Advanced consort and solo players were coached on Purcell, Schenk, Marais and JS Bach.
Advanced consort and solo players were coached on Purcell, Schenk, Marais and JS Bach.
Phantasm’s next recording – William Lawes Consorts to the Organ, with Daniel Hyde, organ, will be released in June 2012 on Linn Records. It includes a selection of the Five- and Six-Part sets, including some versions never before on record. The launch will take place at the Wigmore Hall on 6 June when Phantasm will be appearing with Elizabeth Kenny in a programme of Lawes and John Dowland.
The rich treasure trove of the 16th and 17th centuries offers up riches on every journey there. In this concert Phantasm offer an opportunity to journey with them. Beginning with William Byrd, Phantasm lead us through the chamber music of John Ward, and John Jenkins. There we turn to the short life of William Lawes which ended so violently, travelling through Thomas Tomkins and Orlando Gibbons, finishing with one of the greatest of English composers – Henry Purcell. Phantasm expertly guide us through the strikingly distinct personalities inhabiting the English consort school. This experience will be set in the period surroundings of the stunningly beautiful 15th Century Magdalen College Chapel.
Phantasm is recognised as the most exciting viol consort active on the world scene today, having won two Gramophone Awards and numerous other citations and prizes. Their latest recording, the complete consort music of William Byrd, was nominated for a Gramophone award, won a Diapason d’Or, and was named disc of the month in BBC Music Magazine. It has also been nominated for an International Classical Music Award – the preeminent international award, and recently entered the US Billboard Charts. Phantasm, directed by Laurence Dreyfus, is Consort-in-Residence at Magdalen College Oxford.
Phantasm, along with Retrospect Trio and Retrospect Ensemble, has been nominated for an International Classical Music Award. The awards will be announced at a gala ceremony and concert on 15th May in Nantes, France.
Phantasm's nomination is for their album 'William Byrd: Complete Consort Music' which has already been named 'Editor's Choice' in Gramophone, been awarded a 'Golden Diapason d'Or' by Diapason and was a Finalist at the 2011 Gramophone Awards. BBC Music Magazine described the recording as "flawless" as well as giving the disc five stars and naming it 'Disc of the Month'.
As of August 2010, Phantasm has been named Consort-in-residence at Magdalen College, Oxford. The consort will be able to devote time to researching and learning new repertoire and shall perform several times per year in the College, collaborating with the College Choir (Daniel Hyde, Informator Choristarum), giving recitals in Chapel, and developing consort playing among Magdalen students. Thanks to the generosity of two Old Members of Magdalen, the College has acquired a full 'chest' of six Lu-mi viols, which students will have available to them for music making. During their residencies, Phantasm members will be offering tuition and coaching to interested students.
In early September 2010, Phantasm will assemble in Merton College (Oxford) Chapel to record the complete viol consorts of William Byrd for 3, 4, 5, and 6 viols together with Emilia Benjamin and Mikko Perkola. This will be the second recording that Phantasm will do on the LINN label.
At 5:30pm on Saturday 14 November 2009, Phantasm will give a short recital of Locke a4 in Magdalen Chapel, and at 6pm will play for Evensong with Magdalen Chapel Choir, Daniel Hyde, Informator Choristarum.
Laurence Dreyfus and Phantasm to appear on BBC Radio 3's 'Discovering Music' - As part of the 2009 Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music, Catherine Bott and Laurence Dreyfus offer an insider's view to the Golden Age of English viol music. Phantasm play examples from music by Robert Parsons, William Byrd, Orland Gibbons, John Jenkins and William Lawes, showing how they all influenced the Fantasies and In Nomines of Henry Purcell. Includes complete performances given by Phantasm at the festival.
Phantasm will launch their new CD of the complete five- and six-part works of the Jacobean composer John Ward for Linn Records after their final concert at the Utrecht Early Music Festival on 30th August. This is wonderful music by a master of the viol consort idiom! All are welcome to attend the event, with a chance to talk to the artists over a glass of wine.
http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-john-ward--consort-music-for-five-a...