NMC at 35

A curated 35-track digital-only compilation album to celebrate the 35th anniversary of NMC Recordings. Featuring a diverse selection of works from the label's back catalogue, the album includes the label’s very first release, Bhakti, by Jonathan Harvey, which was originally issued on cassette tape. The compilation also features recent works by young composers including Aileen Sweeney and Ben Nobuto.

With a duration of four hours, this album highlights the breadth of new music and the many world-class artists featured on NMC over the years, including Sir Simon Rattle, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sandrine Piau, Oliver Knussen, Sir Andrew Davis, Hallé Orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra, Huw Watkins and Michael Chance. It also features extracts from award-winning albums: Harrison Birtwistle's Mask of Orpheus (NMCD050); The NMC Songbook (NMCD150); Edward Elgar's Symphony No. 3 arranged by Anthony Payne (NMCD053); Julian Anderson’s Book of Hours (NMCD121); Edmund Finnis’s The Air, Turning (NMCD249); and Imogen Holst’s Chamber Music (NMCD236).

The album also celebrates the label’s partnerships with Philharmonia, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and National Youth Choir that shine a light on early-career composers.

Cathy Graham OBE, NMC's Executive Director said: ‘The story of NMC Recordings over the past 35 years is of a constantly evolving journey which has the development of UK and Irish composers and the future of these countries' new music at its very heart. It is as impressive as it is heartwarming, and the journey continues.  

The work NMC does, not just as a record label, but an ambitious and growing arts charity, supports composers of all stages through the many facets of the recording process, and works with younger people opening doors to the music of our composers and the recording industry.  

I hope that this year, as well as celebrating NMC for the outstanding recordings which continue to enrich our listening, we will celebrate and support the totality of the work of this unique organisation. Our work would not be possible without the support of individual donors, trusts, foundations, and Arts Council England, for which we are truly grateful. As all arts organisations currently, we are having to work harder than ever to ensure we raise the funds to enable the exceptional and vitally important work we do. But with our eyes set firmly on our goals I am excited and confident as we stride into the future.’