Birmingham choral group Ex Cathedra has seen its first CD Vivaldi Vespers re-issued after regaining the rights from the now defunct ASV Gaudeamus label.
Originally recorded and released 20 years ago in 1991, the CD captured the imagination of the record buying public and established Ex Cathedra on the international classical music scene.
The disc was deleted from the catalogues after ASV was bought up by Universal and Ex Cathedra general manager Peter Trethewey has been tracking down the agreements to this and several of the choir’s early CDs.
To celebrate the re-issue of Vivaldi Vespers on its own label ECCE, the choir and its Baroque Orchestra will perform the works on the CD in its forthcoming concert at Birmingham Town Hall on Saturday December 3 at 7.30pm.
Vivaldi Vespers includes some of the most extrovert and joyous sacred music ever written by the Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi.
Matthew Venner, one of the UK’s leading male altos and a regular member of Ex Cathedra is the alto soloist in the concert.
Audiences will be able to compare his interpretation with that on the CD of former King’s Singer, Nigel Short, who began his singing career with Ex Cathedra in the 1980s.
“The Vivaldi recording involved some of the best known early music specialists of the time and I am delighted that we have been able to re-issue it and am looking forward to performing it with the current members of Ex Cathedra and our Baroque Orchestra,” said director Jeffrey Skidmore.
“Vivaldi’s virtuosic instrumental and operatic music has become much better known in recent years but his sacred vocal music is equally stunning and deserves greater recognition.
“I hope that this concert and the re-issue of our original recording will play their part in making this happen,” he added.
