A new series of recordings will capture the candlelit ambience and warm acoustics of Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe. Globe Music is a new record label launched by Shakespeare’s Globe, and will feature live recordings made in its famous wooden theatre.
The label’s first release is a collection of English and Chinese folk songs performed by British tenor Ian Bostridge and Chinese guitarist Xuefei Yang. Songs from Our Ancestors will be released on 2 September, and includes 22 tracks ranging from traditional folk songs to works by composers such as John Dowland and Benjamin Britten.
‘[It] will allow for bigger audiences than ever to experience the flickering house concert energy in our special Sam Wanamaker Playhouse,’ said director of music Bill Barclay, while artistic director Emma Rice added that the theatre ‘is the perfect place to record with its unique and intoxicating acoustic.’
Planned releases include an album of recordings made between 2012-14 from the West End productions of Twelfth Night and Richard III, and a collection of West African Music recorded during guitarist John Williams’ residency. The former features compositions by Morley, Holborne, Dowland, Gibbons and Mundy, while South African guitarist Derek Gripper and Nigerian kora player Tunde Jegede play on the latter.