Glass, Tavener & Nyman, arranged for saxophone

“Often derided as the saccharine sister of the saxophone family, Dickson's impressive playing bears witness to the instrument's hidden depth, breadth and versatility. Highly recommended.” --Gramophone Magazine

“Amy Dickson plays superbly, with great feeling and a less sterile tone than you expect from classical saxophonists.” --BBC Music Magazine **** 

For her second recording for RCA Red Seal, Australian saxophonist Amy Dickson has chosen three modern classical works in the minimalist genre. The first is an arrangement for soprano saxophone Amy has made herself of Philip Glass’s Violin Concerto, the second is Amy’s arrangement of John Tavener’s The Protecting Veil, and the third piece is Michael Nyman’s concerto in one movement Where The Bee Dances.

Amy is the cover feature for Muso Magazine’s February 2010 issue, and will be interviewed in the February 2010 issue of Classic FM magazine. She will be interviewed on Classic FM radio and BBC Radio 3’s ‘In Tune’ programme during the first week of February 2010. Great media coverage is expected of this innovative and radio-friendly recording which demonstrates Amy’s commitment to increasing the range of repertoire available for her instrument. She is also getting interest from the media due to having recently been signed as a brand ambassador for Armani, she will be dressed by the design company for her future concerts and appearances. She will also be acting as an ambassador for the Princes Trust from 2010.

Nicola Benedetti plays Vaughan Williams & Tavener

“…in the violin concerto Lalishri and its companion piece Dhyana the sheer seductive beauty of the sound is hard to resist. …Lalishri in particular is full of surprises, not least Tavener's feeling for the violin both as singer and as virtuoso soloist. It's clear from Nicola Benedetti's performance that she loves this music every bit as much as she loves Vaughan Williams's The Lark Ascending, which she plays with similar open-hearted warmth and rapt concentration - as well as superb technical control.” --BBC Music Magazine, October 2007 *****

“The third disc of DG's deal with the former BBC Young Musician amply justifies the company's confidence in this wonderfully pure-toned young violinist. It is an imaginative coupling of three Tavener works – two inspired by Benedetti and a third arranged for her – and the VW work voted the nation's most popular classic.

The choral Song for Athene crowned the music at Princess Diana's funeral. This arrangement cannot match that haunting quality although it's beautifully played. Tavener has described Bene- detti's playing as 'like a voice…you feel her breathing a line,' and the brief Dhyana (Sanskrit for 'meditation') is meant to reflect her contemplative style. Lalishri is much more ambitious, almost 40 minutes long, and is inspired by the 14th-century Hindu poet and saint Lalia Yogishwari. The solo violin represents the songs of the poet while the music reflects Tavener's devotion to the Indian raga, meditational depths punctuated by sharp, even frenetic, changes of mood in dance rhythms. Benedetti's fine performance sustains its length well with much double- stopping, pizzicato effects, trills and quarter tones. Unlike much of Tavener's music, the work has great vigour with a powerful rather than meditative close.

The Lark Ascending receives a spacious performance, reflective and pure-toned in the fluttering evocations of the lark and powerful in the tuttis, thanks to the weighty accompaniment of Andrew Litton and the LPO, with far bigger dynamic contrasts than usual. A fascinating disc that should have even more listeners magnetised by the music of Tavener as well as of Vaughan Williams.” --Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

MP3 320 · 143 MB