Delos Diary

While compiling information for a press release announcing the final volume of Shostakovich's Complete Songs, we were surprised to see what a big project it turned out to be. For a small company like Delos, it's like bringing out a new Wagner Ring Cycle.
For starters, Dmitri Shostakovich was a prolific song writer. From his early youth on to the period immediately preceding his death, he never stopped writing songs. Here are the facts… from 1932 to 1974 he wrote a total of 101 songs either as individual entities or as parts of diverse song cycles. His texts derive from the writings of great and obscure poets and authors alike, from Blok, Lermontov, Pushkin, Dolmatovsky, Svetlov, Krylov, Shakespeare, Walter Raleigh and Robert Burns to quotes from press clippings and personal ruminations. Put end to end these songs comprise over 5 hours of words and music.
Collating all this material, finding singers to interpret so many different styles, moods and emotions with authority must be a daunting task, but Yuri Serov, Russian pianist, accompanist, teacher and writer, accomplished it all and even wrote the liner notes. Throughout the five volumes in various combinations, he utilizes nine vocalists and even a youth chamber choir.
Delos is bring out the final volume (No. Five) of this series later this month and it provides a satisfying finale to the project.
From Jewish Folk Poetry, a vocal cycle of 14 songs composed in 1948, contrasts strikingly with Suite to Words by Michelangelo Buonarroti, eight songs with perhaps the most significant words Michelangelo ever wrote summing up his life and art. Shostakovich, in this late cycle, provides music worthy of the master artist.
Anyone interested in song literature should indulge themselves in this song series, even if it means buying one at a time. Together, they make up a unique segment of Shostakovich's total musical output, as significant in their own way as his symphonies and chamber works.

Delos Diary

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!