FRISSON
Music for Woodwind Orchestra
Czech Philharmonic Wind Ensemble
Shea Lolin, conductor
Franz Krommer – Partita in F major, Op.57
Richard Strauss – Serenade, Op.7
Cécile Chaminade – Concertino, Op.107
Constant Lambert – Romeo and Juliet
Guy Woolfenden – More Gordian Knots
Frisson marks Shea Lolin's 20-year involvement with the woodwind orchestra, tracing the genre's development from the eighteenth-century tradition of Harmoniemusik to the modern symphonic wind ensemble.
Since its release in January 2026, Frisson has secured editorial playlist support from Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Qobuz and HighResAudio, and has surpassed 100,000 combined streams worldwide.
The album has also enjoyed extensive international radio exposure, accumulating more than 800 documented radio broadcasts accross Europe, North America and Australasia. Highlights included:
• RTÉ Lyric FM (Ireland) – Album of the Weekend (16–18 January 2026)
• ABC Classic (Australia) – Album of the Week (26–30 January 2026)
• Rai Radio 3 (Italy) – Featured album on Primo Movimento (12 February 2026)
A detailed summary of the album's reception, radio broadcasts, reviews and international reach is available on the Frisson – Reception, Reach & Impact page →
On 23 February 2026, Frisson was featured on the Chords & Queens podcast, where Shea Lolin and Fiona Sweeney joined host Jennifer Athan to discuss the recording and champion women in music.
Press Reviews
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“In an album named Frisson, you expect lightness and excitement – and we get that in spades… a celebration of the unique brilliance of the wind ensemble as a form… Nothing like the usual wind ensemble programmes… Sweeney shines… [the] synchronicity of the Czech Philharmonic Wind Ensemble [is] particularly apparent… The rich recorded quality gives the music a feeling of immediacy… Frisson brings surprises” ★★★★ —Freya Parr
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“The Czech Philharmonic Wind Ensemble should need no introduction… theirs is a virtuosity of the highest order… This new album is a marvellous collection of music… At the heart of the programme is Cecile Chaminade’s mellifluous Flute Concertino, fitting Lolin’s wind-band setting like a glove… A frisson, indeed!” —Guy Rikards
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“[Shea] Lolin’s keen ear [and] tasteful arrangements, as realized by the Czech Philharmonic Wind Ensemble’s crisp execution and flawless blending of the various instruments, produce an immensely pleasurable experience.” —Ken Meltzer
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“These Czechs sound gorgeous…the pinnacle of woodwind playing. Seeing…the backers of this recording…had faith in [Shea] Lolin…Consider me converted to the cause” —Todd Gormon
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“Now it's time for our pick of the weekend, and it comes from conductor Shea Lolin, who presents Frisson, an exciting new album of music for Woodwind Orchestra, and his third recording with the principal Woodwind players of the Czech Philharmonic… The album features a superb program of arrangements for Woodwind Orchestra by Lolin himself… What an accomplished performance.” —Claudia Boyle
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“In this new album where the frisson is felt… the British conductor Shea Lolin with the woodwind section of the Czech Philharmonic and it must be said, the remarkable solo flute by the flautist Fiona Sweeney, offers us a journey in historical perspective from the early nineteenth century to the twenty-tens.” —Renata Scognamiglio
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“A fine range of works demonstrates the charm and versatility of this ensemble.”
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“This is a very well presented, well played, beautifully engineered and skilfully arranged programme… “I would go as far to say that I think this is quite possibly more effective in this version than the full orchestral original.” (Lambert suite) —Nick Barnard
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“The warm Czech sound is perfect… characteristic richness and deep bass of the Czech Philharmonic… unfailingly beautiful… A beautifully programmed, supremely well executed disc.” —Colin Clarke
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“Lovers of wind music will relish this album… Lolin fills out the musical textures so subtly it sounds authentic… Much to enjoy in Lolin’s wind textures and the band’s virtuosity… Sounds splendid”. ★★★★ —Norman Stinchcombe
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“The musicians’ wonderfully fluid performance, full of pulsating life, will fill listeners with enthusiasm for this beautiful partita,which is far too rarely played. In this arrangement by Shea Lolin, the musicians render it enchantingly as musical fun. Strauss’s Serenade is charming, as are virtually all of Shea Lolin’s arrangements.” —Remy Franck
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“A tuneful start to the new year comes from the 19 woodwind players of Gramophone magazine's Orchestra of the Year in 2024.… the best package I have seen for some time. … A rewarding recording, especially the Krommer, and well done to the label for setting such a high standard both of performance and presentation.” —Peter Burt
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“Lolin manages to add a freshness and depth… outstandingly executed by the Czech Philharmonic players… The buoyancy in this project provides a template for the continuing evolution of the wind ensemble medium.” —Anne Templer
Sheet Music
Complete sets of the pieces on the album are available in the shop>>
More Gordian Knots by Guy Wooldenden is available at Ariel Music>>