يوهان براهـمـس

The last movement of Beethoven's immortal 30th piano sonata (played by me).

Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 30 In E Major, Op. 109  final movement

David Loebel conducts the New England Conservatory Philharmonia in a performance of Mendelssohn's "Scottish" Symphony no 3 in A minor. Recorded live in Jordan Hall December 4, 2013 by Alex Hug.

Mendelssohn: Symphony no 3 in A minor- Vivace non troppo

First movement of Telemann's delightful Concerto in E Minor for Recorder and Flute (TWV 52:e1). Performed on an Akai EWI USB wind controller using virtual instruments (sampled and modeled): alto recorder (Wallander Instruments), flute (Samplemodeling), strings (Garritan/EWI), and harpsichord (Mondartt).

Telemann: Concerto in E Minor for Recorder and Flute, TWV 52:e1 - 1. Largo (2014.07.12)

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

A 2002 very live, very fun recording with one of my students, Holly Bolling, nee Earnest.

Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 2

Brahms: Hungarian Dance No 16

Le Dernier Folklore - string orchestra

Hungarian Dance No,7 by Brahms

The Atlanta Baroque Orchestra live in concert, Sunday, 13 February, 2011 at Roswell Presbyterian Church in Roswell, Georgia. Julie Andrijeski, Karen Clarke, violins, and Stephanie Vial, cello.

Grand Concerto in G, Op. 6 No. 1, G. F. Handel, Movement 2

Johann Sebastian Bach - Partita No. 2, BWV 1004 - Hilary Hahn

Concerto For Guitar And Strings In D Major - Part I (A. Vivaldi)

Second movement of Bach's second Brandenburg Concerto, featuring a trio of recorder, oboe and violin with continuo. Performed on virtual instruments: recorder and oboe (Wallander instruments), violin and cello (Samplemodeling), and harpsichord (Soniccouture), using a wind controller (Akai EWI USB).

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, BWV 1047 - 2. Andante - 2017.01.13

Brahms - Brahms - Hungarian Dance No. 5

Johannes Brahms, String Quartet in A minor Op. 51 No. 2, Allegro non troppo

Largo from Vivaldi's delightful Concerto for Mandolin in C major, performed on virtual instruments: featuring Bolder Sound's "Pure Mandolin", accompanied by pizzicato strings (Garritan and Dan Dean Solo Strings Advanced), Toccata organ (Sonokinetic), and theorbo (Bolder Sounds).

Johannes Brahms, String Quartet in A minor Op. 51 No. 2, Allegro non troppo

The Chiara String Quartet

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