Perhaps in celebration of a new chapter in American history, Warner Classics in London has undertaken a handsomely designed, coordinated reissue series of Camerata’s classic American music programs, made in the 1990’s for Erato Disques. The three titles in the January, 2009 release are The American Vocalist, Trav’ling Home, and Liberty Tree.

These anthologies of early American songs, hymns, anthems, marches, and dances won critical acclaim on their initial releases (including an American Critics’ Circle award for American Vocalist), and we are delighted to see them back in circulation once again.

In celebration of these releases, Anne Azéma and Joel Cohen appeared on France Musique, the French national music station, to talk about American life and American music. Since the extended interview took place the day after the presidential inauguration, there was some interesting chat about that event, as well. You can listen to the program (en français, of course) by clicking here. Anne was also interviewed on the subject of American music by Public Radio International, and the segment was broadcast on Inauguration Day on the program Performance Today (link to audio stream, to be provided)

Warner tells us that these three albums, originally distributed in the U.K. and continental Europe, are soon to be available in the U.S. If you therefore have trouble finding these superb titles down at the WalMart, you can complain to the manager there….but you are also are welcome to order them from us.