Ross Edwards, Jean Sibelius

Ross Edwards, Jean Sibelius, Violin Concertos

Available on CD and digital download

This recording of Concertos by Sibelius and Australian composer Ross Edwards is the first solo release on Canary Classics for Adele Anthony. She has acclaimed recordings of Philip Glass' Violin Concerto (Naxos) and with her husband Gil Shaham Arvo Pärt's Tabula Rasa (Deutsche Grammophon), and Sarasate (Canary Classics).

In 1983 at the age of 13, Adele was the youngest winner, and remains so to this day, of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Instrumental and Vocal Competition performing the Sibelius Violin Concerto, and here offers a recording of a work she has lived with for over 25 years. She returns to her home city of Adelaide, Australia to make this recording with acclaimed Sibelian conductor Arvo Volmer. Adele brings a soulful femininity, richness, clarity and intensity of sound to her interpretation of the Sibelius concerto.

Of particular interest on this release is Ross Edwards' Violin Concerto, Maninyas. The original inspiration for Maninyas came from a Ballet commission from Houston Ballet created by Stanton Welch. This concerto contains a compelling hybrid of influences, the result deserving recognition as one of the great modern day violin concertos. The Maninyas Chorale (track 3 on the CD) is one of Ross' great compositional moments.

'Throughout, Adele Anthony plays beautifully, with warm, luminous tone, and she's well supported by the Adelaide orchestra... Anthony has the measure of the Sibelius... playing with complete assurance, and her mellow tone is heard to splendid effect in the lyrical passages, above all in the Adagio...'

Gramophone

'She’s superb.... and she makes a glowing case for Australian composer Ross Edwards’s Maninyas ... And it’s magnificently played by Anthony, whose athleticism in the faster sections is staggering... Anthony’s slow movement [Sibelius] is ecstatic, and she closes proceedings with a finale that’s infectious and ultimately thrilling... She’s superbly accompanied by Arvo Volmer’s Adelaide forces, and the recording is nicely balanced.'

The Arts Desk

'... None of the above prepared me for the phenomenal quality of her playing of the Sibelius. I can honestly say I have never heard the work played before with such accuracy and apparent ease... As far as the performance of the solo part is concerned this would be my number one choice... Purchasers buying the disc for either work should be delighted with their ‘main’ choice but equally pleased with the remaining music....On the strength of her magnificent reading of the Sibelius Ms Anthony is a name I will actively seek out in the future.'

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