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04.05.12 MusicWeek 37
BRANCHING OUT SONY CLASSICAL’S BIG RELEASES Liam Toner talks us through Sony’s roster of current classical artists…
RUSSELL WATSON
ABOVE Soundtracks specialist: Sony is expecting big things of Rock Of Ages having enjoyed success with The Artist and War Horse
Cruise is coming over to do a big promo job, so we’re feeling very bullish.” Toner agrees that the entire classical music
industry has a particularly troubling challenge on its hands: dealing with the decline in High Street retail. However, he says that solutions are slowly becoming apparent. He’s not adverse to modernising classical music – or occasionally disregarding the prim protocol demanded by those Schubert-in-the-drawing-room types. But some things, he acknowledges, are still sacred. “Our audience tends to buy things in the
physical realm, partly because the nature of core classics tend to be quite long works – you can’t really break four segments down into 16 tracks,” he says. “We will have to angle our wares to the bite- sized market – we need to make it easier for people to consume it in a way they’re used to. “However, there are certain classical works that
the public has to make the effort to come to – not the other way round. You can’t say: ‘I’m afraid I can’t appreciate the Mona Lisa unless you break her arms and just give me the nose.’” That’s not a problem faced by either Cathy
Dennis or the “glam rock” heroes of Toner’s youth. With a big job on his hands at Sony Classical, plus his personal love for pop songs – he regards Dusty Springfield’s I Only Want To Be With You as “a few minutes of absolute heaven” – wouldn’t he rather switch his skills and allegiances to mainstream chart music? “I don’t actually think pop music is really any
good at doing the deep emotions,” he replies. “I love classical and symphonies, but it’s a different thing to my love of pop – that’s just about enjoying a great tune. “And I’m sick of all these shaggy five-piece
bands giving banal observations on love and life. Every month it’s the same; they’re on the front of the Music Express with faces that’d stop a clock. They actually think they’re telling you something you’ve never heard before. “I love the unpretentiousness of Cathy Dennis or
Tin Pan Alley – it’s a great tune, the end. But if I want to ponder the imponderable? That’s when I’ll put on Mahler’s No. 9.”
We have an album called Anthems coming at the end of May. The title immediately tells you: this is for the Jubilee, The Olympics, the Last Night At The Proms, Remembrance Day. It has a great selection such as Jerusalem and Abide With Me, but also folk stuff from around the United Kingdom: Flower Of Scotland, Calon Lan for Wales and Danny Boy. It also has Russell’s unique take on classics like Proud and We Are The Champions. He’s got lots of TV lined up and he’s touring the whole album through Jubilee month. He’ll be on BBC Breakfast, Loose Women, Keith Lemon’s Lemonade, BBC One’s Jubilee Special, Songs Of Praise, Daybreak – all the usual stuff. It’s major. We’re feeling good about this one. Russell’s our star of crossover. The plan is to produce more albums like this; quality crossover artists with a lifespan.
LANG LANG
He’s a complete virtuoso pianist. He’s like a circus act to watch – his ability is just ludicrous. He’s also an incredible communicator, and is currently making an album with Herbie Hancock. In addition, he’s a cultural ambassador for China, where 40million kids are currently learning the piano – because of him.
In the UK this year, he’ll be doing the iTunes festival and Latitude. MURRAY PERAHIA
He’s the pianist’s pianist. He’s a legend in his field. He’s completely focused on giving us definitive versions of classics, and he is a darling of the critics.
AMY DIXON
She’s incredible. An Australian classical saxophonist, a lot of the world’s leading composers are writing specifically for her. There is a reasonable amount of stuff written for classical saxophone – but people don’t know it. We’re creating a terrific album with her. She’s a reputable artist: she’s not adverse to
doing the odd jazz standard, but she’s not going to do Motown’s hits for some cheesy Tesco advert.
YO-YO MA
Quite simply, the world’s greatest cellist. He’s made Grammy Award-winning albums of Americana and is an absolute joy to listen to.
NIGEL KENNEDY
He’s both interesting and a handful
- there’s no question.
He’s a great individual. His famous [project] is The Four Seasons, and he’s come back and said: ‘I’m now going to do the Four Seasons the way I wish it had been written.” He’s re-doing Vivaldi for the 21st
century. I haven’t heard a note yet, but it’ll be bloody interesting. That will be coming in Q4 and will be a priority for us. I predict it will carry some of his jazz influences.
PLACIDO DOMINGO A legendary singer, and an artist who tends to do heavy-duty full operas one year - and then allow himself a bit of light relief with his next release. He is going to do immortal songs of sorts on his next album; I hesitate to say the Great American Songbook because that would conjure up bloody Rod Stewart. But he’ll do something that’s suitable for an enormous voice - big standards with some serious duet partners, which include Susan Boyle, Celine Dion and Josh Groban. This will be here in the autumn in October – perfect for mothers at Christmas.
JOSHUA BELL An American violinist. He has a very interesting discography where he’ll do a great masterpiece one year, then he’ll do a fantasia on West Side Story or something the next – whatever takes his fancy, really. He’s a fascinating artist.
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