Latest news with #Decca
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No 3 album review – hear the performance that made Yunchan Lim a star
As soon as the 2022 Van Cliburn piano competition in Fort Worth, Texas, was over, news travelled across the Atlantic that the latest winner was very special indeed. Over the following year or so, Yunchan Lim's recitals in Europe and a first disc for Decca (of the Chopin Études), together with recordings that documented his performances in the competition, of Liszt's Transcendental Études in his semi-final recital, and Rachmaninov's Third Concerto in the final, confirmed that the reports had been no exaggeration: he is the real thing, a once-in-a-generation talent. Now Decca has reissued the Fort Worth concerto performance, but with the sound significantly cleaned up and rebalanced, and the wonder of Lim's playing if anything enhanced. What is immediately striking is the sheer confidence and poise of everything he does, and the overriding sense that there is never any doubt about the direction in which this majestic concerto should be taken; it's hard to believe that this is the performance of an 18-year-old. Needless to say, every technical challenge in the keyboard writing seems to be effortlessly negotiated, yet the brilliance is never an end in itself; it is always part of a bigger picture, without ever diminishing the thrill of such astonishing command, so that the way the unadorned melodic lines of the slow movement are phrased becomes just as telling as the way in which the densest flurries of notes are negotiated. Just perhaps in the finale, when Lim can seem too headstrong for his own good, does his performance betray his age; otherwise it deserves a place alongside the finest versions of this concerto on disc, from those by Rachmaninov himself and Vladimir Horowitz to Martha Argerich and Vladimir Ashkenazy. Despite Decca's remastering, though, the sound is by no means perfect; some orchestral detail remains too distant, and the string sound is sometimes scrawny and undernourished. Normally such shortcomings might preclude a five-star recommendation, but Lim's playing is so astonishing it's almost irrelevant. This article includes content hosted on We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as the provider may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Listen on Apple Music (above) or Spotify
Spectator
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Spectator
A spate of re-releases suggests that Wolfgang Sawallisch was no B-lister
Grade: A It's clearance-sale time for the great classical labels of the 20th century. As streaming platforms drain the remaining value out of once-prestigious recorded catalogues, even B-listers are being pulled up from the vaults and remastered for one last re-release. Eleven-disc Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos edition? Walter Weller's complete Decca recordings? Now's your chance: everything must go! The Bavarian conductor Wolfgang Sawallisch, who died in 2013, was never exactly B-list. His name always commanded respect. But in the golden age of LP collecting he was regarded as a safe pair of hands rather than a blue-chip name. Listening to a mini spate of Sawallisch re-releases suggests that we underrated him. His Schumann symphonies are surely the best on record, and a live Munich recording of Mendelssohn's Elijah from 1984 offers a glimpse into a living tradition – a conductor and performers speaking a shared musical language as natives. But this new remastering of Schubert's Unfinished and Mendelssohn's Italian probably tells you all you need to know. The performances date from 1959-60, around the time that Sawallisch – typically – tied his destiny to Vienna's orchestral also-rans, the Symphony Orchestra, rather than the show ponies up the Ringstrasse at the Philharmonic. The unforced depth of tone in the Schubert, and the expressive weight in its tragic climaxes; the contrast between the glowing orchestral colours of the Mendelssohn and Sawallisch's exultant forward momentum… well, see what you think. And then marvel that there was ever a time when we took conducting like this for granted.
Edinburgh Live
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Scottish singer Lulu makes rare admission on mental health and says 'it's scary'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Scottish singer Lulu is urging those suffering from mental health issues to open up about what they are experiencing ahead of her charity's first major event. Admitting 'it's scary', she claims the chats are important as mental health wasn't talked about when she entered the industry, reports the Daily Record. The singer will be leading the first significant event - a sponsored walk - on May 19 for her charitable fund Lulu's Mental Health Trust. The 76-year-old decided to set up this fund while writing her memoir that covered her 60 years in the music industry. She realised mental health was a major factor throughout her life, whether it was her own or a loved ones. She said: "The process of writing my memoir opened my eyes to the role that mental health has played in my life. Whether that's my own mental health, my loved ones, colleagues, whatever. "When I was first coming into the industry we didn't talk about it! But it's so important, and I want to give back. People will understand what I mean when they read the book I think… it's coming soon." Looking back on her career, she added: "It feels kinda full circle. I've supported lots of charities over the years and still do, but to be able to put this together myself and help make a difference is really touching. "We never talked about mental health or mental illnesses when I was growing up, I'm glad it's now something we're aware of. "It feels important to take a minute to look back at everything I've achieved and take time to think how I can use it to give back to those that need it." Lulu announced her new mental health charity was being set up in February after coming off the back of her Champagne For Lulu farewell show last year. For her charity's first major event, Lulu is set to lead a mammoth walk which starts in E1 0AQ at the school she filmed 'To Sir With Love' and finishes at the old Decca studio where she recorded 'Shout' in NW6 3AU. Throughout the walk, she will pass other places that are connected to her impressive six-decade career. When asked what she hoped people would take away from this campaign, she said: "The message we want to put out about how important it is to nurture and look after your mental health. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. "If they take away anything, I'd love for it to be that there is help out there if they need it. If you're struggling please talk to someone. Talk to a friend, a family member, or someone trained in what to do and say. It feels scary, but you've got this." She added: "People have been so generous. I didn't expect so many people to sponsor me and it's only our first initiative! There will be more to come." At nearly £16,000 in sponsorship so far on her Just Giving page, you can sponsor Lulu and support her new charity at
Korea Herald
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Lim Yunchan makes BBC awards history with Chopin etudes album
21-year-old pianist set to release live album from 2022 Cliburn Competition Pianist Lim Yunchan swept the three most prestigious categories at the BBC Music Magazine Awards in London -- recording of the year, newcomer of the year and the instrumental award -- all for his debut studio album 'Chopin: Etudes,' released last year under the Decca Classics label, according to the organizer on Thursday. It marked the first time since the award's inception in 2006 that a single album has claimed all three titles. Even more unprecedented: a first-time winner in the newcomer category also taking home recording of the year. Charlotte Smith, editor of BBC Music Magazine, said, "That the artist at the center of these three prestigious awards should just have celebrated his 21st birthday is downright astonishing. But Lim Yunchan is no ordinary artist." "Given that 2024 saw the release of many outstanding albums, I did not expect this outcome at all, and I'm so grateful. I strive always to harmonize what my heart tells me with what my mind dictates,' Lim said, according to the organizer's website. Released in April 2024, Lim's 'Chopin: Etudes' has achieved remarkable success globally, earning the Diapason d'Or in France and the Gramophone Classical Music Award in the piano category, where he was also named young artist of the year. Alongside the awards, Decca announced Thursday the upcoming release of Lim's live album from the final round of the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, where he stunned the world with his interpretation of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3. The live recording is scheduled for release May 1, and a preview track from the second movement was released Thursday. Lim was just 18 when he became the youngest winner in Van Cliburn history. The final-round performance video has since garnered over 17 million views on YouTube -- the most-watched rendition of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3. The young pianist's performances continue to generate global attention. His BBC Proms debut in 2024 at London's Royal Albert Hall sold out faster than any other concert of the season. Lim is set to perform Bach's "Goldberg Variations" at Carnegie Hall on Friday.
The Guardian
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Clodagh Rodgers obituary
In 1970 the Eurovision song contest was won by Ireland, and so the 1971 event was to be held in Dublin. There was controversy, as a Catholic from Northern Ireland, Clodagh Rodgers, was chosen to represent the UK. She went ahead with her performance despite death threats from the IRA. There had been logistical problems, too, in the selection of her song, as viewers, who were supposed to choose the UK entry after she had performed the six possibilities on the It's Cliff Richard television show, could not because of a postal strike, and a studio panel had to make the selection. Rodgers, who has died aged 78, felt the panel had taken the easy option with Jack in the Box, a song in the boom-bang-a-bang Eurovision tradition. It echoed the theme of Sandie Shaw's Puppet on a String, the UK winner from 1967, and, indeed, Rodgers's first hit, Come Back and Shake Me (1969), where she describes herself as a plaything for her partner. She herself favoured Another Time, Another Place (later a hit for Engelbert Humperdinck). At the Eurovision final, despite wearing sequined hotpants, possibly because she had been voted having the 'best legs in show business', Rodgers came fourth. The winner was Séverine for Monaco, with Un Banc, Un Arbre, Une Rue. Born in Warrenpoint, County Down, Clodagh was the daughter of Gertrude and Louis Rodgers, a promoter who arranged bookings for stars such as Adam Faith and Michael Holliday. She went to a Catholic school run by nuns, but she wanted to be a singer and from the age of 13 began appearing as a support act on her father's promotions. A recording artist, Mike Preston, noticed her talent and recommended her to Decca. She started recording in 1962 and her first television appearance was on Adam Faith's show, singing Brenda Lee's Let Jump the Broomstick. She later said: 'My voice was so strong at the time that I don't sound like a young girl singing.' Rodgers's parents moved to London to support her, and her father organised shows for American servicemen in Germany. She recorded for Decca until 1965, admittedly hitless, but she did appear in the pop films Just for Fun (1963) and It's All Over Town (1964). Rodgers had also supported Jim Reeves on some Irish dates and he was so impressed that he invited her to Nashville to take part in a Grand Ole Opry radio show. She did sometimes record country songs, later releasing a cover version of Tammy Wynette's Stand By Your Man (1971). In 1968 Clodagh married John Morris, a promotions man who had been at Decca, and he arranged a contract with EMI. Her first single with the label, an echo-drenched revival of Stormy Weather, was released under the name of 'Cloda Rogers'. She returned to her original spelling but, although Morris found her work in clubs and on TV pop shows, the singles did not sell. Everything changed when she met an American songwriter, Kenny Young, who had written Under the Boardwalk for the Drifters, and who had moved to the UK. He had written Come Back and Shake Me for Lulu, but after seeing Rodgers on the BBC show Colour Me Pop, he offered it to her, provided that he could produce the record. It reached No 3 in the UK and No 2 in Ireland. The follow-up, Goodnight Midnight, was also a Top 10 hit, but Biljo, named after Rodgers' dog, was less successful. However she had two solid-selling albums, Clodagh Rodgers and Midnight Clodagh (all 1969). The following year came one of her best singles, Everybody Go Home (The Party's Over), and a duet by Rodgers and Young recording as Moonshine, but neither made much of an impact on the charts. Rodgers took part in international song festivals prior to Eurovision, so the experience was not new to her. Although she continued recording after Jack in the Box, the single Lady Love Bug reached only No 28 in the charts, and Get It Together (1974) attracted little attention. A change of record company made no difference; however she toured with the Lazy Band, emulating the sound of Linda Ronstadt, in club dates around the UK. As well as her recording and singing career she appeared on TV variety shows, was the face of Bisto in their commercials, and starred in pantomime with Ronnie Corbett in Cinderella at the London Palladium (1971). Monty Python did a send-up of Jack in the Box, in a sketch in which Terry Jones thinks he is Rodgers after being in a car crash. Morris had success managing the Rubettes, who in 1974 had a huge hit with Sugar Baby Love, and in 1977 Rodgers released the album Save Me. Their marriage ended in divorce two years later. In 1984 Rodgers played alongside Joe Brown in an entertaining West End musical about a roadside cafe in the American south, Pump Boys and Dinettes. She married the guitarist Ian Sorbie in 1987, and the couple ran a restaurant in Paignton, Devon, until 1992, when they had to declare bankruptcy. Sorbie died from a brain tumour three years later. Rodgers played Mrs Johnstone in Willy Russell's musical Blood Brothers in the West End in 1994, and returned to this role in a touring version (1995-98). A part in the TV police drama The Bill followed, but Rodgers soon quit the business, settling in Cranleigh, then Cobham, in Surrey. She is survived by her sons, Matt, from her first marriage, and Sam, from her second, and by three siblings, Lavinia, Louis and Frank. Clodagh Rodgers, singer, born 5 March 1947; died 27 March 2025
