COMPOSERS: Delius
LABELS: EMI Eminence
WORKS: Hassan
PERFORMER: Martyn Hill, Brian Rayner Cook; Bournemouth Sinfonietta & Chorus/Vernon Handley
CATALOGUE NO: CDEMX 2207 ADD
Delius’s Serenade from Hassan is well known but the rest of his incidental music for this very successful 1920s play is virtually forgotten. Hassan, by James Elroy Flecker, is an Arabian Nights-type escapade – a heady mixture of pantomime comedy, disillusionment and sadism. Handley draws out all the romance and drama from this richly evocative score and the soloists and chorus are first class. The valuable illustrations that enhanced the original LP are omitted. Nevertheless, highly recommended.Ian Lace
Delius: Hassan
Delius’s Serenade from Hassan is well known but the rest of his incidental music for this very successful 1920s play is virtually forgotten. Hassan, by James Elroy Flecker, is an Arabian Nights-type escapade – a heady mixture of pantomime comedy, disillusionment and sadism. Handley draws out all the romance and drama from this richly evocative score and the soloists and chorus are first class. The valuable illustrations that enhanced the original LP are omitted. Nevertheless, highly recommended.Ian Lace
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:35 pm