Reissue - recording made in 1965
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 -
Reviewer
Ian Lace
Disc supplied by and review © Crotchet Webstore