CD REVIEW – Signature
DEBBIE WISEMAN
LIVE IN CONCERT
SILVA SCREEN RECORDS SILCD1725 [59:32]

'London-born Debbie Wiseman OBE has written more than 200 pieces of music over the last three decades and has become one of our best loved living composers. I became a fan after meeting her some years ago, and welcome this release of light music in celebration of her 60th birthday.

Debbie says on her official web site: "To have the opportunity of conducting the CBSO with some of my favourite music and scores composed for film, TV, royalty, Classic FM and special occasions is the best birthday gift I could ever imagine. I have long admired the CBSO - their orchestral sound is naturally glorious, rich and dramatic, and to be able to collaborate with this world-class orchestra on this live album is a dream come true. I truly feel as though all my birthdays have come at once!"

The first two of the 13 tracks are Myrtle and Water Lily from her popular 'The Glorious Garden' album. These are followed by a pair of concert suites: the jaunty Wolf Hall, which went to No.1 in the classical chart on release, and Father Brown. Further concert suites are Wilde and Tom's Midnight Garden.

Elizabeth ll is from 'The Queen's Birthday Celebration Suite' and Elizabeth Remembered was played (it had been composed in 2016) on BBC One the first evening after the news broke of her death. Charles lll is a third newly composed piece in addition to the two performed at the King's Coronation service.

A Lustre To This Day was a New Year's gift for Classic FM listeners in the midst of the lockdown. The Traveller and Onwards were both commissioned by Viking, the travel company.

A fitting finish to the album is Salute – the first work Debbie wrote on becoming Classic FM’s Composer in Residence – for an organisation providing care and support for wounded, injured and sick Armed Forces personnel, with the brass very much to the fore.

The booklet's introduction and notes, once again in rather small print, with some also on a coloured background, have been written by Michael Beck.

Whilst enjoying the album, for repeated listening I could have done without the applause recorded between each track (although undoubtably richly deserved) and for a premium priced disc would have liked more than just under an hour of music. After all, Debbie only said it was "some" of her favourite music.

© Peter Burt, July 2023