Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

  1. #1
    Timothy Tim Logan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Shutesbury, MA
    Posts
    664

    Default Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

    Does anyone know if the link to purchase Con Espressione on the still functioning Alison Stephens' website (http://www.alisonstephens.com/cds.html) is still a valid means to purchase this CD? Thank you.

    “There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” ― Albert Schweitzer

    1925 Lyon & Healy Model A, #1674
    2015 Collings A (MT2-V)

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Chicagoland north
    Posts
    277

    Default Re: Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

    I don't know, but I just tried it - the description said that the response would be a paypal invoice. There was no immediate reply from an auto-responder, so if it's still working we'll have to wait for whatever person is on the receiving end to pick up the email. I didn't see this one available anywhere else, so hopefully it will work - I'll let you know if I get a response. I really enjoyed the other recordings of hers that I have, so thanks for the prompt.

  3. The following members say thank you to Alfons for this post:


  4. #3
    Administrator Mandolin Cafe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Lawrence, KS
    Posts
    3,835
    Blog Entries
    14

    Default Re: Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

    Nothing more to add other than the observation Alison passed away 10 years this coming Oct. 10. We ripped out all of the CDBaby links--the only resource amazon.com says has it but out of stock-- from the MP3 resource on this site some time ago as they stopped distributing hard copies. Unless someone in her estate was supplying amazon in the U.S. during that time it's likely it hasn't been available in the U.S. in years.

    Depending on how bad you want it there's at least one copy on amazon UK. At the exchange rate, assuming they'll ship to the U.S.--they may not-- it'll be a pretty price at £32.46. Not even seeing if they'll ship to the U.S. A Wanted ad in the classifieds might stir up someone that has a copy and would be willing to part with it.

  5. The following members say thank you to Mandolin Cafe for this post:


  6. #4

    Default Re: Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

    I really like this album. I wonder if Chandos—that had some pretty substantial hits via Alison (well, as substantial as classical music gets)—could be convinced to pick up a re-release.

  7. #5
    Registered User Martin Jonas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    North Wales
    Posts
    6,431

    Default Re: Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

    I don't know if the album is still available but wanted to add to Eugene's voice that it's a wonderful recording, probably my favourite album of Alison's. The unaccompanied solo setting really gave her playing the chance to shine, with a romantic repertoire from an age when being a celebrity classical mandolinist wasn't a contradiction in terms. Plus, the natural reverb from making the recording in a French country church rather than a studio adds a pervasive charm and warmth to the album.

    Martin

  8. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Martin Jonas For This Useful Post:


  9. #6
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    So Oregon
    Posts
    1,010

    Default Re: Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

    I went to Chandos web site ... they do not have "Con Espressione". However they do advertise that they "burn" copies of CDs. I sent them an inquiry asking if they had new copies of "Con Espressione" or if they would "burn" a copy of the CD as offered on their site.

    From their web site:

    "CDR Burning Service

    The CDR Burning Service provides CDR's for Chandos CDs which have been deleted or CDR's of participating labels downloads.

    Chandos offers a production-quality music CDR with white label (not original) packaged in a protective jewel case.

    Pricing is the base download FLAC file album price plus £3.25 and plus postage and packing.

    Due to the limitations of CDR's there is limit of total album duration of 76 minutes. Anything longer than this will not be available.

    Please note: This is not an original CD manufactured by the label. Booklets and inlays are not included but can be downloaded from the media section (where available). "


    Here is their response.:


    "This is an automated email, please do not reply to this address.

    chandos,

    A customer support staff member has replied to your support request, #CHT005313 with the following response:

    Dear Sir,
    We only have the titles featuring Alison Stevens that you can see on our website.
    Unfortunately we are not in a position to source one off discs as we rely on what labels offer us.
    Kind Regards
    The Chandos Team

    If you wish to reply to this ticket, please do not send another email, instead, please login to your account (using the link below) for a complete archive of all your support requests and responses. From there you can reply to this ticket without starting a new one.

    http://www.classical-mp3.net/osticke...8SESzHJw%3D%3D

    Regard"

  10. The following members say thank you to Jeff Hildreth for this post:


  11. #7

    Default Re: Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

    To be clear, this CD was never in Chandos' catalogue. Coincidentally, I also wrote to Chandos asking if they'd pick up the recording for a re-release. They didn't seem to understand. I received a copy-and-paste of the above reply prefaced with "As I said to another customer today asking about Alison Stephens . . ."

    I thus re-replied with the following, but am not hopeful:

    Thank you for your reply, but it didn't quite address my question. This title was never a part of the Chandos catalogue and, because it was self published by a deceased artist, will never be printed again by the original publisher. My enquiry wasn't regarding a one-off printing of a single copy, but rather if you would be interested in picking up the title for full-blown re-release by the Chandos label. Sorry to bother and sincerest thanks for your initial reply.

    I also wrote to Astute Music who had published some of Alison's compositions. Their reply:
    Hi Eugene

    No we don't sell the CD, but I do know that the CD was released on CDBaby, so it should be available as a download on iTunes or at the very least on the CDBaby website. There was a limited run on the CDs so I presume they have probably long sold out by now.

    Hope that helps

    All the best
    Lauren

    I really don't think there's much hope to find this in print again, but we tried, eh?

  12. The following members say thank you to Eugene for this post:


  13. #8

    Default Re: Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

    I'm still having some conversations with diverse industry players on this. I'll share word as there's more, but for now, note this new word (and emboldened paragraphs) from Astute Music:

    Hi Eugene

    Sometimes things move quickly... it just so happened I managed to catch Ali's partner online and we've had dialogue and sorted out her Con Espressione CD.

    There are some physical copies left, but they are in storage somewhere in the UK, and at some point they will be retrieved and sent to us here at Astute. But I have no idea when that will be. It could be a couple of months, or a year or two!

    In the meantime, the digital version of it is now available on Bandcamp here: https://astutemusic.bandcamp.com/album/con-espressione


    If you could spread the word about the album being available again that would be great. I was looking at Ali's spotify listing just the other day and thought it such a shame this album wasn't on there, so it's great that people can access it again.

    All the best

    Lauren

  14. The Following 10 Users Say Thank You to Eugene For This Useful Post:


  15. #9
    Timothy Tim Logan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Shutesbury, MA
    Posts
    664

    Default Re: Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

    That's great Eugene. Thank you for being so thoughtful and thorough!

    “There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” ― Albert Schweitzer

    1925 Lyon & Healy Model A, #1674
    2015 Collings A (MT2-V)

  16. The following members say thank you to Tim Logan for this post:

    Eugene 

  17. #10
    Administrator Mandolin Cafe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Lawrence, KS
    Posts
    3,835
    Blog Entries
    14

    Default Re: Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

    That is very cool!

  18. The following members say thank you to Mandolin Cafe for this post:

    Eugene 

  19. #11
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    So Oregon
    Posts
    1,010

    Default Re: Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

    Thanks for the effort Eugene.

    I have been looking for this CD for quite some time.
    I hope that her work will come to light, Alison is deserving.

  20. The following members say thank you to Jeff Hildreth for this post:

    Eugene 

  21. #12
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

    You are my hero, Weirdo a pizzico!
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  22. The following members say thank you to Jim Garber for this post:

    Eugene 

  23. #13

    Default Re: Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

    And you're mine, Mando-Accumulator!

  24. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Chicagoland north
    Posts
    277

    Default Re: Alison Stephens: Con Espressione availability

    Thanks Tim Logan for the reminder about this music (I never did get a reply from Alison's web site), and Eugene for the BandCamp info!!

    I am happily listening to it now, although I had a shocking moment when iTunes decided to switch from Alison playing solo in a French church to the banjo lead in to a Grascals tune.

  25. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Alfons For This Useful Post:


Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •