David Loebel conducts the New England Conservatory Symphony in a performance of Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances. Recorded live in Jordan Hall November 13, 2013 by Jeremy Sarna

Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances-Non allegro

Hugh Wolff conducts the New England Conservatory Philharmonia in a performance of Schubert's Symphony No. 9 in C Major. Recorded live in Jordan Hall November 5, 2014.

Schubert: Symphony no 9 in C major Andante con moto

Kjell Fagéus, clarinet Hans Samuelsson, bassoon Stefan Bojsten, piano (Early recording 1979)
Presto - Andante - Allegretto grazioso


Felix Mendelssohn-Bartoldy Concert Piece nr 2 op. 114

THOMAS GOULD Live in Riga
Sinfonietta Riga

1-3. Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61 - Ludwig van Beethoven
	I. Allegro ma non troppo
	II. Larghetto
	III. Rondo (Allegro)

4. The Lark Ascending - Ralph Vaughan Williams  

Produced by Raphaël Mouterde
Executive producer Dave Stapleton

‘Live in Riga’ is the major new album from the celebrated 31 year old British violinist Thomas Gould.  Recorded live in concert with Sinfonietta Riga on April 11th 2014 at the Great Guild Hall in Riga, Latvia, it confirms Gould’s enormous potential as one of the most inventive and colourful instrumentalists of his generation.  Gould is no ordinary classical musician but one of a new generation who refuse to be defined by a single genre.  He has developed impressive jazz credentials, but it is in this environment as soloist/director of classical repertoire where he really excels.  The Times recently described Gould as “intent on becoming the Nigel Kennedy of his generation”.  Gould, however, is incomparably his own musician.  Bold and courageous enough to forge his own path and follow his singular vision, he steps outside the footsteps of the greats.

‘Live in Riga’ is a defining album for Gould, his first disc of a three-album deal with forward-thinking British jazz and classical record label Edition Classics.  Over the last decade he has been in demand as a soloist with major orchestras worldwide, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra and LA Phil New Music Group.  He is also much in demand as a leader/director, working with Britten Sinfonia, Aurora Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra and the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s ACO2, but it’s when he brings these disciplines together that the magic happens.  As Gould explains, “It means that everyone plays in a more engaged way. There is a group commitment to making it work, so the process is much more collaborative than when working with conductor.”

Sinfonietta Riga is an orchestra with a story to tell.  Formed in 2006, their vision is as bold as Gould’s.  Equally happy to play in concert dress or T-shirts they are intent on building new audiences for the music while reaching for the highest artistic standards.  Their collaboration is a perfect match and a unique experience for both the orchestra and for Gould.  This live concert recording bears witness to this special musical symbiosis.

To release an album featuring Beethoven’s Violin Concerto and Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending is a bold decision.  As two cornerstones of the violin repertoire, there are plenty of performances to compare, but Gould’s versions demonstrate a brilliance of tone and colour that demands attention.  His flexibility and breadth of musical interests is fully evident.  Gould’s playing has the clarity you would expect from any major performer but radiates a freedom in its expression as though improvised with an immediate elegance and poise.

For Gould it’s all about achieving the right balance.  Whether it’s jazz or classical, written or improvised, as soloist or director, Gould is right in the eye of the storm.  If the dark clouds gathering in the wider music world imply that the days of the single-minded virtuoso are coming to an end; if to succeed in that brave new world we need to attract more diversity and brighter colours, then in Thomas Gould we may have found the lightning conductor to spark a new generation.


THOMAS GOULD Beethoven - Violin Concerto In D, Op.61 - II. Larghetto

John Williams Theme From Schindlers List

Recorded in March 2013 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.

07 J. HAYDN   Cello Concerto In C Major HOB. VIIB  Moderato

Johannes Brahms Symphony no. 4 in E minor, 4. Allegro eneergico e passionato (excerpt)

Johann Sebastian Bach: Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041

Thomas Gould, violin
Senesino Players

Johann Sebastian Bach: Violin Concerto in A minor: 3. Allegro assai

David Loebel leads the new England Conservatory Philharmonia in a performance of Haydn's Symphony No. 100 "Military." Recorded live in Jordan Hall, Boston, December 2, 2015 by Jeremy Sarna.

NEC Philharmonia, Loebel / Hay

Haydn: Symphony no 100 in G major Allegretto

Danish flutist Lars Graugaard and Chilean harpist Sofia Asunción Claro perform classical works in arrangements for their particularly satisfying instrumental combination. Ms. Claro followed her studies at the Musikhochschule in Munich and at Conservatoire National Superieure in Paris with final studies at the Royal Danish Academy. She enjoys a distinguished career performing the core repertoire for harp, as well as several commissions and premiere performance of works for harp by internationally leading composers. Mr. Graugaard completed his studies at the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen in 1983. He is highly considered as a soloist and chamber musician, but he has also had an extensive career as composer and improviser of audacious music.

Luigi Boccherini: Sonata in C major - Largo

New England Conservatory students Zenas Hsu, Yina Tong, Livan perform Tchaikovsky's Trio for Piano and Strings in A minor, Op. 50. Recroded live in Jordan Hall, Boston, February 14, 2013

Tchaikovsky: Trio for Piano and Strings in A minor - Variazione VI  Tempo di valse

New England Conservatory educates and trains musicians of all ages from around the world, drawing on the talent and deep reservoir of experience of our distinguished faculty. We are dedicated to inculcating the highest standards of excellence and nurturing individual artistic sensibility and creative growth. Understanding that music is one of the transcendent expressions of human civilization, NEC aspires to ensure it a central place in contemporary society. Additionally, we present over 1,000 free concerts a year in our world class performance spaces which include historic Jordan Hall.

Haydn: Symphony no 100 in G major Allegretto

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