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Since 1990, HE/NY, under conductor/music director Steven Richman, has released eight acclaimed CDs to extraordinary international critical response. The recordings have been issued by Bridge Records, Koch International Classics and Music & Arts Programs of America. These exciting and historic documents encompass a wide repertoire, including many recording and CD premieres, newly discovered neglected works by well-known composers, and timeless classics in rare original or definitive reference versions.
The Ensemble's Stravinsky, Copland, Symphonic Jazz and Dvorák Day CDs have been enhanced by covers designed by Alex Steinweiss. Steinweiss "invented" the LP record jacket and illustrated album cover, designing over 2000 classic record jackets as Art Director for Columbia Records, and for the Decca, London, and Everest labels.
Symphonic Jazz II: Gershwin Originals
Sketches of Spain
"One of the two or three best performances of the 'New World' Symphony I have ever heard."
Martin Bookspan, "The Voice of the New York Philharmonic"
"My family and I think your performance of the 'New World' Symphony was perfect."
Markéta Dvorákova, great-great-granddaughter of Antonín Dvorák
"Steven Richman's performance of the 'New World' Symphony was fantastic!"
Violinist Josef Suk, Dvorák's great-grandson
"The best performance of the Poulenc (Aubade) I have ever heard, including Poulenc's."
C.J. Luten, Opera News
"A reference recording of the Appalachian Spring Suite in its original chamber version."
HI FI+
(Copland: Appalachian Spring) "This recording goes straight to the top of the list! Fantastic!"
Classicstoday.com
"The best Handel performance I have ever heard, or could imagine."
Manager John Gingrich
(Copland: Music for the Theater) "The best performance I have ever heard, recorded or in concert."
American Record Guide
(Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite) "Flawless...extraordinary, a milestone"
Ferde Grofé, Jr.
Symphonic Jazz: Grofé and Gershwin
"The best CD I have heard this millennium!"
Cannabis Times, London
(Stravinsky: Histoire du Soldat) "No one has done it better"
IClassics.com
"The best Dvorák Wind Serenade I have ever heard."
Music Choice
"Beyond praise" (Dvorák Wind Serenade)
Gramophone
Dvorák Octet-Serenade
New York Times Dvorák Centennial Favorite CDs
Overtures for Classical Wind Ensemble (Rossini, Mozart, Beethoven, Weber)
"Perfect, simply superb".
Fanfare
Symphonic Jazz: Ferde Grofé and George Gershwin - Original Paul Whiteman Orchestra Versions & Premieres
Bridge Records CD 9212 (2006)
Soloists: Al Gallodoro, saxophone. This legendary 91-year old sax virtuoso soloed with Whiteman for 30 years and was termed "the best saxophone player who ever lived!" by Jimmy Dorsey. Lincoln Mayorga, piano
Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite, first complete American recording of original Whiteman Orchestra version
Grofé: Mississippi Suite, first complete American recording of original version
Grofé: Gallodoro's Serenade for Saxophone and Piano, premiere recording
Gershwin: Second Rhapsody for Orchestra with Piano (arr. Grofé), premiere recording
"It's just GREAT!!! My father would be so proud of your accomplishment ... wondrous clarity and outstanding musicianship. My most profound congratulations to you and your fellow artists in this great work. Your rendition is flawless. I hope many will have the opportunity to hear this extraordinary performance. You've achieved a milestone and on behalf of my Father I repeat the congratulations with gusto! BRAVO!"
Ferde Grofé, Jr.
"Delightful and ear-opening. The Second Rhapsody sounds remarkably light and sassy (with) greater coherence and flow, aided by Lincoln Mayorga's elegant playing and Steven Richman's idiomatic and alert conducting. Grand Canyon Suite (has) sheer charm, and the music sounds somehow more modern, less dated. The sonics are terrific, while Richman and the Harmonie Ensemble/New York deserve lots of credit for digging up these arrangements and bringing them back to life with such gusto and polish."
David Hurwitz, Classicstoday.com
Hommage à Stravinsky: Histoire Du Soldat, 4 Premieres and Rarities
Koch International Classics 7438 (2001)
Grammy Award Nomination, 2002
Soloists: Mark Peskanov, violin; Lucy Shelton, soprano; Martin Bruns, baritone;
Mikhail Svetlov, bass; Doris Stevenson, piano
Suite: Histoire du Soldat (The Soldier's Tale)
Octet for Wind Instruments
Pribaoutki for Soprano and 8 Instruments
Lied ohne Name for 2 bassoons
How the Mushrooms Went to War (bass voice and piano), premiere recording
Tango for Violin and Piano, premiere recording
La Marseillaise for Solo Violin, premiere recording
Petit Ramusianum Harmonique (Hommage à C.F. Ramuz) (baritone solo), premiere recording
Pastorale for Violin and Winds
Fanfare for a New Theater
"The Pastorale is as supple and tender a performance as has ever been recorded. The two big works (Histoire and Octet) are among the best performances of the works in existence."
James Leonard, All Music Guide
"The now familiar Octet for wind instruments is so well played here that the disc is worth owning for the performance of this work alone ... Although the ensemble - expertly led by Steven Richman - plays with exceptional precision throughout, the performers never lose sight of the music's soul and spirit, allowing for interpretations of both the Octet and the Histoire suite that are faithful to the score but never precious or dry."
Daniel Felsenfeld, Classicstoday.com
"... a varied program, wonderfully conducted and performed. Everything is clear and spontaneous, judiciously paced, clearly textured. A prime Stravinsky program (with) delightful surprises. Evocative, texturally lucid readings under the baton of Steven Richman, who is unerring in defining the folk elements and the quirky rhythmic shapes. A marvelous achievement."
Donald Rosenberg, Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Richman leads a lively, engaging and often humorous account of the Octet. Each player in the Harmonie Ensemble/New York is clearly a virtuoso, and they bring welcome variety of colors and moods to this music. The lumbering bassoons are a pure delight. In Histoire the playing is lithe, athletic and effortless."
Tom Godell, American Record Guide
"Wonderful, a fine effort, really a great recording. I have enjoyed it immensely!"
John Stravinsky, grandson of the composer
Copland: Rarities and Masterpieces
Bridge Records CD 9145 (2004)
Classical Internet Award: Best Orchestral Music CD 2004 (International Critics' Panel)
Classical Recording Foundation Award Carnegie Hall
Soloists: Emerson String Quartet members: Eugene Drucker, violin; Lawrence Dutton, viola.
With Diane Walsh, piano
Appalachian Spring Suite (original 13 instrument version)
Music for the Theatre for Chamber Orchestra
2 Ballads for Violin and Piano, premiere recording
Elegies for Violin and Viola
El Salón México, arranged for solo piano by ARTURO TOSCANINI, premiere recording
"What a delightful, refreshing release! Simply sensational! This recording goes straight to the top of the list! Fantastic."
ClassicsToday.com
"A reference version of the Appalachian Spring Suite in its original chamber version."
HI-FI+
"Classical CD of the Week. Both [Appalachian Spring and Music for the Theatre] are superbly performed on this historic disc!"
The London Observer
"Hearing 'Music for the Theatre' played by an ensemble that conceivably could squeeze into a theatre pit is a pleasure! Here, it is both raunchy and naïve - surely what Copland had in mind! Next to this, Bernstein's well-liked recording lacks nuance."
International Record Review (England)
"... beautiful chamber playing under Steven Richman, who worked with Copland in the last decade of Copland's life, and the Harmonie Ensemble/New York, in a recording that is a total winner ..."
Diverdi 128, Boletin de Información Discográfica (Spain)
Dvorák Day Concert
Music & Arts CD 1078 (2001)
Dvorák Festival Orchestra of New York; Steven Richman, conductor;
JOSEF SUK, violin (Dvorák's great-grandson); Lincoln Mayorga, piano
(Masterpieces recorded in St. George's Church, New York City, across the street from where they were composed)
Dvorák: Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World")
(Iveta Bachmannová, English horn -
Prague Symphony Orchestra)
Sonatina for Violin and Piano, Op. 100
Humoresque in G-flat major, Op. 101, No. 7 (arr. Kreisler for Violin and Piano)
Fanfare for the 1891 Prague Exposition
Harry Burleigh (Dvorák's assistant): Orchestral arrangement of "Deep River," Spiritual from Jubilee Songs, premiere recording
"One of the two or three best 'New World' Symphony recordings I have ever heard!"
Martin Bookspan, 'The Voice of the New York Philharmonic'
"... beautifully recorded, spiritedly played, and a delight from start to finish. ... (played with) an appealing combination of zip, refinement, enthusiasm and sheer love."
Justin R. Herman, American Record Guide
"Dvorák Day was one of the greatest days of my life. Steven Richman's performance of the "New World" Symphony was fantastic!"
Violinist Josef Suk, Dvorák's great-grandson
Dvorák Discoveries
Music & Arts CD 926 (1996)
New York Times Dvorák Centennial Favorite CDs 2004
Harry T. Burleigh (Dvorák's assistant), baritone
The Collegiate Chorale; Arthur Woodley, bass-baritone
Dvorák: Octet-Serenade (original version of String Serenade, for clarinet, horn, bassoon, 2 violins, viola, bass and piano), World Premiere Performance
Terzetto for 2 Violins and Viola (Richard Rood, Katsuko Esaki, violins; Nardo Poy, viola)
"Old Folks at Home" (Stephen Foster) arranged by Dvorák for Solo, Chorus and Orchestra, premiere recording
"Go Down, Moses" (trad.): Harry Burleigh, baritone (recorded 1919)
"Steven Richman's recording of an early Octet version of the String Serenade on 'Dvorák Discoveries' is a particular delight."
James Oestreich, Music Editor, New York Times
"A beautiful performance. Wonderful, I enjoyed it immensely. A rave!"
First Hearing, WQXR-FM New York, syndicated nationally
Overture!
Historic transcriptions for classical wind ensemble
Music & Arts CD 797 (1993)
Rossini: Barber of Seville, William Tell, Semiramide
Beethoven: Fidelio
Weber: Der Freischütz
Mozart: Abduction from the Seraglio
"Excellent, fascinating ... clever, well played"
Lloyd Schwartz, Fresh Air, National Public Radio
"Perfect, simply superb ... elegant, entertaining."
Fanfare
Dvorák and Friends Czech Wind Music
Music and Arts CD 691 (1991)
Soloists: Charles Kavalovski, principal horn, Boston Symphony Orchestra
Scott Brubaker, horn, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra of New York
Dvorák: Serenade in d minor for Winds, Cello and Bass, Op. 44;
Slavonic Dance, Op. 72, No. 7
Franz Krommer (Kramár): Concerto in E-flat for 2 Horns and Wind Instruments, premiere recording
Josef Myslivecek: Octet No. 2 for Winds in E-flat, CD Premiere
"The playing of Harmonie Ensemble/New York conducted by Steven Richman is beyond praise; an excellent recording."
Gramophone (England)
"The best recording of the Dvorák Serenade I have ever heard!"
Richard Glasford, Programming Director, Music Choice
"First place in its class!"
Fanfare Magazine
Salute To France
Five rarely heard French works for small orchestra
Music & Arts CD 649 (1990)
Soloists: Ralph Votapek, piano (1st winner of Van Cliburn Competition) James Kreger, cello (Tchaikovsky Competition winner)
Poulenc: Aubade, Concerto for Piano and 18 Instruments
Jacques Ibert: Symphonic Suite ("Paris") for chamber orchestra; Concerto for Cello and Wind Instruments
Reynaldo Hahn: Le bal de Béatrice d'Este
Milhaud: Symphony No. 5 for 10 Wind Instruments
"Remarkable, fresh, with great style and class. For us the French, certainly an object lesson."
Repertoire, France
"The best performance of the Poulenc I have ever heard, including Poulenc's. Superbly performed and splendidly recorded."
C.J. Luten, Opera News
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