Howard Shelley - piano
As pianist, conductor and recording artist Howard Shelley has enjoyed a distinguished career since his highly acclaimed London debut in 1971. He has been closely associated with the music of Rachmaninov and has performed and recorded complete cycles of that composer's solo piano works, concertos and songs. His discography now exceeds 150 cds. Since his conducting debut in 1985 he has worked with all the major London orchestras and many other symphony orchestras including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, RTE National Symphony, Ulster Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, City of Mexico Philharmonic and Orchestra of Italian Switzerland. He has toured to Australia for thirty consecutive years and with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra he has recorded fifteen volumes for Hyperion’s Romantic Piano series. Much of his current work is now in the combined role of conductor and soloist. His long association with the London Mozart Players has been recognised by the title of Conductor Laureate. Shelley has also been Principal Conductor of Sweden's Uppsala Chamber Orchestra. In addition to close relationships with the English Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto in Italy, Våsteras Sinfonietta in Sweden, Poland’s Sinfonia Varsovia and the St Gallen Symphony in Switzerland, with most of whom he also records, other chamber orchestras with whom he has worked include the Swedish Chamber, Zurich Chamber, Netherlands Chamber, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Orchestre de Picardie and Camerata Salzburg. In 1994 HRH The Prince of Wales conferred on him an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Music and in the 2009 New Year's Honours he was awarded an OBE for services to classical music.
For an up to date biography please contact Howard’s Shelley’s general manager: Caroline Baird: www.carolinebairdartists.co.uk
Cyril Scott (1879-1970)
premiere recording
Symphony No. 3 'The Muses' (1937)* 34:45
with Chorus
To Sir Thomas Beecham
1 I Melpomene: Muse of Epic Poetry and Tragedy. 14:32
Andante sostenuto - Molto maestoso -
2 II Thalia: Muse of Comedy and Merry Verse. Allegro con spirito 5:40
3 III Erato: Muse of Love and Poetry. Molto tranquillo - 6:43
4 IV Terpsichore: Muse of Dance and Song. Molto moderato e ritmico 7:48
premiere recording on CD
Piano Concerto No. 2 (1958)† 20:16
5 I Con moto - Meno mosso - Vigoroso - 9:46
6 II Tranquillo pastoral - Adagio - Tempo I - 4:48
7 III Energico - Grazioso - Moderato - Tempo I 5:40
premiere recording
Neptune (1933, revised 1935) 24:22
Poem of the Sea for Large Orchestra
To Albert Coates
8 Andante - Molto maestoso - 5:34
9 Con moto - Largo - 1:40
10 Tempo di valse - Molto cantbile - Wistfully - 3:39
11 Allegro agitato - 9:28
12 Adagio molto - Tristamente - 4:00
79:32
Howard Shelley piano†
Huddersfield Choral Society *
BBC Philharmonic
Martyn Brabbins
Recorded in:
Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester
15-17 April 202
Producer(s)
Brian Pidgeon (Executive)
Mike George (Recording)
Sound Engineer(s)
Stephen Rinker
Denise Else (Assistant)
Awards
Gramophone Editor's Choice>
Format: Digital CD 16Bit 44.1Khz
Originally recorded in: 24Bit 96Khz