About Lorelt
LORELT (Lontano Records Ltd) is the first independent classical record label in the UK to offer its own MP3 downloads. It was formed in 1992 to promote recordings of important repertoire neglected by major record labels. The three main areas to be covered were Contemporary Composers, Women Composers of all periods, and Latin American Classical music. In its first year LORELT released three discs: British Women Composers Volume 1 (with music by Errollyn Wallen, Lindsay Cooper, Nicola LeFanu and Dame Elizabeth Maconchy), British Women Composers Volume 2 (with music by Melinda Maxwell, Hilary Tann, Judith Weir, Odaline de la Martinez and Eleanor Alberga) - both recorded by Lontano and Odaline de la Martinez, and a collection of Chamber and Choral Music by Villa-Lobos with Lontano, Martinez and the BBC Singers.
Although originally the principal recording artist was to be Lontano, as the label grew other excellent performers were acquired. LORELT is proud to be associated with Alma Petchersky, the Archaeus String Quartet, the BBC Symphony, Marina Tafur, Elinor Bennett, Rebecca de Pont Davies, the Angell Piano Trio, the BBC Singers, Ingrid Culliford, Marc Ponthus and many others. The list of 20th and 21st Century composers represented is immense, ranging from the only commercial recording of Boulez's Marteau sans Maître not conducted by the composer, to the first disc of music by the remarkable Minna Keal.
Our recent releases Songs from Latin America, Alma Latina, and Brazilian Mosaic have concentrated mostly on Latin American repertoire. The first, a collection of classical songs from throughout the Latin America continent, includes composers such as Villa Lobos, Lecuona, Modesta Bor, and Ginastera. Alma Latina features Electroacoustic music from Latin America - with all the composers having strong musical links with Europe. Brazilian Mosaic features the distinguished pianist Clélia Iruzun in concertos for piano and strings by Francisco Mignone, Ronaldo Miranda, and Marlos Nobre, linked by several jewels from Villa Lobos.
Following the success of the Archaeus String Quartet's CD of music by Smyth, Beach and Spain-Dunk, we recently released music from New Zealand Women Composers with Lontano and Odaline de la Martinez. This was followed by three contemporary CDs also with Lontano and Martinez: Music from Northern Ireland, The Music of Jeremy Dale Roberts and Luís Tinoco: Chamber Works. The latter features the soprano Eileen Hulse.
Expanding the piano repertoire 2005 - 2006 saw the release of four piano CDs: Lecuona - Ernesto and Ernestina with Clélia Iruzun, Piano Music of Carlos Guastavino with Alma Petchersky, and the introduction of two new excellent artists to our roster, David Quigley: Piano Music from Northern Ireland and Marietta Veulens: Piano Cubano - De algunas zonas del alma. This last CD - a fusion of Afro-Cuban and classical music - also represents a new area of interest for us.
In 2007 we look forward to several new releases. They are Piano Music of Francisco Mignone with Clélia Iruzun, Chamber and Choral Music by Peter Child with Lontano, Odaline de la Martinez and the BBC Singers, and Chamber Music of Dorothy Ker, also with Lontano and Martinez. To celebrate her 100th anniversary, two CDs of music by Dame Elizabeth Maconchy will also be released. The first, Choral Works by Elizabeth Maconchy due for release at the end of 2007 with Odaline de la Martinez and the BBC Singers will be followed by Orchestral works of Elizabeth Maconchy in 2008.
LORELT offers a sumptuous banquet of exotic and exquisite delights. May we tempt you to taste our fare?
Odaline de la Martinez, Artistic Director