cheers,
Daniel

I just got the CD. I had amazon points to use. I will listen tonight.

I'd be interested in your thoughts!

I can certainly vouch for the Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse recording - the playing is excellent, and the unexpected treat for me was Quatre pièces brèves. Readers may be interested to know that I've finally published my compilation of things Boëllmann, the main part of which is a parallel French/English version of a biography published in 1901. Also included are a few photos from the BnF collection, as well as a list of works. You can order it here.

kind regards,
Daniel

I concur - it is a welcome release and the playing is excellent, A Downland Suite in particular. For fans of Epic March, the earlier recordings from Richard Hickox on Chandos (here) and The Hallé, with much repertoire duplication (here) come across a little more 'alive'.

Daniel

This is certainly a welcome rerelease; Delvallee's is my favourite of the three currently available sets of Vierne's "complete" pianos works (the others are Sergio Monteiro on Naxos, due to be completed with the release of volume 2 later this year, and Olivier Gardon on Timpani). Since the recording of both Gardon and Delvallee's surveys in the early 90s, additional pieces have come to light, so Monteiro's is the only set to feature all the piano works still in existence. I'd hoped that Cédric Tiberghien might have been persuaded to record his own survey for Hyperion, given he and Alina Ibragimova's brilliant recording of Vierne's Violin Sonata (CDA68204).

cheers,
Daniel

For those interested, the tracklist for the disc is available here https://www.em-records.com/discs/emr-cd073-details.html as are samples, and the disc is already available to purchase from EM Records.

kind regards,
Daniel

I have to advocate for this lovely disc of music by Léon Boëllmann: https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8917737--boellmann-symphonie-en-fa-majeur-variations-symphoniques-quatre-pieces-breves particularly the Quatre pièces brèves pour cordes

cheers,
Daniel

Well, I shall eat my words! A slew of new Dutton Epoch recordings have been added to their website today, nearly all of them in the remit of this board. Click away...

best wishes,
Daniel

And also full art available on the Naxos site. I've also spoken to Sergio and can confirm the set will be the "complete" piano works, which is great news!

cheers,
Daniel

Hi All,
Does anyone have any information on Dutton Epoch, one of my favourite labels for neglected repertoire, and what's happened to their release schedule? Obviously with the pandemic, recording of symphonic repertoire was nigh impossible, but I would have thought they had a few recordings in the can that hadn't yet been released to an eager public.

Kind regards,
Daniel