September 2009 News Archive
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Chandos Records release recording of Martinů chamber music by Dvořák Society member William Howard and The Schubert Ensemble
First posted 26 September 2009
Dvořák Society member and pianist William Howard founded The Schubert Ensemble and during the 26 years of its existence they have built up together an excellent reputation in the broader chamber music repertoire as well as an expertise in the performance of Czech music. The Ensemble has commissioned works by Pavel Novák (also known as Pavel Zemek), a composer born in Brno in 1957 whose most characteristic works are monophonic and also reflect an interest in Moravian folk traditions and a devout Christian faith.
The new recording
The Schubert Ensemble are joined by oboist George Caird for a new Martinů recording on the Chandos label, due for release as a CD or download in October 2010. Recorded at Potton Hall, Suffolk, the release (CD no CHAN 10551) features works composed during the composer’s American years and in Switzerland near the end of Martinů’s life:
- Piano Quartet (H 287) (composed Jamaica, Long Island, 1942)
- Quartet for oboe, violin & piano (H 315) (composed New York, 1947)
- Piano Trio No 3 in C (H 332) (composed New York, 1951)
- Duo No 2 for violin & cello (H 371) (composed Schönenberg-Pratteln, 1958)
• More about pianist William Howard
William Howard’s principal piano teachers were Peter Feuchtwanger, Vlado Perlemuter and Joyce Rathbone. In the Czech field, he studied Janáček’s piano works with Milan Maša in Brno and has also studied in Prague with František Rauch. The Czech side of his repertoire includes composers Dussek, Smetana, Dvořák, Fibich, Vítěslav Novák, Josef Suk, Janáček, Martinů, Petr Eben, and Pavel Novák. His informative web site is www.williamhoward.co.uk.htm.
• More about The Schubert Ensemble
For more information about The Schubert Ensemble — including their recordings of Hummel and Korngold — please visit the web site www.schubertensemble.com. The site also lists the works by Pavel Novák commissioned by the ensemble. www.dvorak-society.org
