Brandenburg Celebrates 25 Years with A New CD

The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra marks 25 years of music-making with their new studio recording Brandenburg Celebrates which has already climbed to #2 on the ARIA charts. Brandenburg Celebrates  is now available on the ABC Classics label (ABC 4811929). The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra’s discography of some 18 recordings includes five ARIA-Award winners.

The music chosen by Artistic Director Paul Dyer  for Brandenburg Celebrates showcases the history of the ABO and displays the outstanding musicianship of both orchestra and choir. The album presents popular masterpieces like Handel’s Coronation Anthem Zadok the Priest and the vivacious Concerto Grosso Op. 3 No. 6; it also champions little-known gems from the Baroque era, including concertos by Telemann and Brescianello, with virtuoso soloists Shaun Lee-Chen (Baroque violin), Jamie Hey (Baroque cello) and Melissa Farrow (Baroque flute) who are all members of the orchestra.

Closing the album is Elena Kats-Chernin’s Prelude and Cube, commissioned by the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra for their 25th anniversary and presented here in its world-premiere recording. The work features soprano saxophone as well as the Brandenburg Choir and the period instruments of the ABO. In the words of Paul Dyer, Prelude and Cube ‘pays homage to Bach, offering a glimpse into the world of the Baroque and a triumphant celebration of the Brandenburg.’

Brandenburg Celebrates was recorded in March 2015 in the Eugene Goossens Hall of the ABC’s Ultimo Centre, Sydney.

The music:

1. HANDEL Coronation Anthem No. 1 ‘Zadok the Priest’, HWV258
2–5. TELEMANN Concerto in E minor for Flute, Violin and Strings, TWV52:e3
6–8. VIVALDI Cello Concerto in A minor, RV421
9. GEMINIANI Concerto grosso No. 12 in D minor, ‘La Follia’
10–12. HANDEL Concerto grosso in D major, Op. 3 No. 6, HWV317
13–15. BRESCIANELLO Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 1 No. 4
16. BRESCIANELLO Chaconne in A major
17–18. KATS-CHERNIN Prelude and Cube world premiere recording

Shaun Lee-Chen Baroque violin
Jamie Hey Baroque cello
Melissa Farrow Baroque flute
Australian Brandenburg Orchestra

Paul Dyer artistic director, conductor, harpsichord and chamber organ