Michael Csányi-Wills: The Last Letter - Symphony No. 1 - Seagull Nebula Cardiff University Symphony Orchestra & Mark Eager

• Michael Csányi-Wills (b. 1975): The Last Letter [Arr. for Cello and Orchestra]:
• 1 Csányi-Wills: The Last Letter [Arr. for Cello and Orchestra] 07:45
• Symphony No. 1:
• 2 Csányi-Wills: Symphony No. 1: I. Andantino 08:08
• 3 Csányi-Wills: Symphony No. 1: II. Scherzo 05:47
• 4 Csányi-Wills: Symphony No. 1: III. Sarabande 12:39
• 5 Csányi-Wills: Symphony No. 1: IV. Con moto 08:53
• Seagull Nebula:
• 6 Csányi-Wills: Seagull Nebula 12:01
• Total Runtime 55:13

Info for Michael Csányi-Wills: The Last Letter - Symphony No. 1 - Seagull Nebula

Prima Facie is pleased to release this collection of orchestral works by Michael Csanyi-Wills. Symphony No. I was released in 2020 and was met with great critical acclaim. Keen to continue the working relationships between Prima Facie and Cardiff University, Mark Eager successfully organised the recording of two more works by Michael, The Last Letter and Seagull Nebula and a re-release of the 1st Symphony.

Following the death of my Grandmother, Gabriella Csanyi, I found a letter among her possessions. Written on a folded piece of paper were the words: The Last Letter.

As one of the Axis powers, Hungary had a minimal Nazi German presence until 1944, when the pro-fascist Arrow Cross Party began their reign of terror. Jews were deported to concentration camps or shot and thrown into the Danube.

Irene Csanyi was born to a wealthy family in Szeged. She lost her husband to cancer in 1936. Her daughter Gabriella went to London before the war. Her son Charles was dispatched to the forced labour camps in 1943. Irene kept herself locked away in the family apartment in Budapest, seeing no one but the elderly concierge; out on the streets, the Arrow Cross stalked the city's remaining Jews. One day in October, she ventured out, leaving behind everything she owned. And an extraordinary letter.

Award winning composer and pianist Michael Csányi-Wills has written works ranging from chamber, choral and orchestral music to scores for a wide range of of successful films. He has been composer in residence with the Welsh Sinfonia since September 2013. His recent orchestral works have been widely performed throughout the UK, while regular commissions have given him an international audience in Europe, Australia and the USA.

In his collaboration with Prima Facie, conductor Mark Eager is keen to promote both new music by notable contemporary composers and hitherto forgotten music by the great figures of the past. His previous disc of Debussy premières with the same orchestra attracted particular praise from Geoff Brown in The Times: "The novelty that really made me excited this week was Debussy's Chinese ballet score No-ja-li, another unfinished work, originally earmarked for a 1914 London stage revue, more recently restored to life in a brilliantly effective reconstruction by Robert Orledge. Its première performance by the excellent Cardiff University forces is the highlight of City of Light: New Discoveries."

Steffan Morris, cello
Cardiff University Symphony Orchestra
Mark Eager, conductor

Steffan Morris
Much in demand as a soloist, chamber and orchestral player, Welsh cellist Steffan Morris enjoys a very varied career.

At 13 years old, Steffan started studying at the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey with distinguished cellist, Thomas Carroll. While a student there he performed as a soloist at many notable venues such as St David’s Hall and Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, Wigmore Hall and the Royal Albert Hall in London.

At 17 years old, Steffan won the Texaco Young Musician of Wales.

In 2010, Steffan moved to Vienna to study the cello under the prestigious tutor Professor Heinrich Schiff at the University of Music and Performing Arts. He is the youngest ever guest principal cello with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and has also been guest principal cello with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. In January 2020, he joined the Royal Northern Sinfonia as principal cellist.

He is Creative Associate for Sinfonia Cymru and has performed with them as a soloist. He has also performed as soloist for The Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra, the Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra and The Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra amongst others. His concert and recital engagements have taken him to Japan, Holland, Germany, Italy, Russia and Austria.

Steffan is Artistic Director of the Nidum Ensemble - a dynamic, diverse and innovative group of young professional musicians who are passionate about bringing chamber music to audiences across the UK.

As former-cellist of the Marmen Quartet, he has performed across the UK and internationally. The quartet were the winners of the 2019 Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition and the Banff International Quartet Competition.

As a tutor, he was assistant professor at the Yehudi Menuhin School and Royal College of Music, London and currently teaches at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff.

Steffan plays a 1770 cello made by Johannes Cuypres in the Hague. He is sponsored by Kate Dugdale.

This album contains no booklet.