Sunday 2 December 2012
Simon Murphy to conduct Latvian State Choir in Bach's B Minor Mass
Dutch-based Australian conductor Simon Murphy will conduct the Latvian State Choir in Bach's B Minor Mass in Riga this December.
Murphy (39) is chief-conductor of The Hague's Baroque orchestra, The New Dutch Academy (NDA), and internationally active as a guest conductor of both period instrument and modern symphony orchestras.
Baltic Début
The invitation for this prestigious annual Latvian musical event will mark Murphy's conducting début in the Baltic states. Taking place in St John's church in the nation's capital on 18 December 2012, the performance will feature the Latvian State Choir and soloists together with Riga's Baroque orchestra, Collegium Musicum.
The Latvian State Choir was established in 1940. As Latvia's flagship choral ensemble, it represents the nation's enormously strong choral tradition which came to international attention during the “Singing Revolution” in the late 1980's in which Latvians, Lithuanians and Estonians sang together in their hundreds of thousands successfully engineering massive social and political change at the end of the Soviet era.
Bach
Alongside his passion for classical symphonic music, Murphy has a great love for the music of J.S. Bach. He has earned a strong reputation for his distinctive performances of Bach's sacred and orchestral works. His recent performances of series of Bach cantatas at home in the Netherlands, including “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen” with the Noord Nederlands Orkest (NNO), gained high praise in the Dutch press:
“Effervescent Bach! … Guest conductor Simon Murphy doesn't only present the Baroque in a lively and captivating manner – he paces the musical development beautifully, letting the music breathe and rest along the way, whereby the listener's ears remain fresh and alert until the final chord.” Dagblad van het Noorden
Together with the NDA, Murphy's international performances of works of Bach, Handel and their contemporaries have also received major critical acclaim. Recent appearances at major European festivals have included the Holland Festival of Early Music Utrecht, Händel Festspiele Halle and Bachfest Leipzig.
“Murphy is a Baroque musician with “guts”: a conductor with the passion and conviction of a born missionary. He serves his music up to his audience con spirito and presto energico.”
De Volkskrant, The Netherlands
“Breathtaking, compelling, technically brilliant and unusually effervescent!
Murphy has it all - verve and pulsating temperament - presented with the finest finesse.”
Concerto, Germany
Recent Concert Highlights
In October 2012, Murphy opened the NDA's 10th anniversary season in The Hague with the symphonic programme Black Magic. Exploring the late 18th/early 19th century's obsession with destiny and the supernatural, the programme featured music from Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Reichardt's Macbeth, von Webers Der Freischütz and Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
In November 2012, Murphy made his conducting début in China with appearances in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Beijing, also giving master-classes and workshops at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts and Beijing Central Conservatory.
Other Upcoming Performances
In May 2013, Murphy will conduct the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in a double bill featuring music by Corelli, Handel, Stamitz, Abel and JC Bach. Entitled Roman Holiday and New Generation, the concerts will be broadcast live by the Australian national broadcaster, ABC.
At home in the Netherlands, the NDA's 10th anniversary season includes symphonic programmes Heaven on Earth and Ein Heldenleben with music by Mozart, Beethoven, Schmitt, Romberg and Spohr.
About Simon Murphy
Simon Murphy (Sydney, 1973) is chief-conductor of The Hague's Baroque Orchestra, The New Dutch Academy (NDA). He studied with the leading lights of the Dutch early music movement, performing extensively with legendary figures such as Gustav Leonhardt. He has won much recognition for his work as a “repertoire refresher”, presenting fresh perspectives on established masterworks and introducing newly rediscovered musical gems:
“The repertoire-refresher, conductor Simon Murphy radiates joie de vivre. His interpretation distinguishes itself by its enthusiasm and his approach possesses a classic élan, displaying delicate sensitivity. 5 Stars!” Diapason, France
“Murphy's soundscape is refreshingly lively, transparent and full of noblesse, successfully communicating full emotional range and capturing the finesses of the musical style beautifully.”
Concerto, Germany
“Murphy exhibits liveliness and groove, great dynamic profile and a beautiful use of timbre”
Frankfurter Neue Presse, Germany
“Murphy's music making is full of imagination, great love and unstoppable drive”
NRC Handelsblad, The Netherlands
Event:
Bach B Minor Mass
Simon Murphy (Saimons Mērfijs), conductor
Latvian State Choir and Riga Collegium Musicum
18 December 2012, St John's Church, Riga
www.latvijaskoncerti.lv/en/events
More information on Simon Murphy:
www.simonmurphyconductor.com
Wednesday 31 October 2012
10 Year Jubilee Season Opening a Success
Chief-conductor Simon Murphy (Sydney, 1973) has successfully opened the 10 year jubilee season of The Hague's Baroque Orchestra, The New Dutch Academy (NDA), with the symphonic programme Black Magic on 18 October in The Hague's Philipszaal. Soloists included Chinese-American fortepianist Shuann Chai in Mendelssohn's powerful d minor piano concerto and German soprano Gudrun Sidonie Otto performing music from Reichardt's setting of Macbeth and Rust's Colma's Klage together with arias from Mozart's Die Zauberflöte and von Weber's Der Freischütz.
The near to sold out performance was hosted by The Hague's vice mayor Henk Kool and the Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands H.E. Neil Mules, with special guests including leading members of The Hague's diplomatic corps, the vice president of the Netherlands, Mr. Piet Hein Donner and the mayor of Wassenaar and former cultural ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr. Jan Hoekema.
Conductor
Murphy described the performance event as “a wonderful and very
emotional experience” and “an extremely important milestone for
the orchestra, especially in these highly challenging times for the arts in the Netherlands”.
 |
| Soprano Gudrun Sidonie Otto with conductor Simon Murphy and the NDA Orchestra (Photo Fernando van Teijlingen) |
Innovative,
Distinctive and Dynamic
Since the orchestra's establishment in 2002, Murphy and the NDA have won major industry awards and attracted international media praise, developing a strong international reputation for their dynamic, engaging and cutting-edge performances, delivering fresh perspectives on 18th century music with new soundscapes and new repertoire. “A revelation!”, “breathtaking, compelling, technically brilliant and unusually effervescent!”, “sumptuous, vibrant and energetic”, “liveliness and groove, great dynamic profile and a beautiful use of timbre”, “daring and full of character” are but a few of the international press' enthusiastic reactions.*
Programming,
Performance and Presentation
To date, Murphy and the NDA have performed more than 50 unique, hand-crafted concert programmes together in more than 250 concerts throughout the world. Tours have taken the orchestra through Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Norway, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland, Australia, Indonesia, the United States, Canada and Russia. Highlights have included productions for the Bachfest Leipzig, Händelfestspiele Halle and the UNESCO world heritage site Schloss Brühl.
At
home in the Netherlands, Murphy and the orchestra have been regular
guests at the country's most prestigious series, halls and festivals,
including the ZaterdagMatinee at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam and the
Holland Festival of Early Music Utrecht. In its home town of The
Hague, the NDA has established new symphonic, Baroque and chamber
concert series for the city, as well founding successful education,
community art and outreach programmes.
New
Perspectives
During the past 10 years, Murphy and the orchestra have shed new light on 18th century music and culture through their projects together, introducing exciting new repertoire and delivering new perspectives on classic repertoire. Murphy and the orchestra have successfully rediscovered and reintroduced the Netherlands' own symphonic heritage, making several first recordings of symphonies by Schmitt “The Dutch Haydn”, Graaf, Stamitz, Schwindl and Zappa on the Dutch label PentaTone Classics. The group's pioneering CD series of early Mannheimer Schule symphonies has received major industry awards including an Edison, and the orchestra's ground-breaking recording of Corelli's Concerti Grossi made at the Holland Festival of Early Music Utrecht was recently voted in the top 5 highlights of the 30 year history of the festival.
The NDA's performances of classic symphonic repertoire, including symphonies of Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Mendelssohn, have been documented on a series of live CD recordings for Dutch radio. Murphy and the NDA's multidisciplinary productions such as the Fêtes Galantes project and the recent Empress of Pleasure show together with Baroque dancer and choreographer Caroline Copeland have also gained much interest.
New Generation Specialists
With its own distinctive blend of integrity and vibrancy, the NDA represents the new generation of the innovative, Dutch (based) early music tradition made renowned in the 20th century by pioneering figures such as Gustav Leonhardt. Comprised of 40 hand-selected, top international specialist early music performers, the NDA orchestra is an exceptionally international outfit with more than 20 nationalities represented amongst its member musicians who range in age between 25 and 40.
 |
| Shuann Chai performing Mendelssohn's d minor Piano Concerto (Photo Fernando van Teijlingen) |
International
Cultural Ambassador
In the past 10 years, the NDA has made substantial contributions to the Netherlands' international cultural diplomacy programmes. At the invitation of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the city of The Hague, the orchestra has regularly represented the Netherlands at major bilateral occasions, performing hand-crafted programmes profiling Dutch cultural heritage and celebrating international cultural relations. Highlights include performances in Rome (Visit of HM Queen Beatrix to Italy and Dutch EU Presidency), New York (Hudson 400), Vancouver (Cultural Olympiad), Los Angeles (Getty Center) and Sydney (Netherlands Australia 400). Later this year the NDA will visit China for the first time, at the invitation of the Dutch and Chinese governments.
 |
| Soprano Gudrun Sidonie Otto (Photos Fernando van Teijlingen) |
Jubilee Season Programme
Following the orchestra's season's opening programme Black Magic exploring the late 18th/early 19th century's obsession with the supernatural with music from Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Reichardt's Macbeth, Rust's Colma's Klage, Weber's Der Freischütz and Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream, other highlights of the NDA's jubilee season include guest appearances by the winner of the 2011 London Handel Singing Competition Canadian soprano Stefanie True in Mozart Concert Arias and the winner of the 2010 Brugge Competition Hungarian fortepianist Petra Somlai in Mozart's Concerto in C (KV 467) Elvira Madigan. Closing the season is the monumental symphonic programme Ein Heldenleben with music from Romberg's Ulysses, Mozart's Don Giovanni and Rossini's La Cenerentola (Cinderella) together with Beethoven's Symphony no. 3, Eroica.
Next
Ten Years
What would conductor Murphy personally like to say, looking back on the challenges and achievements of the past decade and thinking about plans for the next ten years? “I am very proud of the many ground-breaking things we have achieved as an organisation and as an orchestra during the past 10 years, from the research to recordings to performances to productions, especially given the massive financial and political difficulties which the arts continue to face in this country. However, the strain placed on our very compact organisation due to our ongoing commitment to delivering quality under these challenging circumstances has been enormous. And hence the theme of this jubilee programme, Black Magic. I don't quite know how we've managed to do it, but I would like to thank all of those who have made the orchestra's achievements possible during these first 10 years. Their efforts have been truly magical.”
The conductor continued, “on a personal level and as a foreigner in this country, it also meant so much to me to have the support and presence of both the Australian Embassy and the city council of my adopted home city of The Hague at the opening of this jubilee season. I would also like to particularly thank the NDA musicians and the current board members, staff and volunteers of the NDA for their commitment and hard work over the last year and a half which has made this jubilee season possible.” And the future? “First a little break and then on with this very special season.”
More info on Simon Murphy: www.simonmurphyconductor.com
More info on The New Dutch Academy: www.newdutchacademy.nl
*
Quotes respectively from Codaex, Concerto, Gramophone,
Toccata – Alte Musik Aktuell, Frankfurter Neue Presse and
Haagsche Courant.
China Début
Dutch based
Australian conductor Simon Murphy will make his début in China this
November. At the invitation
of the Chinese and Dutch governments, Murphy will perform in Beijing
on November 20 at the official celebration of the anniversary of the
40 year bilateral relationship between the Netherlands and the
People's Republic of China, also conducting orchestras in
Hangzhou and Shenzhen during the visit.
Hand-crafted
Concert Programmes
Murphy will
perform a number of hand-crafted orchestral programmes featuring a
selection of Dutch 18th century symphonies, including
music which he has recently rediscovered and recorded for Dutch label
PentaTone Classics. Completing the concert programmes will be classic
repertoire including Beethoven's Symphony no. 2, Gade's concert
overture Echoes of Ossian, Rossini's Barber of Seville overture, and Haydn's cello concerto in C together with the Dutch
based American concert cellist Caroline Kang (New York, 1980) as
soloist.
Murphy has also
been invited to give masterclasses and lectures at the Academy of
Performing Arts (Hong Kong) and the Central Conservatory (Beijing) on
repertoire, interpretation and historical performance practice.
Murphy (Sydney,
1973) is chief-conductor of The Hague's Baroque orchestra, The New Dutch Academy. The conductor and orchestra are celebrating their 10 year jubilee together this season with the orchestra's festive
programming including symphonic, Baroque and chamber concert series
as well as its educational, community art and outreach programmes.
During Murphy's tour
in China this November, the city of The Hague's Vice-Mayor Henk Kool will host
two of the conductor's performances, with the cultural activities aiming to
consolidate on established diplomatic and economic relationships
between The Hague and several Chinese cities.
International
Cultural Ambassador
Conductor Murphy
is highly experienced in the area of cultural diplomacy. He has
worked regularly for Dutch local and national government on major
bilateral celebrations over the past decade. In 2004 he programmed
and conducted the music for Her Majesty Queen Beatrix's state visit
to Italy during the Netherlands' presidency of the EU with
performances of Dutch and Italian Baroque music in Rome broadcast
live on Italian radio and TV. In 2006, he programmed the musical
celebrations for the 400 year anniversary of relations between
Australia and the Netherlands with festival events in both countries.
In 2009, he programmed and performed the Dutch contribution to the
cultural olympiad in Vancouver, and for the bilateral Dutch / U.S.
celebrations of “Hudson 400” he created and performed a special
presentation of recently rediscovered 17th and 18th century music
from the Netherlands in New York.
Alongside
appearances in China, Murphy's other upcoming international
conducting highlights include Bach's B Minor Mass with the
State Choir of Latvia in Riga in December 2012 and programmes of
classical symphonies and Handel's The Water Music with the
Queensland Symphony Orchestra in Australia in May 2013. In the
Netherlands, he will conduct the New Dutch Academy's jubilee
symphonic programmes Heaven on Earth with Schmitt's Symphonie
Pastorale and Spohr's Symphony no. 2, and Ein Heldenleben
with Romberg's overture to Ulysses and Beethoven's Symphony
no. 3 Eroica in The Hague in February and April 2013.
More info: www.simonmurphyconductor.com
Thursday 17 May 2012
“Empress of Pleasure” New Production a Success
Actress, singer, dancer, courtesan, entrepreneur, opera impresario and mother of Casanova's daughter.
A new stage production from Holland is celebrating the life and times of the glittering, scandalous, high flying, 18th century London society lady Mrs Cornelys, a.k.a. “The Empress of Pleasure”. Featuring 18th century music and dance, the show was created by Dutch-based Australian conductor Simon Murphy together with American specialist Baroque ballerina Caroline Copeland.
Born Anna Maria Teresa Imer in Venice in 1723, Mrs Cornelys worked as an actress/dancer/singer at various courts in mainland Europe including Vienna and Bayreuth, lived for a time in the Netherlands, where she re-met Casanova and introduced him to his daughter (according to Casanova's diaries), before finally settling in London in the late 1750's.
In 1760's and 1770's London, Mrs Cornelys ran a sort of 18th century “Moulin Rouge” - Carlisle House, Soho Square – where she held her infamous, drink and drug fuelled “Masques”, also known as “Mrs Cornelys' Entertainments”. These night long events featured music, dancing, theatre, gambling and sexual intrigues, with each room of the house offering a different activity.
“Mrs Cornelys is a truly fascinating figure and an amazing 18th century woman” says conductor Simon Murphy. “Her London circle included such luminaries as composer/performers J.C. Bach, C.F. Abel and J.C. Fischer, the painter Gainsborough and the actor Garrick. She herself was a phenomenon - a whirlwind of vision and energy with a can-do attitude. Together with her colleagues, Mrs Cornelys laid the foundations for concept of the “classical music concert series” with her legendary Bach Abel concerts in London in the 1760's and 1770's. Her breathtaking “Masques” or Rave Parties would still shock today.”
Murphy and Copeland met at the Potsdam Musik-Festspiele in 2005, where Copeland was dancing in one of the festival's Baroque stage productions. Since then, the two have been putting the ideas together for this new production.
Murphy and Copeland's new show "Empress of Pleasure" takes its inspiration from the heady and highly sexually charged atmosphere of Mrs Cornelys' London “Masques”. In their production, the pair have decided to explore the kind of virtuosic theatre or stage dancing of during the period of Mrs Cornelys. “Mrs Cornelys was herself a highly theatrical figure. In order to portray her and her highly colourful character, it seemed right to utilise the more spectacular dance of the stage and theatre rather than of the ballroom” says Simon Murphy. For the production, Caroline Copeland created new choreographies based on the historical dance language of the mid to late 18th century. The music was selected by Simon Murphy after extensive research and workshopping with Caroline Copeland and the production's other musical soloists, oboist Amy Power and soprano Stefanie True. The show's costuming was designed by Caroline Copeland together with American costumer Joy Havens.
“Working with Caroline on this project was wonderfully exciting and inspiring” says Murphy. “Caroline has created such a nice feel of the persona of Mrs Cornelys - as the Empress of Pleasure herself - morphing her during the course of the show into other strong female characters such as Venus and Diana. You really feel like you are at one of Mrs Cornelys' Masques watching a star 18th century ballerina perform a very virtuosic, intimate and sensual solo – mysterious, very here-and-now, and yet also timeless. Caroline's choreographies use the 18th century dance language so beautifully, creatively and expressively, and the way she dances them is breathtaking – such virtuosity, poise, elegance and eloquence.”
The production features music by Mrs Cornelys' close musical colleagues, J.C. Bach, C.F. Abel and J.C. Fischer with other music by W. Boyce and K. Ditters von Dittersdorf.
The production was premièred by conductor Simon Murphy, Baroque ballerina Caroline Copeland and The Hague's Baroque Orchestra, The New Dutch Academy, in The Hague's Philipszaal in February 2012.
Watch videos from the production
About Simon Murphy and The New Dutch Academy
Simon Murphy (Sydney, 1973) is chief-conductor of The Hague's Baroque Orchestra, The New Dutch Academy (NDA). He has won much recognition for his work as a “repertoire refresher”, presenting fresh perspectives on established masterworks and by introducing newly rediscovered musical gems to modern audiences:
“Murphy is a musician with “guts”: a conductor with the passion and conviction of a born missionary. He serves his music up to his audience con spirito and presto energico.”
De Volkskrant, The Netherlands
“The repertoire-refresher, conductor Simon Murphy radiates joie de vivre. His interpretation distinguishes itself by its enthusiasm. 5 stars!” Diapason, France
“Breathtaking. Compelling, technically brilliant and unusually effervescent!
Murphy has it all - verve and pulsating temperament - presented with the finest finesse.”
Concerto, Germany
Read more about Simon Murphy and his projects on www.simonmurphyconductor.com
A new stage production from Holland is celebrating the life and times of the glittering, scandalous, high flying, 18th century London society lady Mrs Cornelys, a.k.a. “The Empress of Pleasure”. Featuring 18th century music and dance, the show was created by Dutch-based Australian conductor Simon Murphy together with American specialist Baroque ballerina Caroline Copeland.
 |
| Baroque dancer Caroline Copeland as the "Empress of Pleasure" (Photo: Fernando van Teijlingen) |
Born Anna Maria Teresa Imer in Venice in 1723, Mrs Cornelys worked as an actress/dancer/singer at various courts in mainland Europe including Vienna and Bayreuth, lived for a time in the Netherlands, where she re-met Casanova and introduced him to his daughter (according to Casanova's diaries), before finally settling in London in the late 1750's.
In 1760's and 1770's London, Mrs Cornelys ran a sort of 18th century “Moulin Rouge” - Carlisle House, Soho Square – where she held her infamous, drink and drug fuelled “Masques”, also known as “Mrs Cornelys' Entertainments”. These night long events featured music, dancing, theatre, gambling and sexual intrigues, with each room of the house offering a different activity.
“Mrs Cornelys is a truly fascinating figure and an amazing 18th century woman” says conductor Simon Murphy. “Her London circle included such luminaries as composer/performers J.C. Bach, C.F. Abel and J.C. Fischer, the painter Gainsborough and the actor Garrick. She herself was a phenomenon - a whirlwind of vision and energy with a can-do attitude. Together with her colleagues, Mrs Cornelys laid the foundations for concept of the “classical music concert series” with her legendary Bach Abel concerts in London in the 1760's and 1770's. Her breathtaking “Masques” or Rave Parties would still shock today.”
Murphy and Copeland met at the Potsdam Musik-Festspiele in 2005, where Copeland was dancing in one of the festival's Baroque stage productions. Since then, the two have been putting the ideas together for this new production.
Murphy and Copeland's new show "Empress of Pleasure" takes its inspiration from the heady and highly sexually charged atmosphere of Mrs Cornelys' London “Masques”. In their production, the pair have decided to explore the kind of virtuosic theatre or stage dancing of during the period of Mrs Cornelys. “Mrs Cornelys was herself a highly theatrical figure. In order to portray her and her highly colourful character, it seemed right to utilise the more spectacular dance of the stage and theatre rather than of the ballroom” says Simon Murphy. For the production, Caroline Copeland created new choreographies based on the historical dance language of the mid to late 18th century. The music was selected by Simon Murphy after extensive research and workshopping with Caroline Copeland and the production's other musical soloists, oboist Amy Power and soprano Stefanie True. The show's costuming was designed by Caroline Copeland together with American costumer Joy Havens.
 |
| Baroque dancer Caroline Copeland as Diana in the "Empress of Pleasure" (Photo: Fernando van Teijlingen) |
“Working with Caroline on this project was wonderfully exciting and inspiring” says Murphy. “Caroline has created such a nice feel of the persona of Mrs Cornelys - as the Empress of Pleasure herself - morphing her during the course of the show into other strong female characters such as Venus and Diana. You really feel like you are at one of Mrs Cornelys' Masques watching a star 18th century ballerina perform a very virtuosic, intimate and sensual solo – mysterious, very here-and-now, and yet also timeless. Caroline's choreographies use the 18th century dance language so beautifully, creatively and expressively, and the way she dances them is breathtaking – such virtuosity, poise, elegance and eloquence.”
The production features music by Mrs Cornelys' close musical colleagues, J.C. Bach, C.F. Abel and J.C. Fischer with other music by W. Boyce and K. Ditters von Dittersdorf.
The production was premièred by conductor Simon Murphy, Baroque ballerina Caroline Copeland and The Hague's Baroque Orchestra, The New Dutch Academy, in The Hague's Philipszaal in February 2012.
Watch videos from the production
About Simon Murphy and The New Dutch Academy
Simon Murphy (Sydney, 1973) is chief-conductor of The Hague's Baroque Orchestra, The New Dutch Academy (NDA). He has won much recognition for his work as a “repertoire refresher”, presenting fresh perspectives on established masterworks and by introducing newly rediscovered musical gems to modern audiences:
“Murphy is a musician with “guts”: a conductor with the passion and conviction of a born missionary. He serves his music up to his audience con spirito and presto energico.”
De Volkskrant, The Netherlands
“The repertoire-refresher, conductor Simon Murphy radiates joie de vivre. His interpretation distinguishes itself by its enthusiasm. 5 stars!” Diapason, France
“Breathtaking. Compelling, technically brilliant and unusually effervescent!
Murphy has it all - verve and pulsating temperament - presented with the finest finesse.”
Concerto, Germany
Read more about Simon Murphy and his projects on www.simonmurphyconductor.com
“The Dutch Haydn” Murphy's world première Schmitt Symphonies recording chosen as part of PentaTone's 10 year anniversary 10 CD box set
Dutch-based Australian conductor Simon Murphy's world première SA-CD recording of the early symphonies of “The Dutch Haydn”, Joseph Schmitt, has been chosen to be featured as part of the 10 year anniversary 10 CD box set of Dutch label PentaTone Classics.
Conductor Simon Murphy has been with PentaTone since the beginnings of the label, with fellow PentaTone recording artists including Julia Fischer, Arabella Steinbacher, Edo de Waart, Lawrence Foster, Hans Vonk and Sir Colin Davis. During the past 10 years, Murphy has made substantial contributions to the label's catalogue, presenting a series of major new musical discoveries including world première recordings of symphonies by 18th century composers Schmitt, Graaf, Stamitz, Schwindl and Zappa.
“The Dutch Haydn”, Joseph Schmitt (1734 – 1791), first came to Murphy's attention in 1995 during a visit to the Amsterdam Historic Museum. Murphy saw composer/conductor Schmitt pictured in a canvas of the 1788 opening concert of the Amsterdam concert hall, the “Felix Meritis” (below), and was inspired to go on a search of his music.
Listen to Schmitt's Symphony in E flat "The Hurdy Gurdy"
Originally a musical priest from Kloster Eberbach, Schmitt was a student of Carl Friedrich Abel (star Bach student and Mozart mentor) and came into early contact with the Mannheim masters. Schmitt moved to Amsterdam in the early 1770's where he became the singularly most important musical figure in the Netherlands in the second half of the 18th century, working there as a composer, conductor, music director, teacher, theorist and publisher. His music exhibits a wonderful vibrancy and cosmopolitanism. He displays, with an highly original voice, an immense knowledge of the diversity of the musical styles and languages of his day.
In 2006, some 10 years after first laying eyes on Schmitt, Murphy presented the composer's symphonic music to the world for the first time on disc (PentaTone SA-CD, PTC 5186 039). The recording of Schmitt's early symphonies was the result of 7 years of extensive international research by Murphy into the composer and his music. Murphy located the composer's works in archives and historic music collections in the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden.
The resulting CD production has been most enthusiastically received by the world's music press:
Le "Haydn hollandais": un compositeur tout en verve, que sert avec un entrain irrésistible la New Dutch Academy de Simon Murphy. (Le Soir - “Nos coups de coeur”)
Holländischer Haydn – Gleich einer frischen sommerlichen Brise aus Holland kommt diese Neuproduktion mit Werken der Joseph Schmitt daher ... Die unverbraucht spritzig klingende New Dutch Academy legt ein geradezu flammende Pläydoyer für diesen bislang unterschätzen Meister vor. ... Viele Effekt – etwa anrührende Pianissimi, auf die unmittelbar Fortissimo-Passagen, lassen den durchaus eigensinnigen Komponisten erkennen. Diese Bandbreite der musikalischen Ausdrucksmöglichkeiten fulminant darzustellen, ist der New Dutch Academy offensichtlich eine Freude. ... Packend, spieltechnisch brillant – und nicht zuletzt wieder mit einem besonderen Augenmerk auf der Ausgestaltung des Basses – führt die New Dutch Academy durch diesen bislang unbekannten Schaffenskosmos. Sehr zu empfehlen! (Concerto, Germany)
Simon Murphy (Sydney, 1973) is Chief Conductor of The Hague's Baroque Orchestra, the international award winning "The New Dutch Academy" (NDA). Recent performance highlights have included appearances at the Händel Festival Halle and Bachfest Leipzig, for the Zaterdagmatinee at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, and cycles of the symphonies of Stamitz, Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven for Dutch radio. In season 2011-2012, the Murphy and the NDA present well and lesser known 18th century masterpieces by Corelli, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Cimarosa, Paisiello, Rossini and their contemporaries in the orchestra's symphonic, Baroque orchestral and chamber series at home in The Hague and around the Netherlands. Upcoming tours take the orchestra through eastern Europe and Asia.
2012-2013 sees Murphy and the NDA orchestra celebrate their 10 year anniversary together.
Listen to the CD
Watch Murphy and the NDA perform Schmitt's “Hurdy Gurdy” Symphony live in concert
Read more about Simon Murphy on www.simonmurphyconductor.com
Read Murphy's liner notes
Murphy's performing editions of the symphonies of Schmitt are available for hire via Albersen's music
Conductor Simon Murphy has been with PentaTone since the beginnings of the label, with fellow PentaTone recording artists including Julia Fischer, Arabella Steinbacher, Edo de Waart, Lawrence Foster, Hans Vonk and Sir Colin Davis. During the past 10 years, Murphy has made substantial contributions to the label's catalogue, presenting a series of major new musical discoveries including world première recordings of symphonies by 18th century composers Schmitt, Graaf, Stamitz, Schwindl and Zappa.
“The Dutch Haydn”, Joseph Schmitt (1734 – 1791), first came to Murphy's attention in 1995 during a visit to the Amsterdam Historic Museum. Murphy saw composer/conductor Schmitt pictured in a canvas of the 1788 opening concert of the Amsterdam concert hall, the “Felix Meritis” (below), and was inspired to go on a search of his music.
 |
Listen to Schmitt's Symphony in E flat "The Hurdy Gurdy"
Originally a musical priest from Kloster Eberbach, Schmitt was a student of Carl Friedrich Abel (star Bach student and Mozart mentor) and came into early contact with the Mannheim masters. Schmitt moved to Amsterdam in the early 1770's where he became the singularly most important musical figure in the Netherlands in the second half of the 18th century, working there as a composer, conductor, music director, teacher, theorist and publisher. His music exhibits a wonderful vibrancy and cosmopolitanism. He displays, with an highly original voice, an immense knowledge of the diversity of the musical styles and languages of his day.
In 2006, some 10 years after first laying eyes on Schmitt, Murphy presented the composer's symphonic music to the world for the first time on disc (PentaTone SA-CD, PTC 5186 039). The recording of Schmitt's early symphonies was the result of 7 years of extensive international research by Murphy into the composer and his music. Murphy located the composer's works in archives and historic music collections in the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden.
The resulting CD production has been most enthusiastically received by the world's music press:
Le "Haydn hollandais": un compositeur tout en verve, que sert avec un entrain irrésistible la New Dutch Academy de Simon Murphy. (Le Soir - “Nos coups de coeur”)
Holländischer Haydn – Gleich einer frischen sommerlichen Brise aus Holland kommt diese Neuproduktion mit Werken der Joseph Schmitt daher ... Die unverbraucht spritzig klingende New Dutch Academy legt ein geradezu flammende Pläydoyer für diesen bislang unterschätzen Meister vor. ... Viele Effekt – etwa anrührende Pianissimi, auf die unmittelbar Fortissimo-Passagen, lassen den durchaus eigensinnigen Komponisten erkennen. Diese Bandbreite der musikalischen Ausdrucksmöglichkeiten fulminant darzustellen, ist der New Dutch Academy offensichtlich eine Freude. ... Packend, spieltechnisch brillant – und nicht zuletzt wieder mit einem besonderen Augenmerk auf der Ausgestaltung des Basses – führt die New Dutch Academy durch diesen bislang unbekannten Schaffenskosmos. Sehr zu empfehlen! (Concerto, Germany)
Simon Murphy (Sydney, 1973) is Chief Conductor of The Hague's Baroque Orchestra, the international award winning "The New Dutch Academy" (NDA). Recent performance highlights have included appearances at the Händel Festival Halle and Bachfest Leipzig, for the Zaterdagmatinee at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, and cycles of the symphonies of Stamitz, Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven for Dutch radio. In season 2011-2012, the Murphy and the NDA present well and lesser known 18th century masterpieces by Corelli, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Cimarosa, Paisiello, Rossini and their contemporaries in the orchestra's symphonic, Baroque orchestral and chamber series at home in The Hague and around the Netherlands. Upcoming tours take the orchestra through eastern Europe and Asia.
2012-2013 sees Murphy and the NDA orchestra celebrate their 10 year anniversary together.
Listen to the CD
Watch Murphy and the NDA perform Schmitt's “Hurdy Gurdy” Symphony live in concert
Read more about Simon Murphy on www.simonmurphyconductor.com
Read Murphy's liner notes
Murphy's performing editions of the symphonies of Schmitt are available for hire via Albersen's music
Monday 14 May 2012
"Effervescent Bach!" Murphy's NNO appearance a success
Dutch-based Australian conductor Simon Murphy's recent guest-conducting appearance with the Noord Nederlands Orkest (NNO) has been most enthusiastically received. Press, orchestra and audience alike welcomed Murphy's fresh and personal approach to music making in the NNO's 2012 February programme of works by Bach and van Wassenaer. It was the first co-operation between Murphy and the orchestra.
“Effervescent Bach! … Guest conductor Simon Murphy doesn't only present the Baroque in a lively and captivating manner – he paces the musical development beautifully, letting the music breathe and rest along the way, whereby the listener's ears remain fresh and alert until the final chord.”
Dagblad van het Noorden
The NNO programme saw Murphy in action together with vocal soloist, Swiss soprano Julia Neumann. Devised by the NNO's artistic director Marcel Mandos, the programme featured Bach cantatas “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen” and “Ich habe genug” together with the Brandenburg Concerto no. 1 in F.
More info: http://www.nno.nu/concerten/julia-neumann-zingt-bach
Simon Murphy (Sydney, 1973) is chief-conductor of The Hague's Baroque Orchestra, The New Dutch Academy (NDA). He has won much recognition for his work as a “repertoire refresher”, presenting fresh perspectives on established masterworks and by introducing newly rediscovered musical gems to modern audiences:
“Murphy is a musician with “guts”: a conductor with the passion and conviction of a born missionary. He serves his music up to his audience con spirito and presto energico.”
De Volkskrant, The Netherlands
“The repertoire-refresher, conductor Simon Murphy radiates joie de vivre. His interpretation distinguishes itself by its enthusiasm. 5 stars!”
Diapason, France
“Breathtaking. Compelling, technically brilliant and unusually effervescent! Murphy has it all - verve and pulsating temperament - presented with the finest finesse. A sensational interpretation!”
Concerto, Germany
“Murphy's music making is full of imagination, great love and unstoppable drive”
NRC Handelsblad, The Netherlands
“Murphy exhibits liveliness and groove, great dynamic profile and a beautiful use of timbre”
Frankfurter Neue Presse, Germany
Murphy's upcoming performances with the NDA include the opening of the orchestra's 10 year anniversary season in The Hague in October 2012 with the programme “Black Magic” featuring Mendelssohn's first piano concerto and arias and overtures by Spohr, von Weber, Mozart, Rust and Lortzing.
Murphy's upcoming guest conducting engagements include a double bill with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in Brisbane in May and June 2013 with music by Corelli, Handel, Stamitz, J.C. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, Abel and Reichardt. Handcrafted by Murphy, the two concert programmes “Roman Holiday” and “New Generation” will be broadcast live by Australia's ABC.
www.simonmurphyconductor.com
Wednesday 25 January 2012
Australian Dutch conductor Simon Murphy chosen as top 5 highlight in Festival's 30 year history
Dutch Classical Radio has chosen Simon Murphy's "legendary" performance of Corelli's Concerti Grossi at the Holland Festival of Early Music Utrecht in 2003 as one of the top 5 highlights of the festival's 30 year history. Murphy (38, born in Sydney, currently based in the Netherlands) is Chief Conductor of The Hague's Baroque Orchestra, the international award winning "New Dutch Academy" (NDA), a group he has led since founding it in 2002.
Murphy's groundbreaking performance, broadcast and recording production of Corelli's orchestral masterpieces with the NDA at the Festival in 2003 – including the iconic "Christmas Concerto" – succeeded in presenting Corelli's musical aesthetic and soundworld in a completely new light. The resulting SA-CD recording of the Concerti Grossi, made by Murphy and the NDA for Dutch label PentaTone Classics, became the first ever recording to use Corelli's own, large scale orchestra, rich Italiante improvisation and extemporisation, and a full and varied continuo section (including baroque guitars, baroque lutes, archlutes, theorbos, harpsichords and organs). The production was highly enthusiastically received by the world's music press, the BBC Music magazine reporting:
"When it came to his orchestral music, size mattered for Corelli ...These accounts by the New Dutch Academy, a big band playing on period instruments, reflect the best of both worlds. Its sound is sumptuous, but textures are sufficiently transparent to allow details to cut through, and the historically informed approach includes stylish ornamentation and a battery of continuo instruments which would surely have delighted the composer. … director Simon Murphy infuses these accounts with subtle jazz-like touches: swinging rhythms, inventive extemporisations and vigorous guitar strumming effects."
Dutch Classical Radio is celebrating the 30 year old Utrecht Festival of Early Music with a series of downloads of live historic festival concert recordings from the radio's archives, including performances by The Orchestra of the 18th Century (Frans Brüggen), The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (Ton Koopman) and The New Dutch Academy (Simon Murphy).
Recent performance highlights for Simon Murphy and the NDA have included appearances at the Händel Festival Halle, Bachfest Leipzig and for the Zaterdagmatinee at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. In season 2011-2012, the Murphy and the NDA present well and lesser known 18th century masterpieces by Corelli, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Cimarosa, Paisiello, Rossini and their contemporaries in the orchestra's symphonic, Baroque orchestral and chamber series at home in The Hague and around the Netherlands. Upcoming tours take the orchestra through eastern Europe and Asia.
Listen to Murphy's Corelli CD
Read more on the Holland Festival of Early Music's top 5 on the Dutch radio's website: http://festivals.radio4.nl/pagina/oudemuziek/oudemuziekdownload3/oudemuziek/
Listen to the Corelli CD on the NDA's site: http://www.newdutchacademy.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41:corelli-cd-hfomu-2003-murphy-nda&catid=37:cds&Itemid=22
Read more about the NDA on the NDA's website: www.newdutchacademy.nl
Read more about conductor Simon Murphy on: www.simonmurphyconductor.com
Murphy's groundbreaking performance, broadcast and recording production of Corelli's orchestral masterpieces with the NDA at the Festival in 2003 – including the iconic "Christmas Concerto" – succeeded in presenting Corelli's musical aesthetic and soundworld in a completely new light. The resulting SA-CD recording of the Concerti Grossi, made by Murphy and the NDA for Dutch label PentaTone Classics, became the first ever recording to use Corelli's own, large scale orchestra, rich Italiante improvisation and extemporisation, and a full and varied continuo section (including baroque guitars, baroque lutes, archlutes, theorbos, harpsichords and organs). The production was highly enthusiastically received by the world's music press, the BBC Music magazine reporting:
"When it came to his orchestral music, size mattered for Corelli ...These accounts by the New Dutch Academy, a big band playing on period instruments, reflect the best of both worlds. Its sound is sumptuous, but textures are sufficiently transparent to allow details to cut through, and the historically informed approach includes stylish ornamentation and a battery of continuo instruments which would surely have delighted the composer. … director Simon Murphy infuses these accounts with subtle jazz-like touches: swinging rhythms, inventive extemporisations and vigorous guitar strumming effects."
Dutch Classical Radio is celebrating the 30 year old Utrecht Festival of Early Music with a series of downloads of live historic festival concert recordings from the radio's archives, including performances by The Orchestra of the 18th Century (Frans Brüggen), The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (Ton Koopman) and The New Dutch Academy (Simon Murphy).
 |
| Simon Murphy and the NDA perform and record Corelli's Concerti Grossi at the 2003 Holland Festival of Early Music |
Recent performance highlights for Simon Murphy and the NDA have included appearances at the Händel Festival Halle, Bachfest Leipzig and for the Zaterdagmatinee at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. In season 2011-2012, the Murphy and the NDA present well and lesser known 18th century masterpieces by Corelli, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Cimarosa, Paisiello, Rossini and their contemporaries in the orchestra's symphonic, Baroque orchestral and chamber series at home in The Hague and around the Netherlands. Upcoming tours take the orchestra through eastern Europe and Asia.
Listen to Murphy's Corelli CD
Read more on the Holland Festival of Early Music's top 5 on the Dutch radio's website: http://festivals.radio4.nl/pagina/oudemuziek/oudemuziekdownload3/oudemuziek/
Listen to the Corelli CD on the NDA's site: http://www.newdutchacademy.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41:corelli-cd-hfomu-2003-murphy-nda&catid=37:cds&Itemid=22
Read more about the NDA on the NDA's website: www.newdutchacademy.nl
Read more about conductor Simon Murphy on: www.simonmurphyconductor.com
Dutch National State Broadcaster portraits Simon Murphy
The Dutch National State Broadcaster (NPS) is profiling conductor Simon Murphy and The Hague’s Baroque Orchestra “The New Dutch Academy” with an exclusive live CD of symphonic works by Beethoven, Haydn and Wranitzky.
The live concert recording of Murphy and The New Dutch Academy (NDA) was singled out by Dutch Radio as a highlight of the radio’s recording activities over the past season. Selected out of hundreds of concert recordings made by the NPS, the NDA recording stood out due to the highly engaging atmosphere of the performance – identified as a hallmark of the performing style of Murphy and the NDA. The CD is produced by the NPS in co-operation with the Dutch music magazine “Luister”, the premiere music magazine in the Low Countries.
The live CD portrays the work of Murphy and The New Dutch Academy Orchestra – the new generation of specialist Dutch early music performers – in vibrant concert action, capturing Murphy and The New Dutch Academy Orchestra (which performs exclusively on authentic instruments) performing Beethoven Symphony no 1 and Haydn’s Symphony no 104 “London” as well as other orchestral music by contemporary and friend of Beethoven and Haydn, composer and conductor Paul Wranitzky. Wranitzky conducted the first performance of Beethoven’s Symphony no 1 (dedicated to Baron Gottfried van Swieten) and the Viennese premiere of Haydn’s “The Creation”.
The NDA concert documented on the CD took place in the Grote Zaal of the Rotterdam Concert Hall, De Doelen in December 2007. The live disc is available exclusively in the May 2010 issue of “Luister”, edition 666. The disc is volume 5 in a NPS / NTR / Radio 4 / Luister set documenting live performances of note in the Netherlands.
The live concert recording of Murphy and The New Dutch Academy (NDA) was singled out by Dutch Radio as a highlight of the radio’s recording activities over the past season. Selected out of hundreds of concert recordings made by the NPS, the NDA recording stood out due to the highly engaging atmosphere of the performance – identified as a hallmark of the performing style of Murphy and the NDA. The CD is produced by the NPS in co-operation with the Dutch music magazine “Luister”, the premiere music magazine in the Low Countries.
The live CD portrays the work of Murphy and The New Dutch Academy Orchestra – the new generation of specialist Dutch early music performers – in vibrant concert action, capturing Murphy and The New Dutch Academy Orchestra (which performs exclusively on authentic instruments) performing Beethoven Symphony no 1 and Haydn’s Symphony no 104 “London” as well as other orchestral music by contemporary and friend of Beethoven and Haydn, composer and conductor Paul Wranitzky. Wranitzky conducted the first performance of Beethoven’s Symphony no 1 (dedicated to Baron Gottfried van Swieten) and the Viennese premiere of Haydn’s “The Creation”.
The NDA concert documented on the CD took place in the Grote Zaal of the Rotterdam Concert Hall, De Doelen in December 2007. The live disc is available exclusively in the May 2010 issue of “Luister”, edition 666. The disc is volume 5 in a NPS / NTR / Radio 4 / Luister set documenting live performances of note in the Netherlands.
 |
| Simon Murphy and the NDA in De Doelen in 2007, radio sound check for concert broadcast |
Read more about conductor Simon Murphy on: www.simonmurphyconductor.com
Listen to the CD on the NDA's site: http://www.newdutchacademy.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44:nps-news&catid=39:newscategory&Itemid=53
A warm welcome for world-premiere Zappa SA-CD
International media response Zappa SA-CD positive
Conductor Simon Murphy and The New Dutch Academy's new Super Audio CD has been met with great enthusiasm from the Dutch and international media since its international release in November 2009.
Featuring world première recordings of newly re-discovered works from The Netherlands' own symphonic tradition at the glittering 18th century court of Orange in The Hague, the recording presents an array of Dutch musical crown jewels by composers active at the 18th c. Dutch court – Symphonies by C.E. Graaf, Schwindl, C. Stamitz and F. Zappa (Cello Symphonies). This music was rediscovered by Simon Murphy and the NDA's own Research Lab in a seven year long, international research project leading up to the recording of this new disc.
This new, landmark recording - the NDA's 5th CD - is the first recording ever to offer a panoramic view of the symphony at the cosmopolitan and highly culturally engaged 18th century Dutch court in The Hague. The disc follows on the heels of the NDA's previous CD, which created a furore, successfully presenting the symphonies of the 18th century Amsterdam composer Joseph Schmitt (“The Dutch Haydn”) to the world for the first time.
The disc (PentaTone Classics PTC 5186 365) "Crowning Glory – Zappa Symphonies" (The Netherlands' Musical Heritage – The Symphony at the 18th century Court of Orange in The Hague), is available worldwide, with distribution in 45 countries.
What the critics say:
"The other Zappa ... A fascinating view of the rich musical traditions of The Hague ... brilliant performances ... wonderful orchestral sound of the NDA" Klassieke Zaken
"18th century rock 'n roll ... a total eyeopener" Haagsche Courant
"swinging and persuasive!" Het Parool
"Different Time ... Different Place ... Different Zappa ... Same Excitement!" Pop Matters (U.S.)
"Simon Murphy and the New Dutch Academy clean up big time with the works of Christian Ernst Graaf (individual), Carl Stamitz (electrifying) and W.A. Mozart ... Murphy creates an earthy energy with funky rhythms and fine articulation. The performances of the [Zappa] cello solos by Caroline Kang and the Mozart concert aria by soprano Elizabeth Dobbin are particularly distinguished. Beautifully recorded." De Volkskrant
"When it comes to the subject of Crown Jewels, the Dutch can definitely hold their own with the British. The New Dutch Academy presents a musical exhibition of seven high-carat examples from the Classical epoch, including two totally stunning new masterworks. Under no circumstances should one miss this!" Deutschlandradio Kultur (CD of the Week, November 2009)
The repertoire-refresher, conductor Simon Murphy is certainly not lacking in humour. “Zappa Symphonies”!? ... It is indeed another Zappa, Francesco (fl. 1763 – 1788), who is reborn through this rich anthology CD of first recordings of works from the court of the Prince of Orange, William the 5th in The Hague. The disc presents cosmopolitan works by musicians and musical visitors to the court of William V – veritable musical Crown Jewels.
The album radiates joie de vivre, bursting immediately open with a lively symphony by Graaf - a work in the Sturm und Drang spirit, with celebratory trumpets and drums. Schwindl’s animated symphony [in D] is laden with a similarly contagious élan, particularly in the most effervescent string figurations in the Presto finale. In the works by Zappa selected by Murphy for the disc, the composer shows himself to also a firm disciple of the classical school, but technically more demanding. His style displays a certain melodic charm: the central Largo assai of the Cello Symphony (Caroline Kang, cello) could have easily been a cantilena from an opera. The two outside movements, with their seductively solo-woodwind parts, embrace the Largo as a jewel box would encase its treasures. Zappa’s other symphony is more robust in the outer movements, but its Largo also makes room for a superb cello solo. The Stamitz symphony [in C], suggestive of a most celebratory crowning, is developed, complex and rich with expressive shadings with an enlivening and rejuvenating bouquet that makes it – in the words of Murphy – indeed a most attractive work.
Murphy’s interpretation of these works distinguishes itself by its enthusiasm; his approach possesses a classic élan but without any stiffness or dryness, and displays a delicate sensitivity in the Andantes and Largos. 5 Stars! Diapason (France)
"This is a splendid concert, brimming with vigorous rhythms and varied orchestral colours, played with impeccable ensemble and élan by the NDA. Strongly Recommended!
No, not THAT Frank Zappa, but Francesco Zappa (fl.1763-1788). He was one of a coterie of musicians attracted to the employ of Wilhelm V and his mother, Princess Anna van Hannover at The Hague in its Golden Age, now unearthed by the indefatigable Simon Murphy, conductor of the New Dutch Academy Orchestra. This disc must have one of the longest titles in recording history; its full title is: "World Première Recording - Crowning Glory - The Musical Heritage of the Netherlands. Dutch Crown Jewels: Symphonies from the 18th Century Court of Orange in The Hague". That says it all.
Music flourished in The Hague under Wilhelm; the monarch and his family were connoisseurs (Princess Anna was a former student of Handel's), and the city also was a notable centre for music printing and publication and thus doubly attractive to composers. ... A developing Classical orchestra [in the 18th century] of strings, flutes, oboes and horns (sometimes also trumpets and drums) offered composers opportunities to invent fashionable and exciting new "Special Effects". Much of this development took place at the Mannheim Court, under Johann Stamitz, Carl Stamitz and Franz Xaver Richter, whose early symphonies already featured by Simon Murphy in albums with the NDA (Stamitz/Richter: Early String Symphonies - New Dutch Academy/Murphy, The Mannheim Project, Volume 2 – Murphy). ... The Mannheim techniques of building up layers of rich sounds spread to the rest of Europe, as did their full orchestral crescendos and diminuendos. Gestures known as the 'Mannheim Rocket' and 'Mannheim Sigh' were also much in vogue and quickly found their way to The Hague.
Murphy has compiled a diverting and entertaining programme of music created for the Court of Orange, presented here by the period instruments of the New Dutch Academy, who play with zestful energy and poetic grace. Most of the symphonic movements last between one and a half to three and a half minutes, so wandering concentration [in the listener] is not an issue. Indeed, [the works] seem to pack in a great deal of material in concentrated form. ... The opening Graff symphony is ablaze with trumpets and drums, all bustling orchestration, relieved by a delectable tip-toe slow dance for the middle movement, where the tangy harpsichord continuo is heard. Its Presto finale comes out of the speakers like a terrier snapping at your heels.
The two recently discovered symphonies by Zappa, a fine cellist, teacher and composer, show a remarkable excursion from galant formal conventions by having an extensive and introspective solo for cello in each of their slow movements. The soloist is sometimes accompanied, sometimes muses alone in extended recitative or cadenza-like passages. Soulfully played by Caroline Kang, these meditative oases are an utter delight. ...
A chance to gaze through a window in time at the entertainments supplied for The Hague's nobility, resulting from dedicated scholarly research which is nicely summarized in the well-illustrated booklet." SA-CD (Five Stars)
"With works by Zappa and others, this CD presents an anthology of pieces which were once written to be enjoyed at the court of Willem V, Prince of Orange in The Hague.
Belonging to the classical style, the works resonate with the musical aesthetic of Haydn and Mozart. Simon Murphy, conductor of the New Dutch Academy, compares them with ‘Rock and Roll of our time’ … these pieces are clearly a breakthrough and full of life … The CD presents two works of Zappa as a premiere.
The musicians of the NDA display an exceptional rigour on their authentic instruments and gut strings, delivering very fine performances of these lesser known pieces.
Extremely enjoyable to listen to in itself, the disc also allow us to expand our knowledge of the gold mine that is the music of the 18th century; this recording proves that, other than the obvious Mozarts and Haydns, there are many other composers of great value from this period. Diverdi (Spain)
Listen to the CD
Read more about conductor Simon Murphy on: www.simonmurphyconductor.com
Listen to the CD on the NDA's site: http://www.newdutchacademy.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4:newcd&catid=37:cds&Itemid=22
Conductor Simon Murphy and The New Dutch Academy's new Super Audio CD has been met with great enthusiasm from the Dutch and international media since its international release in November 2009.
Featuring world première recordings of newly re-discovered works from The Netherlands' own symphonic tradition at the glittering 18th century court of Orange in The Hague, the recording presents an array of Dutch musical crown jewels by composers active at the 18th c. Dutch court – Symphonies by C.E. Graaf, Schwindl, C. Stamitz and F. Zappa (Cello Symphonies). This music was rediscovered by Simon Murphy and the NDA's own Research Lab in a seven year long, international research project leading up to the recording of this new disc.
This new, landmark recording - the NDA's 5th CD - is the first recording ever to offer a panoramic view of the symphony at the cosmopolitan and highly culturally engaged 18th century Dutch court in The Hague. The disc follows on the heels of the NDA's previous CD, which created a furore, successfully presenting the symphonies of the 18th century Amsterdam composer Joseph Schmitt (“The Dutch Haydn”) to the world for the first time.
The disc (PentaTone Classics PTC 5186 365) "Crowning Glory – Zappa Symphonies" (The Netherlands' Musical Heritage – The Symphony at the 18th century Court of Orange in The Hague), is available worldwide, with distribution in 45 countries.
What the critics say:
"The other Zappa ... A fascinating view of the rich musical traditions of The Hague ... brilliant performances ... wonderful orchestral sound of the NDA" Klassieke Zaken
"18th century rock 'n roll ... a total eyeopener" Haagsche Courant
"swinging and persuasive!" Het Parool
"Different Time ... Different Place ... Different Zappa ... Same Excitement!" Pop Matters (U.S.)
"Simon Murphy and the New Dutch Academy clean up big time with the works of Christian Ernst Graaf (individual), Carl Stamitz (electrifying) and W.A. Mozart ... Murphy creates an earthy energy with funky rhythms and fine articulation. The performances of the [Zappa] cello solos by Caroline Kang and the Mozart concert aria by soprano Elizabeth Dobbin are particularly distinguished. Beautifully recorded." De Volkskrant
"When it comes to the subject of Crown Jewels, the Dutch can definitely hold their own with the British. The New Dutch Academy presents a musical exhibition of seven high-carat examples from the Classical epoch, including two totally stunning new masterworks. Under no circumstances should one miss this!" Deutschlandradio Kultur (CD of the Week, November 2009)
The repertoire-refresher, conductor Simon Murphy is certainly not lacking in humour. “Zappa Symphonies”!? ... It is indeed another Zappa, Francesco (fl. 1763 – 1788), who is reborn through this rich anthology CD of first recordings of works from the court of the Prince of Orange, William the 5th in The Hague. The disc presents cosmopolitan works by musicians and musical visitors to the court of William V – veritable musical Crown Jewels.
The album radiates joie de vivre, bursting immediately open with a lively symphony by Graaf - a work in the Sturm und Drang spirit, with celebratory trumpets and drums. Schwindl’s animated symphony [in D] is laden with a similarly contagious élan, particularly in the most effervescent string figurations in the Presto finale. In the works by Zappa selected by Murphy for the disc, the composer shows himself to also a firm disciple of the classical school, but technically more demanding. His style displays a certain melodic charm: the central Largo assai of the Cello Symphony (Caroline Kang, cello) could have easily been a cantilena from an opera. The two outside movements, with their seductively solo-woodwind parts, embrace the Largo as a jewel box would encase its treasures. Zappa’s other symphony is more robust in the outer movements, but its Largo also makes room for a superb cello solo. The Stamitz symphony [in C], suggestive of a most celebratory crowning, is developed, complex and rich with expressive shadings with an enlivening and rejuvenating bouquet that makes it – in the words of Murphy – indeed a most attractive work.
Murphy’s interpretation of these works distinguishes itself by its enthusiasm; his approach possesses a classic élan but without any stiffness or dryness, and displays a delicate sensitivity in the Andantes and Largos. 5 Stars! Diapason (France)
"This is a splendid concert, brimming with vigorous rhythms and varied orchestral colours, played with impeccable ensemble and élan by the NDA. Strongly Recommended!
No, not THAT Frank Zappa, but Francesco Zappa (fl.1763-1788). He was one of a coterie of musicians attracted to the employ of Wilhelm V and his mother, Princess Anna van Hannover at The Hague in its Golden Age, now unearthed by the indefatigable Simon Murphy, conductor of the New Dutch Academy Orchestra. This disc must have one of the longest titles in recording history; its full title is: "World Première Recording - Crowning Glory - The Musical Heritage of the Netherlands. Dutch Crown Jewels: Symphonies from the 18th Century Court of Orange in The Hague". That says it all.
Music flourished in The Hague under Wilhelm; the monarch and his family were connoisseurs (Princess Anna was a former student of Handel's), and the city also was a notable centre for music printing and publication and thus doubly attractive to composers. ... A developing Classical orchestra [in the 18th century] of strings, flutes, oboes and horns (sometimes also trumpets and drums) offered composers opportunities to invent fashionable and exciting new "Special Effects". Much of this development took place at the Mannheim Court, under Johann Stamitz, Carl Stamitz and Franz Xaver Richter, whose early symphonies already featured by Simon Murphy in albums with the NDA (Stamitz/Richter: Early String Symphonies - New Dutch Academy/Murphy, The Mannheim Project, Volume 2 – Murphy). ... The Mannheim techniques of building up layers of rich sounds spread to the rest of Europe, as did their full orchestral crescendos and diminuendos. Gestures known as the 'Mannheim Rocket' and 'Mannheim Sigh' were also much in vogue and quickly found their way to The Hague.
Murphy has compiled a diverting and entertaining programme of music created for the Court of Orange, presented here by the period instruments of the New Dutch Academy, who play with zestful energy and poetic grace. Most of the symphonic movements last between one and a half to three and a half minutes, so wandering concentration [in the listener] is not an issue. Indeed, [the works] seem to pack in a great deal of material in concentrated form. ... The opening Graff symphony is ablaze with trumpets and drums, all bustling orchestration, relieved by a delectable tip-toe slow dance for the middle movement, where the tangy harpsichord continuo is heard. Its Presto finale comes out of the speakers like a terrier snapping at your heels.
The two recently discovered symphonies by Zappa, a fine cellist, teacher and composer, show a remarkable excursion from galant formal conventions by having an extensive and introspective solo for cello in each of their slow movements. The soloist is sometimes accompanied, sometimes muses alone in extended recitative or cadenza-like passages. Soulfully played by Caroline Kang, these meditative oases are an utter delight. ...
A chance to gaze through a window in time at the entertainments supplied for The Hague's nobility, resulting from dedicated scholarly research which is nicely summarized in the well-illustrated booklet." SA-CD (Five Stars)
"With works by Zappa and others, this CD presents an anthology of pieces which were once written to be enjoyed at the court of Willem V, Prince of Orange in The Hague.
Belonging to the classical style, the works resonate with the musical aesthetic of Haydn and Mozart. Simon Murphy, conductor of the New Dutch Academy, compares them with ‘Rock and Roll of our time’ … these pieces are clearly a breakthrough and full of life … The CD presents two works of Zappa as a premiere.
The musicians of the NDA display an exceptional rigour on their authentic instruments and gut strings, delivering very fine performances of these lesser known pieces.
Extremely enjoyable to listen to in itself, the disc also allow us to expand our knowledge of the gold mine that is the music of the 18th century; this recording proves that, other than the obvious Mozarts and Haydns, there are many other composers of great value from this period. Diverdi (Spain)
Listen to the CD
Read more about conductor Simon Murphy on: www.simonmurphyconductor.com
Listen to the CD on the NDA's site: http://www.newdutchacademy.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4:newcd&catid=37:cds&Itemid=22
Season Opening 2011-2012
Simon Murphy and The Hague's Baroque Orchestra, The New Dutch Academy, will open the 2011-2012 cultural season in The Hague on Thursday 20 October in the city's Philipszaal with the symphonic programme “It's About Time”. The programme features arias by Mozart, Paisiello and Rossini, Haydn's Symphony no. 101 “The Clock” and Rossini's Overtures to “La Cenerentola” (Cinderella) and “Il barbiere di Siviglia”. Soloist is Danish soprano Nina Bols Lundgren.
Recently The New Dutch Academy (NDA) and its conductor Simon Murphy were honoured by being named as one of the top 5 highlights of the 30 year history of The Holland Festival of Early Music Utrecht alongside The Orchestra of the 18th Century (Frans Brüggen) and The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (Ton Koopman). Dutch national radio celebrated the festival's 30th anniversary with a series of downloads of “legendary” festival performances including the NDA's Corelli Concerti Grossi.
In The Hague, the NDA's 2011-2012 concert season features exciting and engaging programmes of both well known and newly rediscovered 18th century masterpieces performed exclusively on authentic instruments by the NDA's international, new generation, specialist musicians. Guest soloists include the recipient of the 2010 BBC Music Award, Iranian/American harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani. and the winner of the 2011 London Handel Singing competition, Canadian soprano Stefanie True.
The NDA's concert programmes regularly present modern day premiere performances of 18th century works newly unearthed by Murphy and the NDA's research lab, such as the repertoire featured on the NDA's newest SA-CD (PentaTone) - the first recording to document the symphony at the 18th century Court of Orange, with musical crown jewels by Dutch and international composers at the court including Graaf, Schwindl, C. Stamitz and Zappa.
Recent concert highlights for Simon Murphy and NDA include appearances at the Händel Festspiele Halle, the Bachfest Leipzig and for the Zaterdagmatinee at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. Recent tours have taken the orchestra through north-west Europe, Russia, northern American and Australia. Upcoming tours will see the orchestra visit Asia and eastern Europe.
Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of The New Dutch Academy is Dutch-based, Australian conductor and viola player, Simon Murphy (38).
Download the NDA's 2011-2012 Season Brochure: http://issuu.com/newdutchacademy/docs/nda-brochure-hires2
Read more about the NDA's season opening in The Hague on the Philipszaal's site: http://www.ldt.nl/programma/1781/New_Dutch_Academy/It_s_About_Time/
Read more about the NDA on the NDA's website: www.newdutchacademy.nl
Watch conductor Simon Murphy and the NDA in action in Beethoven's 2nd Symphony, live in the Philipszaal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEfwPgHvbbg&feature=related
Listen to Murphy and the NDA's acclaimed festival Corelli CD: http://www.newdutchacademy.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41:corelli-cd-hfomu-2003-murphy-nda&catid=37:cds&Itemid=22
Read more about the NDA's acclaimed festival Corelli project on the Dutch radio's website: http://festivals.radio4.nl/pagina/oudemuziek/oudemuziekdownload3/oudemuziek/
Read more about conductor Simon Murphy on www.simonmurphyconductor.com
Recently The New Dutch Academy (NDA) and its conductor Simon Murphy were honoured by being named as one of the top 5 highlights of the 30 year history of The Holland Festival of Early Music Utrecht alongside The Orchestra of the 18th Century (Frans Brüggen) and The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (Ton Koopman). Dutch national radio celebrated the festival's 30th anniversary with a series of downloads of “legendary” festival performances including the NDA's Corelli Concerti Grossi.
In The Hague, the NDA's 2011-2012 concert season features exciting and engaging programmes of both well known and newly rediscovered 18th century masterpieces performed exclusively on authentic instruments by the NDA's international, new generation, specialist musicians. Guest soloists include the recipient of the 2010 BBC Music Award, Iranian/American harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani. and the winner of the 2011 London Handel Singing competition, Canadian soprano Stefanie True.
The NDA's concert programmes regularly present modern day premiere performances of 18th century works newly unearthed by Murphy and the NDA's research lab, such as the repertoire featured on the NDA's newest SA-CD (PentaTone) - the first recording to document the symphony at the 18th century Court of Orange, with musical crown jewels by Dutch and international composers at the court including Graaf, Schwindl, C. Stamitz and Zappa.
Recent concert highlights for Simon Murphy and NDA include appearances at the Händel Festspiele Halle, the Bachfest Leipzig and for the Zaterdagmatinee at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. Recent tours have taken the orchestra through north-west Europe, Russia, northern American and Australia. Upcoming tours will see the orchestra visit Asia and eastern Europe.
Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of The New Dutch Academy is Dutch-based, Australian conductor and viola player, Simon Murphy (38).
Download the NDA's 2011-2012 Season Brochure: http://issuu.com/newdutchacademy/docs/nda-brochure-hires2
Read more about the NDA's season opening in The Hague on the Philipszaal's site: http://www.ldt.nl/programma/1781/New_Dutch_Academy/It_s_About_Time/
Read more about the NDA on the NDA's website: www.newdutchacademy.nl
Watch conductor Simon Murphy and the NDA in action in Beethoven's 2nd Symphony, live in the Philipszaal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEfwPgHvbbg&feature=related
Listen to Murphy and the NDA's acclaimed festival Corelli CD: http://www.newdutchacademy.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41:corelli-cd-hfomu-2003-murphy-nda&catid=37:cds&Itemid=22
Read more about the NDA's acclaimed festival Corelli project on the Dutch radio's website: http://festivals.radio4.nl/pagina/oudemuziek/oudemuziekdownload3/oudemuziek/
Read more about conductor Simon Murphy on www.simonmurphyconductor.com
Dutch Crown Jewels
Newly rediscovered symphonies from the Court of Orange live in concert!
Under the baton of its conductor Simon Murphy, The Hague's Baroque Orchestra, The New Dutch Academy (NDA), will perform music from the highly successful, recent CD release "Zappa Symphonies" live in concert on Thursday 24 March 2011 in The Hague's Philipszaal, Spuiplein.
"An eyeopener!", "Inspiring, energising and vibrant", "Radiating joie de vivre" and "A fascinating view of the rich musical traditions of The Hague together with the wonderful orchestral sound of the NDA" are just some of the many highly enthusiastic responses from the international music press to this new disc, released on Dutch label PentaTone Classics.
The CD is the first ever recording to document the symphonic traditions of The Hague's 18th century Court of Orange, presenting world premiere recordings of symphonies by composers resident at the court, including Zappa, Stamitz and the Hofkapellmeister C.E. Graaf. This music was rediscovered by Simon Murphy and the NDA's Research Lab during a pioneering, seven year long research project dedicated to unearthing the city's symphonic heritage.
In the concert on March 24, Simon Murphy and the NDA will perform works from this album in a special performance celebrating the rich 18th century symphonic heritage of city of The Hague. The concert takes place as the city prepares itself for its bid to become European Cultural Capital in 2018.
The concert's programme offers a panoramic view of the musical traditions of The Hague's glittering 18th century court featuring music by several of the court's resident composers as well as by some of the court's many famous 18th century musical visitors. The court's guestbook included the names of such luminaries as Mozart, J.C. Bach, Abel, Hummel, Dussek and Beethoven.
A highpoint of the concert programme will certainly be the performance of one of the of the most exciting musical discoveries made by the NDA in recent years, "The Cello Symphony" in B flat written by The Hague's 18th century cello virtuoso and composer Francesco Zappa.
Other works on the programme include Mozart's Symphony no.5 "The Hague", written during his stay in The Hague in the mid 1760's, and Mozart's classic Andante in C for Flute and Orchestra, written for the Dutchman Ferdinand Dejean in the late 1770's. Completing the programme is the pulsating "Hurdy Gurdy" Symphony by the 18th century Amsterdam composer Joseph Schmitt (otherwise known as the "Dutch Haydn") whose effervescent symphonic works were also highly popular at the court.
Listen to the CD
Read more about conductor Simon Murphy on: www.simonmurphyconductor.com
Listen to the CD on the NDA's site: http://www.newdutchacademy.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4:newcd&catid=37:cds&Itemid=22
Under the baton of its conductor Simon Murphy, The Hague's Baroque Orchestra, The New Dutch Academy (NDA), will perform music from the highly successful, recent CD release "Zappa Symphonies" live in concert on Thursday 24 March 2011 in The Hague's Philipszaal, Spuiplein.
"An eyeopener!", "Inspiring, energising and vibrant", "Radiating joie de vivre" and "A fascinating view of the rich musical traditions of The Hague together with the wonderful orchestral sound of the NDA" are just some of the many highly enthusiastic responses from the international music press to this new disc, released on Dutch label PentaTone Classics.
The CD is the first ever recording to document the symphonic traditions of The Hague's 18th century Court of Orange, presenting world premiere recordings of symphonies by composers resident at the court, including Zappa, Stamitz and the Hofkapellmeister C.E. Graaf. This music was rediscovered by Simon Murphy and the NDA's Research Lab during a pioneering, seven year long research project dedicated to unearthing the city's symphonic heritage.
In the concert on March 24, Simon Murphy and the NDA will perform works from this album in a special performance celebrating the rich 18th century symphonic heritage of city of The Hague. The concert takes place as the city prepares itself for its bid to become European Cultural Capital in 2018.
The concert's programme offers a panoramic view of the musical traditions of The Hague's glittering 18th century court featuring music by several of the court's resident composers as well as by some of the court's many famous 18th century musical visitors. The court's guestbook included the names of such luminaries as Mozart, J.C. Bach, Abel, Hummel, Dussek and Beethoven.
A highpoint of the concert programme will certainly be the performance of one of the of the most exciting musical discoveries made by the NDA in recent years, "The Cello Symphony" in B flat written by The Hague's 18th century cello virtuoso and composer Francesco Zappa.
Other works on the programme include Mozart's Symphony no.5 "The Hague", written during his stay in The Hague in the mid 1760's, and Mozart's classic Andante in C for Flute and Orchestra, written for the Dutchman Ferdinand Dejean in the late 1770's. Completing the programme is the pulsating "Hurdy Gurdy" Symphony by the 18th century Amsterdam composer Joseph Schmitt (otherwise known as the "Dutch Haydn") whose effervescent symphonic works were also highly popular at the court.
Listen to the CD
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| Simon Murphy and the NDA perform music from The Hague court on The Hague's Hofvijver, overlooking the original court buildings |
Read more about conductor Simon Murphy on: www.simonmurphyconductor.com
Listen to the CD on the NDA's site: http://www.newdutchacademy.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4:newcd&catid=37:cds&Itemid=22
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