Edward Elgar - The Dream of Gerontius (John Barbirolli)

Information

Composer: Edward Elgar

• The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38

Janet Baker, mezzo-soprano

Richard Lewis, tenor

Kim Borg, bass

Hallé Choir

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Ambrosian Singers

Hallé Orchestra

John Barbirolli, conductor

Date: 1964

Label: EMI Classics

-----------------------------------------------------------

Review

For myself, this is the recording of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius. From the opening bars of the Prelude, Sir John's deep love of, and devotion to this sublime work is very apparent, with beautiful phrasing, immaculate pacing, judicious use of portamento and rubato, and awesomely thrilling climaxes. Everybody shines, even the much criticised English pronunciation of Kim Borg is easily forgiven for his powerful declamation of '…Go forth upon thy journey, Christian soul' which so thrillingly closes Part 1. The chorus is heavenly in 'Praise to the Holiest…' and gleefully devilish in the Demons' Chorus. Janet Baker is, clearly, deeply moved especially in her beautiful closing aria, 'Softly and gently, dearly ransomed soul…' Indeed, Michael Kennedy writing in the booklet remembers "tears running down her cheeks, whispering the Angel's farewell: 'Farewell, but not for ever, brother dear.' " Richard Lewis impresses as probably the most intensely expressive Gerontius on record. His 'Sanctus fortis…' in Part 1 thrills and pierces one to the core. (He is even more intense on the 1955 Sargent recording.) This new incarnation of this much-revered recording boasts a new digital remastering at EMI's Abbey Road Studios. The sound, indeed, is generally very clean and detailed. But EMI, what has happened to the equally wonderful Baker/Barbirolli recording of Elgar's Sea Pictures which was coupled in the last 2-CD reissue of this Gerontius? Rating a disc like this is really superfluous, nevertheless -

-- Ian Lace, MusicWeb International

More reviews:

https://www.classical-music.com/reviews/elgar-12-2

https://www.amazon.com/Elgar-Dream-Gerontius-Edward/dp/B000026D0F

-----------------------------------------------------------

Edward Elgar (2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos for violin and cello, and two symphonies. He also composed choral works, including The Dream of Gerontius, chamber music and songs. Elgar has been described as the first composer to take the gramophone seriously. Between 1914 and 1925, he conducted a series of acoustic recordings of his own works.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Elgar

***

John Barbirolli (2 December 1899 – 29 July 1970) was a British conductor and cellist. He is remembered as conductor of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, which he helped save from dissolution in 1943 and conducted for the rest of his life. He was also Arturo Toscanini's successor as music director of the New York Philharmonic (1936–1943), chief conductor of the Houston Symphony (1961–1967), and guest conductor of many other orchestras, including the BBC Symphony, the London Symphony, the Philharmonia, the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic, with all of which he made recordings.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Barbirolli

-----------------------------------------------------------

FLAC, tracks

Links in comment

Enjoy!