COMPOSERS: Delius
LABELS: EMI
WORKS: A Mass of Life; Songs of Sunset; An Arabesque
PERFORMER: Heather Harper, Helen Watts, Robert Tear, Benjamin Luxon; Janet Baker, John Shirley-QuirkLPO& Choir/Charles Groves
CATALOGUE NO: CMS 7 64218-2 ADD (1968/72)
To his contemporaries, Delius might have seemed like an improbable champion of Nietzsche’s Zarathustra; but he captured its fundamental hedonism and idealism to stunning effect in his great choral epic A Mass of Life. This glorious performance, as fitting a tribute as any to the late Charles Groves, offers elevated solo and choral singing, and sumptuous orchestral playing. Both were captured in a Kingsway Hall recording, now revitalised in stunning digital sound. Janet Baker and John Shirley-Quirk feature in Songs of Sunset and An Arabesque, in performances of equal quality. Essential listening for every committed Delian. Michael Jameson
Delius: A Mass of Life; Songs of Sunset; An Arabesque
To his contemporaries, Delius might have seemed like an improbable champion of Nietzsche’s Zarathustra; but he captured its fundamental hedonism and idealism to stunning effect in his great choral epic A Mass of Life. This glorious performance, as fitting a tribute as any to the late Charles Groves, offers elevated solo and choral singing, and sumptuous orchestral playing. Both were captured in a Kingsway Hall recording, now revitalised in stunning digital sound. Janet Baker and John Shirley-Quirk feature in Songs of Sunset and An Arabesque, in performances of equal quality.
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:30 pm