Classical

This third album, presented by Leon Bosch and Rebeca Omordia, of music for double bass and piano by Giovanni Bottesini (1821-1829), includes his popular Allegro di Concerto ‘alla Mendelssohn’: Bottesini, as well as being arguably the most significant figure in the history of the double bass, was also an opera conductor and the composer of over a dozen operas.

1. Wilhelm Popp – Spanisches Concert for Flute Op. 420
Arranged & Conducted by Graham Scott

2. Frederick Chopin – Nocturn in Eb & Mazurka
Arranged by Devereaux Van Der Hoven
Conducted by Graham Scott

3. JB Arthur – Requiem for a Weary Soldier
Arranged & Conducted by JB Arthur

4. Astor Piazzolla – Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
Verano Porteno (Summer), Otono Porteno (Autumn)
Primavera Portena (Spring), Invierno Porteno (Winter)

5. Pedro Iturralde – Pequena Czarda
Conducted by JB Arthur

6. Giovanni Bottesini – Gran Duo Concertante

“Outside the cottage on the farm in the Pennines…[I have] a ritual act of obeisance that has become an essential contact – a meeting of self with the permanence and superiority of Nature. In the present piece this contact is characterised as a person holding a bow (‘bone’), and addressing an instrument (‘stone’) with it.” – Robin Walker

DDA 25180

Meridian Records is proud to announce the release of this important recording of the Italian composer Giovanni Bottesini’s principal works for double bass and piano, performed by the accomplished duo Leon Bosch and Sung-Suk Kang. You can purchase this CD from I Musicanti Publishing or from Meridian Records.

Nicknamed the ‘Paganini of the double bass’ for his ability to astonish audiences with his virtuosic performances, Bottesini’s works have remained some of the most dramatic but – because of their difficulty – rarely heard in the repertoire even today. Following directly in Bottesini’s footsteps, the virtuoso double bass player Leon Bosch has rapidly established an international reputation as one of the foremost advocates of the ‘Cinderella of Instruments’ and as a passionate interpreter of the works of Bottesini. This recording, which sees Bosch reunited with the pianist Sung-Suk Kang for the first time since their student days, demonstrates Bottesini at its very best – dramatic, intense, and powerful.

This Meridian CD features:

• Rarely recorded works by the important composer for the double bass, Giovanni Bottesini.
• A virtuosic performance by Leon Bosch, reunited with the pianist Sung-Suk Kang especially for this recording.
• Extensive and personal accompanying notes that describe Bosch’s early struggles against the South Aftrican apartheid regime and his passion for the ‘Cinderella of Instruments.’

CDE 84544

A first full album of British originals for double bass and piano and solo double bass performed by Leon Bosch and Sung-Suk Kang, including a piece written for Bosch by the late John McCabe. The album begins with Gordon Jacob’s Little Concerto in which Bosch is joined by string players from his ensemble I Musicanti.

CDE 84550

Gordon Jacob (1895 – 1984)
1. Andantino con moto
2. Largo
3. Allegro
Elizabeth Maconchy (1907 – 1994)
4. Music for Double Bass and Piano
Thomas Pitfield (1903 – 1999)
5. Poco Allegro
6. Quodlibet: Moderato grazioso
7. Allegro grazioso
Lennox Berkeley (1903 – 1989)
8. Andante Allegro
David Ellis (b.1933)
9. Sonata op. 42 for Unaccompanied Double Bass
John Walton (b.1947)
10. A Deep Song for Double Bass and Piano
Alan Bush (1900 – 1995)
11. Meditation for Double Bass and Piano, op. 93 No. 1
12. Scherzo for Double Bass and Piano, op. 93 No. 2
John McCabe (b.1939)
13. Pueblo for Solo Double Bass (1986)
(Written for Leon Bosch)
Elizabeth Lutyens (1906 – 1983)
14. The Tides of Time op. 75
Alfred Reynolds (1884 – 1969)
15. Hornpipe for Double Bass and Piano

Why Record a Disc of Russian Music?

The Double Bass as a solo melodic instrument has enjoyed a rich heritage in Russia and the USSR and there is plenty of evidence to show for it. However, the true depth and breadth of quality of its players has been obscured in modern times by Russia’s political isolation from Western Europe and the USA. Simply put, if we do not know about it, then it doesn’t exist. How valuable it is to be able to re-visit Russia and recognise the level of aristry and craft within the history of solo bass playing.

Leon Bosch says:

“It is the raw emotional power of music which has exercised a vice-like grip over me ever since I first began to understand the meaning of a phrase. Since then, I have been instinctively drawn to music which expresses the kind of tumultuous social history and the associated psychological condition which has so characterised my own personal experience.

South Africa, where I grew up, and Russia may well occupy different hemispheres of our globe, but through their respective turbulent histories, they share an understanding of the concept of tragedy, coupled with the burning expectation of a brighter and more glorious future which can ultimately only be achieved through principled self-sacrifice.

Russian music encapsulates, for me, a veritable roller-coaster of emotions. It can move from the profoundly melancholic to almost unrestrained euphoria, albeit with a sardonic twist, and furthermore has the unerring ability to reach into the deepest, darkest and most turbulent depths of the human psyche.”

CDE 84564

Anton Grigor’yevich Rubinstein (1829 – 1894)
1. Melodie (arr. Popper edited Leon Bosch)
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff (1873 – 1943)
2. Prelude op.23 No. 10 (arr. Allan Stephenson)
Anton Grigor’yevich Rubinstein (1829 – 1894)
3. Romance(arr. Leon Bosch)
Sergei Koussevitzky (1874 – 1951)
4. Andante op.1 No. 1
5. Valse Miniature op.1 No. 2
6. Chanson Triste op.2
7. Humouresque op.4
Rheinhold Glière (1875 – 1956)
8. Intermezzo op.9 No. 1
9. Tarantella op.9 No. 2
10. Prelude op.32 No. 1
11. Scherzo op.32 No. 2
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff (1873 – 1943)
12. Romance op.6 (arr. Leon Bosch)
13. Elegy op.3 (arr. Roumen Dimitrov)
Mikhail Glinka (1803 – 1857)
14. Susanin’s Aria
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff (1873 – 1943)
15. Vocalise op.34 No. 14
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 – 1975)
16. Romance from ‘The Gadfly’ (arr. Leon Bosch)

CDE 84587

1. Sèrènade du Barbierde Sèville (Rossini)
2. Air d’ll Trovatore (Verdi)
3. Final de la Somnanbule (Bellini)
4. Fantasia sulla “Norma di Bellini”
5. Fantasia Ceritto
6. “Nel cor più non mi sento”
7. Melodia No. 4 “Auld Robin Gray”
8. Fantasia sur Beatrice de tenda
9. Melodia No. 2
10. Romance de L’ElisireD’Amore (Donizetti)
11. Fantasia Lucia di Lammermoor
12. Nocturne

Meridian Records is delighted to announce the much-anticipated release of The Hungarian Double Bass, a further exploration by Leon Bosch of Double Bass music from around the world, alongside pianist Sung-Suk Kang. You can purchase this CD from I Musicanti Publishing or from Meridian Records.

Through this recording, Leon Bosch pays a personal tribute to his first influential Double Bass teacher, Hungarian Zoltan Kovats, who has lived in South Africa since 1965, and it is clear that Zoltan played a pivotal role not only in helping to create one of the greatest living bassists, but also in inspiring Leon to instigate a fulfilling search into the wonderful and thrilling music of his teacher’s home country.

Once again, Bosch plays throughout, with spirit, passion and flair, and it is this reliable energy married with Sung-Suk’s delightful accompaniment, which creates a recording that simply must be heard by anyone wishing to discover a new and exciting repertoire for the Double Bass.

This Meridian recording features a varied and colourful selection of Hungarian Double Bass music, performed by Leon Bosch and Sung-Suk Kang, which takes the listener on a journey to Hungary, a journey which also reveals many other Central European influences.

The accompanying booklet contains an eloquent insight into the individual works, the composers and of course, the performers.

CDE 84597

Meridian Records is delighted to announce the much-anticipated release of Allan Stephenson, a further exploration by Leon Bosch of Double Bass music, which may be purchased from I Musicanti Publishing.

CDE 84602

1. Burlesque for Double Bass and Small Orchestra (1974)

Concerto for Double Bass and Small Orchestra (2005)

2. Allegro energico
3. Poco lento
4. Vivace – Meno mosso – Vivace

Concerto for Cello and Full Orchestra (2004)

5. Allegro energico
6. Poco lento
7. Molto vivace

Meridian Records is delighted to announce the much-anticipated release of Pedro Valls, a further exploration by Leon Bosch of Double Bass music, which may be purchased from I Musicanti Publishing or from Meridian Records.

CDE 84604

Meridian Records is thrilled to announce the much anticipated release of the Complete Works for Solo Double Bass, a further double bass hidden treasure discovery by Leon Bosch of the composer Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf, which may be purchased from I Musicanti Publishing.

CDE 84610

Concerto No. 1 for Double Bass and Orchestra,
Krebs 171 (1766)

1. Allegro
2. Adagio
3. Presto

Concerto No. 2 for Double Bass and Orchestra,
Krebs 172 (c.1767)

4. Allegro moderato
5. Adagio
6. Allegro

Sinfonia Concertante for Viola, Double Bass and Orchestra, Krebs 127 (1766)

7. Allegro
8. Andantino
9. Minuetto
10. Allegro ma non troppo

Duetto for Viola and Double Bass, Krebs 129 (c.1766)

11. Allegro moderato
12. Minuetto & Trio
13. Adagio
14. Minuetto & Trio
15. Thema (con variazioni): Moderato