PRESS RELEASE – July 2014:
Imagem and 2nx present:
VOICES OF REMEMBRANCE
Music inspired by 10 famous WW1 poems composed by Laura Rossi
Featuring readings by Vanessa Redgrave & Ralph Fiennes
Vanessa Redgrave & Ralph Fiennes read famous war poems in new work by Laura Rossi
Voices of Remembrance is an orchestral/choral work featuring poetry readings by Vanessa Redgrave & Ralph Fiennes, written to commemorate and remember the soldiers who lived, fought and died in the First World War.
Through her experience scoring The Battle of the Somme and her extensive research on World War One, Laura Rossi has created a richly evocative work that combines her stunningly emotive music with these important historical poems.
Vanessa Redgrave and Ralph Fiennes bring their unique artistry to the work. Their readings are incredibly moving and expressive. The combination of the music and poetry moves us closer to the thoughts and feelings of the soldiers: their spirit, their strength, their hopes and fears.
The Battle of the Somme and personal connections with WW1
When writing a new score for the famous IWM 1916 film The Battle of the Somme, Laura discovered her great uncle Fred (pictured on the CD cover) was a stretcher bearer attached to the 29th Division on July 1st 1916, who feature in the film. Through his diaries she retraced his footsteps across the Somme Battlefields. He was the only one of his pals who survived. Here’s a picture of them together and a short diary extract:
This close family connection and the fact that he may be in the film, inspired Laura’s score and she has since written a score for the IWM Battle of the Ancre and is currently organising a centenary tour across UK and France of The Battle of the Somme, performed live with film by orchestras including the Philharmonia.
Poetry & Music by Laura Rossi
‘Reading my uncle’s diaries and remembering his voice made the connection to that time so much more vivid and had a profound effect on me. I wanted to go deeper into the feelings and emotions that the personal connection to the battle, the soldiers, and remembering my uncle brought to me.
Music and poetry have a unique way of helping us to get closer to the thoughts and feelings of the soldiers. The voices, the words reach out to us from behind the grainy black and white images from so long ago.’
”We will remember them.”
Critical acclaim for Laura’s music
‘Brilliantly effective’ – The Times.
‘A terrific composer’ – Classic FM
‘Extremely accomplished music’ – The Independent.
‘Stunningly beautiful, an amazing achievement’ – 5 Alarm Music.
About the composer
Laura Rossi has written extensively for film and television, including scores for Paul Andrew Williams’ critically acclaimed features, London to Brighton and Song for Marion. She has also scored many silent films including the British Film Institute’s Silent Shakespeare and the famous IWM 1916 film The Battle of the Somme. Her music has been recorded and performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra, the London Musici Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra and performed at the Barbican, the Royal Festival Hall and the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. Laura is also lecturer for film music at the London Film Academy.
For more info about Laura’s music and a full transcription of her uncle’s war diaries go to:
http://www.laurarossi.com/
CD TRACK LISTING: MUSIC & POETRY
- Break of Day in the Trenches by Isaac Rosenberg, read by Vanessa Redgrave
- Break of Day in the Trenches (orchestral)
- The Soldier poem by Rupert Brooke (orchestral/ choral)
- Into Battle by Julian Grenfell, read by Ralph Fiennes
- Into Battle (orchestral)
- Before Action by William Noel Hodgson, read by Vanessa Redgrave
- Before Action (orchestral)
- A Lark above the Trenches poem by John William Streets (orchestral/ choral)
- Dulce et Decorum est by Wilfred Owen, read by Ralph Fiennes
- Dulce et Decorum est (orchestral/ choral)
- Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen, read by Vanessa Redgrave
- Anthem for Doomed Youth (orchestral)
- In Memoriam by Ewart Alan Mackintosh, read by Ralph Fiennes
- In Memoriam (orchestral)
- In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, read by Vanessa Redgrave
- In Flanders Fields (orchestral)
- For the Fallen poem by Robert Binyon (orchestral/ choral)
Music composed by Laura Rossi
Readings by Vanessa Redgrave and Ralph Fiennes
Performed by The Chamber Orchestra of London and RSVP Voices
Conducted by Alastair King
Recorded at Angel Studios, London
Engineered by Steve Price
Mixed by Iain Roberton
Design by Taz Mattar
Notes to Editors:
For press information and images contact:
Laura Rossi – laura@laurarossi.com Tel: 07765 293 822
or Iain Roberton – Iain.Roberton@imagem.com
For more details about the CD go to: http://www.laurarossi.com/voices
Available on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify
To listen to the album click here
To buy the CD go to: http://www.boosey.com/