Cardiff University Symphony Orchestra releases debut CD

The first CD of recordings by Cardiff University Symphony Orchestra, under conductor Mark Eager, is now available from Prima Facie Records.

The CD release is part of the New Series initiative by Prima Facie/ASC Records, created by producer/composer Stephen Plews and Mark Eager to help promote and preserve classical music performed by young musicians in the UK.

The Symphony Orchestra was joined by concert pianist Professor Kenneth Hamilton, Head of the School of Music, for the recordings which took place in our Concert Hall in 2013.

The pieces featured on the CD include works by School of Music alumni William Mathias, Yfat Soul Zisso, and Morfydd Owen, as well as the rarely-performed 1881 version of Liszt's Totentanz, which was performed by the Symphony Orchestra at St David's Hall last year. The CD, which costs £10, is available to buy online through Prima Facie Records.

Mark Eager, conductor of the Cardiff University Symphony Orchestra said: "Since starting with CUSO in 2008 it has always been an aim of mine to make our first-ever CD. The orchestra sounds so amazing for a student ensemble and is clearly one of Britain's finest examples.

"The idea of a student ensemble CD label was the brainchild of mine and Steve Plews (Prima Facie Records). I believe it is important that students, as well as the University, have an audio record of the time they invest in CUSO and in today's technological world that is easier than it ever was.

"Steve's label is known for producing CDs of lesser known but excellent works, this being ideal for an orchestra such as ours. It also exists as a wonderful calling card to show the University's prestige and the value it places on culture to the world. Our second CD will be recorded in March and is to include world premiere works by Debussy, as well as featuring a work by Cardiff University's very own Dr Rob Fokkens".