Delos Diary

Delos Insider

Year End Summary

The end of the year is a time for making lists … lists of what we've accomplished in the last twelve months, and lists of things we hope to achieve in the new year — 2005.
Here at Delos we've compiled our list of things we've done in 2004 and it's a little surprising, even to us.
Since January 2004 we have released 17 new CDs bearing the Delos label. This doesn't include re-releases or a few distributed CDs. These 17 Delos discs encompass a wide variety of music. Each one deserves a few words of comment, so here goes.
January 2004

The Premiere Organ Recording from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Sal Soria, organist (DE 3331). A sound spectacular featuring a great new instrument, wonderful playing and a beautiful package.

February 2004

Beethoven Quartets, Op. 59, Nos. 2 & 3, The Shanghai Quartet (DE 3320). Long awaited, the result of much preparation, precursor of other Beethoven quartets to follow. The Shanghai Quartet gives nonpareil readings.

March 2004

Hear My Prayer, Voices of Ascension, Dennis Keene, conductor, Hei Kyung Hong, soloist (DE 3300). A long wait — too long — for this new Dennis Keene release… but how beautiful his "Voices" sound. Wonderful repertoire plus world-class soprano Hei Kyung Hong as soloist.

The Sound of the Italian Saxophone Quartet (DE 3333). Live from Verona, these four Italian saxophone virtuosi, led by Federico Mondelci, play as if joined at the hip, with flawless ensemble. Engaging music, lots of ebullient fun, a sheer delight!

April 2004

Dmitri Hvorostovsky - Sviridov: Petersburg (DE 3311). The great Siberian baritone sings Russian song classics like no one else performing today, and on this disc gives persuasive interpretations of the Petersburg song cycle and other Pushkin-inspired romances by the yet-to-be-fully-recognized-in-the-west Russian master composer Georgi Sviridov.

Raffaele Trevisani - Flute Concertos (DE 3332). The distinguished Italian flutist presents a precious bouquet of his favorite 18th century flute concertos, with beautifully integrated accompaniments supplied by Constantine Orbelian and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra

May 2004

Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 7, James DePreist, Oregon Symphony (DE 3334). DePreist's Sibelius is about as good as it gets, the result of study, scholarship, deep understanding and great love of the music. Listen to how well the orchestra plays for him. All this plus great sound.

Vassily Gerello - Favorite Ukrainian Songs (DE 3274). Our other outstanding baritone sings his Ukrainian favorites so persuasively that even the unruly folks in Kiev might be calmed down by just listening. Constantine Orbelian and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra are ideal collaborators.

June 2004

Zhou Long: Tales from the Cave - Music from China (DE 3335). Here's a real novelty… a contemporary Chinese composer, a stellar instrumental group, new music based on age old techniques and skills. A real musical shot in the arm… or ear!

Shostakovich: Complete Songs, Volume Four (DE 3313). The last but one in our definitive complete collection of every song and romance ever penned by the great Russian composer. Another milestone in this widely hailed edition.

July 2004
Vacation Time, Moving Time…

August 2004

Sviatoslav Richter, Bach English Suites Nos. 1,3, 4 & 6 (GH 5601). A tape of a live concert that we just had to bring out. The late, great pianist does an incredible job extracting the soul of Bach from these deceptively simple but amazingly complex pieces.

HUAXIA - Chinese Chamber Ensemble (DE 3299). There's more to contemporary Chinese music than just Zhou Long (see June release). This album adds to the astonishing variety of music being composed and performed by today's Chinese musicians.

September 2004

Arensky: Raffaello (DE 3319). A real surprise! A one-act opera, with beautiful music written in the vein of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. The lovely operatic melodies are beautifully sung by mezzo Marina Domashenko and other famed Russian soloists. Also included are additional Arensky songs. Constantine Orbelian and the Philharmonia of Ruissia give their distinguished "all" to do justice to Arensky's score.

Behzad Ranjbaran: Persian Trilogy, JoAnn Falletta, The London Symphony Orchestra (DE 3336). Another Delos first! Persian-American composer Behzad Ranjbaran glorifies the legends of his homeland, (today's Iran) with three symphonic pieces interpreting stories from the Persian Book of Kings. JoAnn Falletta conducts the virtuoso London Symphony and brings out all the lush romanticism and drama Ranjbaran's scores provide.

October 2004

Boys Gotta Dance! (DE 1623). Even your most hyperactive boy child will be pressed to keep up with this wonderfully lively collection of Delos tunes, chosen from many Delos sources to test his excess energy demands. One way to keep him from his video games for a day or two.

November 2004

Girls Gotta Dance! (DE 1624). In case the little girls in the family feel that the October release Boys Gotta Dance! is not for them, they should love this lively collage of Delos light music to help keep them active "princesses" and not just rowdy tomboys.

Complete Songs of Glinka, Volume One (DE 3338). Glinka, the father of Russian 19th century music, wrote enough songs and romances to fill three CDs. This is Volume One, a selection of songs… charming and redolent of the early 19th century romantics… all sung by wonderful and knowledgeable Russian vocal soloists. Volumes two and three will follow soon.

That's our list for 2004. Previewing and predicting 2005 will have to wait for another time. Meanwhile, Happy New Year!