Simon Murphy and The New Dutch Academy's new album is entitled JET SET! Classical Glitterati.
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The album follows the musical "jet set" of the 18th century as they "do" the splendid cultural epicentres of the time including London, Berlin, Vienna and St Petersburg.
On the programme, world-premiere recordings of symphonies by Abel and Reichardt balance well-loved works by Mozart and Paisiello with Murphy also appearing in the double role of conductor/soloist in Zelter's beautiful Viola Concerto in E-flat.
JET SET! is Murphy and the NDA's 7th release with long standing partner-label, PENTATONE, and follows their well-received previous album, GRAND TOUR Baroque Road Trip (2017). JET SET! (PTC 5186 787) is now available on disc, on all relevant digital platforms including Spotify and iTunes, with high-resolution download on PENTATONE, and high-resolution streaming on Primephonic.
First reviews are in!
From the Netherlands' de Volkskrant (29-03-19):
"On the new album, JET SET!, a selection works by leading figures from the musical centres of the second half of the 18th century has been gathered together, offering a lovely overview of the different accents and fashions of the time. ...
The album opens with the Viola Concerto of Carl Friedrich Zelter, one of the founders of the Bach-renaissance in the 19th century. Director Simon Murphy performs as soloist.
Immediately, it is clear that this ensemble distinguishes itself by its rhetorical ability, the art of telling a musical story. The Academy gives the theme an incomparable sense of yearning, playing with spunk but avoiding excessive accentuation. And, if there is one thing which the album makes crystal clear, it is that Bach's student Abel should be programmed much more often."
JET SET! in concert
Simon Murphy and the NDA will perform works from the new album in concert on 16 September 2019 in The Concertgebouw Amsterdam. Tickets on sale soon.