David Harbin writes: >I see Mr Silverthorne, who sometimes contributes to this list, is about >to release a CD. He plays the viola in Flos Campi (Vaughan Williams) for >Naxos. How did the sessions go? Have they miked Mr Silverthorne naturally >against the orchestra or well forward? Does he have any say in such >things?. > >I see some old Koch releases are turning up on Naxos. I wonder if his >CDs for Koch will see the light of day again too. Thanks to Dave Harbin for the plug - I recorded it in April last year with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Chorus with Paul Daniels conducting. The session was very enjoyable despite my having got off a 'plane from New York at 6 that morning - I hope that doesn't show. The orchestra is very good, they clearly knew the piece and so we were able to work in good long takes. As far as the balance is concerned I think it's a pretty natural, the viola emerges from, and is subsumed back into the texture as I think the composer intended. It is for me a very special work - the subtle harmonic language and wonderful sensuous lines suit the viola perfectly, and I think the viola inspired VW to create a kind of piece that is uniquely moving and memorable. As far as Koch is concerned it is a great disappointment to me that the two discs I did for them have been deleted from the 'physical' catalogue and are only available as downloads. The recital disc of Britten Hindemith and Shostakovich is, I feel, still after ten years or so, the best thing I've done (on disc). It would be great if they came out again on Naxos but I'm not holding my breath. Paul Silverthorne www.paulsilverthorne.com