I never imagined, when I learnt my very first Japanese song Karatachi no hana -Quince Flower – by Yamada Kohsaku in 1991, that thirty years later I would be bringing out my fourth CD of these beautiful songs. This is the third CD with piano accompaniment and like the other two, is a mixture of “kakyoku”, the Japanese equivalent of Lieder or Chanson, and of “douyou”, popular songs that are sung in schools and then throughout life. It has truly been a wonderful journey of discovery and the songs on this CD show that the art of composition of these western-style songs continues on into the present day.

Cecil Armstrong Gibbs (he disliked the name Cecil so was known as Armstrong) was a prolific and versatile composer of the first half of the twentieth century. He studied under Sir Adrian Boult and Ralph Vaughan Williams. His contemporaries were Herbert Howells, Sir Arthur Bliss and Sir Arnold Bax. Known principally for his solo songs Gibbs also wrote music for the stage, sacred works, three symphonies and a substantial amount of chamber music. He gained wide recognition during the early part of his life. He continued to compose and conduct up until his death in May 1960.

Cecil Armstrong Gibbs (he disliked the name Cecil so was known as Armstrong) was a prolific and versatile composer of the first half of the twentieth century. He studied under Sir Adrian Boult and Ralph Vaughan Williams. His contemporaries were Herbert Howells, Sir Arthur Bliss and Sir Arnold Bax. Known principally for his solo songs Gibbs also wrote music for the stage, sacred works, three symphonies and a substantial amount of chamber music. He gained wide recognition during the early part of his life. He continued to compose and conduct up until his death in May 1960.

Three French song cycles, composed at the start of the 20th Century, by two masters of “chanson – French art song”, Reynaldo Hahn and Gabriel Fauré and one hitherto unknown composer, Gabriel Dupont.

"The songs on this disc span more than 50 years and show Quilter in all his moods – light, exuberant, ephemeral, narrative, pensive, but always melodic. The arrangements of the songs included from "The Arnold book of old songs" are among Quilter's finest work. They present the melodies with elegance, imagination, and deep affection; they never overpower. The accompaniments enhance the voice, supporting but not dominating."

This "Romance" CD contains a selection of popular tunes and encores that I am often asked to perform in my concerts. I have been incredibly lucky to perform all over the world, hence the inclusion of popular songs in Chinese, Japanese and Korean. My accompanist on this record is my soul-mate - the sensitive and excellent pianist Adrian Farmer - with whom I have shared many happy hours of music-making all over the world, including those we have experienced in the recording studio together.

The songs on this disc represent 50 years of Hyde's writing, the first Dream Land written in 1933 and Yorkshire Picture in 1982. Thirteen poets are represented in this collection, including the composer herself.

A composer who writes songs arguably allows us into a very personal side of his or her character. An instrumental composition gives us access to a composer's imagination and invention as far as the composer chooses to let us see, but a song shows a composer's highly personal response to a text.

Furusato, 'Homeland' - is a song with a deep meaning of belonging, whether this is in the countryside or the city; 'I can never forget my birthplace', the song says, with the hope that one day there would be a possibility of returning home.

I am so excited at presenting this Lyrita recording of Norman Peterkin songs. He is a virtually unknown composer and it has been a wonderful journey of discovery. The music is a mixture of lyrical, almost folk-like tunes and complex songs that explore the deeper meaning of the words.

The wonderful orchestrations created for these songs, which were originally written with piano accompaniment, lifts them to a whole new level and as such it is hoped that they will appeal to a much wider audience.”

For their second album of Robert Schumann songs Charlotte de Rothschild and Adrian Farmer have chosen to group together 7 "Myrthen" settings of Robert Burns poems and to include the great song cycle Liederkreis Op. 39 as the central work in this disc.

Few composers - especially song composers - can claim to have written works that have remained in print since they were first published more than a hundred years ago. Roger Quilter is one such, though the number of his songs still in print is regrettably small. He wrote about 140 songs and arrangements, and all the songs on this CD show just what a loss it is that so few are readily available.

"Ms de Rothschild's timbre is appealing, fresh and youthful-sounding."
Music Web

Both listener and performer have been so long attached to the songs Faure wrote in the period 1860-1890 that it seems to have prevented us from embracing his later, and far more satisfying, works. Performances of the main work presented here - La Chanson d'Eve - are rarer than hens' teeth. How this twenty-four minute masterpiece has so completely slipped the net is a mystery and a tragedy.

The publication of a double album devoted to Mathilde de Rothschild's music constitutes a further important step in the reassessment of nineteenth-century women composers. Anyone who is familiar with the cultural life of the time, would be aware of the importance of the Rothschild family who were patrons of many prominent composers, such as Mendelssohn, Herz, Bellini, Spohr, Liszt, Meyerbeer, Rossini and Chopin.

The latter, in 1849, was eager to teach a teenaged "Rothschild girl," whom he clearly considered very talented. Mathilde went on to become a respected, prolific and well-published composer of beautiful music.

"Each of these fifty-odd songs is sung with much artistry as if each is a precious and unique jewel."

The marvellously pure voice of Charlotte de Rothschild is the perfect vehicle for this repertoire. Good that she begins with some Rubbra, too: "A Hymn to the Virgin" is given with a lovely legato and some wonderful phrase shadings. "Jesukin", too, is the epitome of Christmas-spiced beauty. It is de Rothschild's ability to spin a simple line so magically that enthrals...

Harp solos are strategically placed for variety's sake, and they provide their own brand of magic. Then there is the ever-popular "Walking in the Air", as inevitable as it is poignant. Those chestnuts which roast every year in an open fire provide a fitting end, especially as the song ends with the words "Merry Christmas to you", the perfect way to leave the listener. A lovely, heart-warming disc. Enjoy.

"Of the thirty-one songs that make up this recital all but four are concerned with the intimate emotional experiences of a woman or young girl. All the events, expectations, disappointments, joy and sorrow are communicated directly by the person experiencing them. The four observational songs (Der Nußbaum, Die Lotosblume, Herzeleid and Schneeglöckchen) in which the poet acts as our intermediary, also share a preoccupation with private, youthful yearning and heartbreak, with only Schneeglöckchen falling into the archetypal lieder catch-all of gender neutral "nature" song."

I have always believed in magic and have loved tales of mystical beings ever since my beloved Scottish nanny introduced me to a world of wonder when I was little. She never failed to point out a fairy ring of mushrooms or the dew sparkling on a spider's web in the early morning as if touched by a wand when we went for our morning walk. She read me wonderful tales of magical folk that fired my imagination such as "Little Grey Men" and "Down the Bright Stream" by B.B, closely followed by stories from Andrew Lang's many coloured Fairy Books, "The Hobbit" and the Narnia Chronicles. I can still remember the joy and fascination of discovering this parallel race of beings.

As in the great Schubert songs, so these strophic kakyoku hide a depth of meaning and one has to peel away each layer of the poems and music to discover their inner core. An album of all-Japanese traditional songs is not an unusual thing for a Japanese artist to do in Japan but the fact that I am a foreigner may give them a different slant.

I hope you enjoy listening to them as much as I enjoyed recording them with the help of the wonderful Masahiro Saitoh as accompanist.

Songs by Kohsaku Yamada, Yoshinao Nakata, Dan Ikuma and Taki Rentaro among others.

Gary Higginson was born in 1952 and although this is the first recording of any of his work he has had a busy career in music. On this debut recording we hear a varied selection of Higginson's vocal music, both sacred and secular, together with pieces for solo harp played by Danielle Perrett. Charlotte de Rothschild, the distinguished soprano, gives an inspired performance, her voice encompassing the highest notes with marvelous ease."

This splendid disc should be greeted with the greatest enthusiasm. It is a magnificent introduction to an unjustly overlooked contemporary composer.

Songs by friends, teachers and relatives; spanning 200 years of Rothschild family history.

"Family Connections" was Charlotte de Rothschild's first professional recording. It was made early on in her career and highlights the wonderful connections that the Rothschilds have had over the generations with so many famous musicians. Charlotte’s career has since taken her all over the world.

Charlotte de Rothschild and David Watkins at Charlecote Park.

A recital of music spanning five centuries, from the magnificent Great Hall

Artists:
Charlotte de Rothschild - Soprano
David Watkins - Harp