Daniel Taylor Returns with FOUR THOUSAND WINTER Seasonal Album

Sony Music Entertainment Canada today announces the latest release of Daniel Taylor. Known for his breathtaking passion and dedication to excellence, world-renowned countertenor Daniel Taylor returns with FOUR THOUSAND WINTER, a new release featuring 14 stunning seasonal pieces of winter and seasonal music. Sony Music Entertainment Canada is proud to continue the association with countertenor Daniel Taylor with the world-wide license of his latest album through the Sony Classical label. Sony Classical represents the finest classical musicians in the world including artists Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang and Joshua Bell.

Simon Rayner, Director of Marketing at Sony Music Canada comments: "Daniel Taylor is perhaps the finest countertenor in the world and a remarkable recording artist. His work on the opera, concert and recital stage continues to attract audiences in North and South America, in Europe and Asia." Featuring the recording debut of The Trinity Choir - a Choir founded and directed by Taylor himself -- this new disc is a profoundly beautiful journey through the medieval to the present day, bringing witness through birth and death and celebrating what it is to be human. FOUR THOUSAND WINTER is slated for release on Sony Classical on December 4, 2015.

Taylor will be touring in support of the release this winter in Canada, and internationally throughout 2016 including the U.S. and U.K. Prior to the release, Taylor will be appearing with the choir of the Theatre of Early Music and students of the Schola Cantorum on Nov. 29, 2015, at Trinity Chapel Toronto for an a cappella Christmas Concert The Lamb based on the Sony Classical release FOUR THOUSAND WINTER .

FOUR THOUSAND WINTER takes the listener on a journey, both spiritual and historical, to remember and reflect, to hope and rejoice. This disc offers music spanning two millennia: from ancient 6th century chant through the miraculous works of Tallis and Byrd, to beautiful compositions from today by Howells, Larkin, Martin and Tavener. This eloquent sequence of choral masterpieces, full of emotion and simplicity, reminds us that the longing for what is absent may be found in the beauty of the present. Among the tracks are three versions of Adam Lay Ybounden by Matthew Martin, Boris Ord, and Matthew Larkin. Other tracks include: Hodie Christus Natus Est(Anonymous), The Lamb (John Tavener), Videte Miraculum (Thomas Tallis), Ave Maria(William Byrd), The Truth From Above (Ralph Vaughan Williams), A Spotless Rose(Herbert Howells), Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen (Praetorius), There Is No Rose (John Joubert), There Is No Rose (Anonymous), In The Bleak Mid Winter (Gustav Holst), and O Radix Jesse (Anonymous).

Recorded in London, England with esteemed producer Nick Parker and engineer Andrew Mellor, FOUR THOUSAND WINTER features the Trinity Choir including the choristers from across Canada and members of the Tallis Scholars, the Gabrieli Consort and the Monteverdi Choir.

Daniel Taylor is one of the most sought-after countertenors in the world and appears on more than 100 recordings across choral, a cappella, operatic and soundtrack repertoire. He is an active educator around the globe including master classes at the Beijing Conservatory, the Sao Paolo Conservatory, at the Royal Academy, the Guildhall and the Royal College of Music, as well as classes at leading Universities across North America. As a Conductor, he made his debut with the Tallis Scholars, the Kammerchor Stuttgart and the Gabrieli Consort.

He has recorded several successful recordings for Sony Classical over the past decade, including 'The Voice of Bach' and a recital of Shakespeare Songs. Canadian Daniel Taylor returns with a brand new album of stunning music. The Times (London) called him 'Brilliant' while Gramophone notes 'Beauty of his voice will stop you in your tracks'. The Globe and Mail writes 'his star is rising at the speed of sound,' 'Daniel Taylor, a new Conductor on the scene breathing new life into magnificent yet neglected choral masterpieces.'

Joining artistry and scholarship, Daniel Taylor grew up with the pioneering work of John Eliot Gardiner and the Monteverdi Choir (Taylor appears on many discs on the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage) as well as with Harry Christophers and the Sixteen and with Paul McCreesh and his Gabrieli Consort.

The University of Toronto recently appointed Daniel Taylor to the position of Head of Historical Performance in the Faculty of Music. Daniel's responsibilities include directing the Schola Cantorum Choir and Orchestra at the University of Toronto as well as coaching students in the Opera Department and maintaining a voice studio. Daniel is also a Visiting Artist at the University of Vienna, Visiting Faculty at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and on the Faculty of the Summer Academy at the Siena Liberal Arts University in Italy. Daniel is Artistic Director and Conductor of the Choir and Orchestra of the Theatre of Early Music. The Theatre of Early Music performs more than 30 concerts every year in concert halls all over the world. This is Daniel Taylor's first recording with his new choral ensemble - a gathering of the finest choristers from all over the world - The Trinity Choir. For more information: www.danieltaylor.ca.

Track Listing:

1 Hodie Christus natus est • Composer Anonymous - Lyricist Anonymous
2 The Lamb • Composer John Tavener - Lyricist William Blake
3 Adam Lay Ybounden (Matthew Martin version) • Composer Matthew Martin - Lyricist Anonymous
4 Adam Lay Ybounden (Boris Ord version) • Composer Boris Ord - Lyricist Anonymous
5 Videte miraculum • Composer Thomas Tallis - Lyricist Thomas Tallis
6 Ave Maria • Composer William Byrd - Lyricist William Byrd
7 The Truth from Above • Composer Traditional / Arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams - Lyricist Traditional
8 A Spotless Rose • Composer Herbert Howells / Arranger Catherine Winkworth
9 Es ist ein ros entsprungen • Composer Michael Praetorius - Lyricist Anonymous
10 There Is No Rose of Such Virtue • Composer John Joubert - Lyricist Anonymous
11 There Is No Rose of Swych Vertu • Composer Anonymous - Lyricist Anonymous
12 In the Bleak Midwinter • Composer Gustav Holst - Lyricist Gustav Holst
13 Adam Lay Ybounden (Matthew Larkin version) • Composer Matthew Larkin - Lyricist Anonymous
14 O radix Jesse • Composer Anonymous - Lyricist Anonymous

2015 Tour Dates:

November 14
Grace Church on-the-Hill
Toronto, Ontario

November 15
Dominion-Chalmers United Church
Ottawa, Ontario

November 29
Trinity Chapel Toronto-University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario

December 12
First Presbyterian Church of Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania

December 13
First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

December 17 & 18
Basilica of Saint Mary Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota

December 19
Ordway Concert Hall
St. Paul, Minnesota

Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., a division Sony Music Entertainment, is a global recorded music company with a current roster that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. It is home to premier record labels representing music from every genre, including Arista Nashville, Bazmark Records, Beach Street Records, Black Butter Records, BPG Music, Bystorm Entertainment, Columbia Nashville, Columbia Records, Day 1, Descendant Records, Epic Records, Essential Records, Essential Worship, Flying Buddha, Fo Yo Soul Recordings, Freesolo Entertainment, Kemosabe Records, Latium Entertainment, Legacy Recordings, Louder Than Life, Masterworks, Masterworks Broadway, OKeh, Polo Ground Music, Portrait, RCA Inspiration, RCA Nashville, RCA Records, Relentless Records, Reunion Records, Sony Classical, Sony Music Latin, Star Time International, Syco Music, Vested in Culture and Volcano. Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.

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