Sir Mark Elder interviewed on ‘A Mass of Life’
“In Delius’s ‘A Mass of Life’ I’m going for something more transparent and simple that makes you listen in a different way”; Andrew Mellor’s interview with Sir Mark Elder features in the current Gramophone ahead of his recording with the Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester. continue reading
‘A Mass of Life’ – a major new recording
Delius: A Mass of Life Sir Mark Elder, ConductorSoloists: Roderick Williams, Gemma Summerfield, Claudia Huckle, Bror Magnus TodenesBergen Philharmonic Orchestra and ChoirEdvard Grieg Kor / Collegium Musicum Choir Release Date: 24 November 2023Catalogue No: LWC1265Label: LAWO2 CDs A recording of Delius’s choral masterpiece, recorded live from performances in the Grieg Hall, Bergen in September 2022, […] continue reading
Choir of the Earth present: ‘A Mass of Life’
The online premiere screening of the ground-breaking collaborative concert. This performance involves hundreds of musicians worldwide, including, Sir Mark Elder, conductor; Roderick Williams – baritone – as Zarathustra; Gemma Summerfield – soprano; Claudia Huckle – contralto; Bror Magnus Tødenes – tenor; Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra; Bergen Philharmonic Choir under Håkon Matti Skrede; Choir of the Earth […] continue reading
‘A Heckelphone for Hereford’ – a delightful film in the company of Delius himself!
A Heckelphone for Hereford: a glimpse into the character of the composer Frederick Delius Devised and narrated by Stephen J D Williams https://www.delius.org.uk/videos/ We are delighted to be making this film available for all to enjoy. Spend an entertaining 90 minutes or so in the company of Delius himself and others who play their part […] continue reading
The Delius Prize 2024
For piano, violin, viola, cello, voice, vocal or chamber ensemble. Deadline for entry: Tuesday 9 January 2024, midday.Date of Competition: Sunday 11 February 2024, from 14:30 Adjudicator: Stephen Threlfall Venue: Angela Burgess Recital Hall, Royal Academy of Music – Marylebone Road, London NW1 5HT FIRST PRIZE: £1,500SECOND PRIZE: £750 Founded in 2004 by the generous […] continue reading
‘Birds and Their Gift of Music’ – by Delius Society member, Michael Green
Birds and Their Gift of Music: An exploration of music inspired by birds and birdsong by Michael Green. Published: July 2023 (YouCaxton) Paperback: 328 pages Price: £15.99 Kindle: £6.00 ISBN: 9781914424885 Michael Green is a member of the Delius Society, and as a previous vice-chairman lead the team which promoted the Delius sesquicentennial in 2012. […] continue reading
A Simple Blue Chair
Andrew J Boyle, author of the excellent book Delius and Norway presents a podcast entitled A Simple Blue Chair. Listen to Andrew tell the story around Delius’s ascent of Lesjaskog, carried by Jelka, his good friend Percy Grainger, and the Deliuses’ maid, Senta. https://shows.acast.com/north-by-norway/episodes/a-simple-blue-chair continue reading
‘Sea-Drift’ – a fictionalised account of Delius’s life
Sea-Drift: A Life of Frederick Delius by A L Young ‘Sea-Drift’ is a new fictionalised account of the composer’s extraordinary life, weaving together letters, diaries and other sources to create a unique biographical novel of Frederick Delius, the outcome of fifty years of the author’s research and immersion in the composer’s life and music. https://www.lulu.com/shop/a-l-young/sea-drift/paperback/product-zgj9ep.html?page=1&pageSize=4&fbclid=IwAR0bLm5eljtjPgCo8kK5fnPKe-_8rh-ztKyaQSB-r-MutlYjh_2Ej46Abag continue reading
Music for Strings – Sinfonia of London
Delius: Late SwallowsElgar: Introduction and Allegro for stringsHowells: Concerto for string orchestraVaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Sinfonia of London John Wilson, Conductor Release Date: 3 February 2023Chandos CHSA5291 https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%205291 continue reading
British Cello Works Vol.2
Smyth: Sonata for Cello and Piano in A minorDelius: Cello SonataGibbs, C A: Cello Sonata in E minorBritten: Sonata for cello and piano in C major Lionel Handy, cello Jennifer Walsh, piano Release Date: 3 February 2023Lyrita SRCD-412 https://www.wyastone.co.uk/new_releases continue reading
Exclusive ticket offer for members of ClubDelius!
A rare live performance of Delius’s Piano Concerto is to take place on Wednesday 5 April 2023, 19:30 at Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ “It has everything one would wish for in a Romantic work.” – Mark Bebbington on Delius’s Piano Concerto Programme:Coleridge-Taylor Symphonic Variations on an African AirDelius Piano ConcertoLili Boulanger […] continue reading
2022 Delius Prize-winners announced
The winner was the violist, Yujie Wang who performed Delius’s Caprice and Elegy. Runners up were the soprano and her accompanist, Antonida Kocharova and Ishan Bhadra. The adjudicator was the Society’s President, Sir Mark Elder. See the full report: https://www.delius.org.uk/delius-society/delius-prize/ continue reading
Launch of ClubDelius; a FREE membership for under 30’s
Sunday 27 November, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/events-calendar/delius-prize-27-11-2022 The Delius Society has announced the launch of ClubDelius; a FREE membership scheme aimed at those under 30, with the purpose of introducing younger listeners to the music of composer, Frederick Delius. The scheme, which also provides access to a number of benefits including free gifts and special […] continue reading
The 2022 Delius Prize
This year’s Final of the DELIUS PRIZE, hosted and sponsored by the Delius Society and open to the public, will take place at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on Sunday 27 November at 2.30pm. The adjudicator will be SIR MARK ELDER, internationally renowned conductor, and President of The Delius Society. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, […] continue reading
Delius & Smyth: String Quartets – new recording (Naxos 8.574376)
The Villiers Quartet Delius wrote the early String Quartet in 1888 but it was rejected for performance and he was later to reuse the Scherzo for his mature Quartet of 1916–19. In 2018 the score of the two opening movements of the 1888 Quartet, long assumed lost, reappeared at auction and have been edited and […] continue reading
Collected Songs for Voice and String Quartet (SOMMCD 0654)
Delius (first recordings):I-Brasil (arr. Roderick Williams)Twilight Fancies (arr. Roderick Williams)Young Veneviil (arr. Roderick Williams) Peter Warlock:ChopcherryCorpus ChristiThe Faireset MayMourn no moeA Sad SongMy gostly faderMy Lady is a pretty oneMy little sweet darlingSleepSorrow’s LullabyTake, O take those lips away Samuel Barber:Dover BeachSleep nowSure on this shining night Sally Beamish:Tree Carols –The Miracle TreeThe Trees are […] continue reading
12/06/2022 David Lloyd-Jones (1934-2022)
The Delius Society is saddened by news of the death of its Vice-President David Lloyd-Jones, a conductor who championed British music. David was a keen supporter of the music of Delius, and of the Delius Society; one of his notable productions with Opera North, which he founded in 1978, becoming its first Music Director, was […] continue reading
11/06/2022 The Delius Society 60th Anniversary Commissions’ Concert
A unique concert of chamber music to mark The Delius Society’s 60th anniversary this year is to feature three new works commissioned by the Society for the occasion, from Bo Holten, Ian Venables and Roderick Williams alongside works by Delius, some recently rediscovered, including the first movement of the 1889 String Quartet, two songs, and the […] continue reading
DIGITAL EVENT – Delius Mass of Life: play-through and commentary with Choir of the Earth
Choir of the Earth’s Founder, Mark Strachan BEM, and Musical Director, Ben England BEM, have invited as many people as possible to learn and record Mass of Life by Delius. Following a full play-through with their musical insights (recorded on 15 March, see link below) and teaching the work throughout the summer, they will be […] continue reading
29/12/2022 Lionel Carley
We are very sorry to announce that Lionel Carley, President of The Delius Society since 2005, passed away just before midnight on Tuesday 28th December. His heart had troubled him for some months and he had lately been treated as an in-patient at Cheltenham General Hospital. In addition to his Presidency of the Society, of […] continue reading
‘Margot la Rouge’ confirmed by Opera Holland Park for 2022 season
Margot la Rouge / Le Villi21, 23, 27 and 29 July and 2, 4 and 6 August at 7.30pm Discovery Matinee on 31 July at 2pm Postponed from 2020 season (due to Covid-19) Supported by the Delius Trust Further information will be posted on our Events page.https://www.operahollandpark.com continue reading
Delius Society Autumn 2021 digital event is: ‘Delius, Barbirolli and the Critics’
with Professor Raymond Holden AMEmeritus Professor of Music, Royal Academy of Music, London Filmed at The Royal Academy of Music, London A transcendental and charismatic artist, Sir John Barbirolli did much to shape the performance environment of his age. Having famously saved Manchester’s Hallé Orchestra from near extinction during the darkest days of the Second […] continue reading
Nicholas Daniel records Two Interludes as part of ‘British Oboe Quintets’ for Chandos
British Oboe Quintets CHAN 20226 September 2021 BaxQuintet for Oboe and String Quartet FinziInterlude for Oboe and String Quartet Vaughan WilliamsSix Studies in English Folksong for Cello and PianoArranged c.1983 for Cor anglais and String Quartet by Robert Stanton BlissQuintet for Oboe and String Quartet DeliusTwo Interludes from ‘Fennimore and Gerda’Arranged 1977 for Oboe and […] continue reading
Live events return to the Delius Society
THIS EVENT WAS POSTPONED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC Vice President Sir Mark Elder will be the Society’s special guest as we open for our Autumn/Winter live events’ season. He will be in conversation with Professor Raymond Holden at the National Liberal Club on Monday 29 November 2021, see Events page for details. Visit the Membership […] continue reading