Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius; Parry: Blest Pair of Sirens; I was glad

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
British music critics become positively lachrymose when reminiscing about their favorite recordings of this piece, but for many people its appeal really is a purely local phenomenon. The story is simple: Gerontius dies and goes before God to be judged, at which point he gets sent to work off his time in purgatory. This takes about an hour and a half, and the text is stiff and stilted beyond belief. Nonetheless, the piece contains some of the most magnificent music that Elgar ever wrote, and unlike so much religious music of his peers, his emotional expression is completely uninhibited. The same thing can be said of Richard Hickox's conducting. If you can get past the words, you'll find this blazing performance a deeply satisfying expression of Elgar's most personal musical thoughts. --David Hurwitz

Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius; Parry: Blest Pair of Sirens; I was glad, Music, Gwynne Howell, Edward Elgar, Sir Charles H.H. Parry, Richard Hickox, Felicity Palmer, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Roderick Elms, Arthur Davies, Anthem, Choral, Choral Music, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Oratorio, Orchestral & Symphonic
Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius; Parry: Blest Pair of Sirens; I was glad
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • A deeply involving performance of Elgar's masterpiece.
 Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius; Parry: Blest Pair of Sirens; I was glad

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. The English Anthem
  2. Elgar: The Kingdom
  3. Elgar: The Apostles, Op. 49
  4. Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius
  5. Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius

ASIN: B000000AHU
Release Date: 1992-10-28

Tracks:

  1. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part One: Prelude
  2. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part One: Jesu, Maria - I Am Near To Death (Gerontius)
  3. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part One: Kyrie eleison
  4. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part One: Rouse Thee, My Fainting Soul (Gerontius)
  5. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part One: Be Merciful, Be Gracious
  6. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part One: Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus (Gerontius)
  7. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part One: I Can No More; For Now It Comes Again (Gerontius)
  8. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part One: Rescue Him, O Lord
  9. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part One: Novissima hora est (Gerontius)
  10. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part One: Proficiscere, anima Christiana (The Priest)
  11. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part One: Go, In The Name Of Angels
  12. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: Introduction: I Went To Sleep
  13. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: My Work Is Done (The Angel)
  14. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: All Hail, My Child (The Angel)
  15. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: Low-Born Clods Of Brute Earth
  16. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: It Is The Restless Panting Of Their Being (The Angel)
  17. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: The Mind Bold And Independent
  18. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: I See Not Those False Spirits (The Angel)
  19. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: Praise To The Holiest
  20. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: The Sound Is Like The Rushing Of The Wind
  21. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: Glory To Him
  22. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: They Sing Of Thy Approaching Agony (The Angel)
  23. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: But Hark! A Grand Mysterious Harmony
  24. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: And Now The Threshold (The Angel)
  25. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: Praise To The Holiest

Tracks:

  1. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: Thy Judgment Now Is Near (The Angel)
  2. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: Jesu! By That Shuddering Dread (The Angel)
  3. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: Be Merciful, Be Gracious
  4. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: Praise To His Name! (The Angel)
  5. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: Take Me Away (Take Me Away)
  6. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge
  7. The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part Two: Softly And Gently
  8. Blest Pair Of Sirens
  9. I Was Glad

Amazon.com

British music critics become positively lachrymose when reminiscing about their favorite recordings of this piece, but for many people its appeal really is a purely local phenomenon. The story is simple: Gerontius dies and goes before God to be judged, at which point he gets sent to work off his time in purgatory. This takes about an hour and a half, and the text is stiff and stilted beyond belief. Nonetheless, the piece contains some of the most magnificent music that Elgar ever wrote, and unlike so much religious music of his peers, his emotional expression is completely uninhibited. The same thing can be said of Richard Hickox's conducting. If you can get past the words, you'll find this blazing performance a deeply satisfying expression of Elgar's most personal musical thoughts. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A deeply involving performance of Elgar's masterpiece........2000-01-20

David Hurvitz is right about British music critics being enthusiastic about Gerontius, but they aren't the only ones: Gerontius is performed more frequently in the UK than any other choral work, except for The Messiah.

Newman's libretto may be stilted in places, but it rises to an eloquence greater than that of many operas, and a number of composers, including Dvorak, considered setting it to music. Often the words are stunningly right. When Gerontius dies and finds himself in another world, he describes his condition like this: "I hear no more the busy beat of time ... Nor does one moment differ from the next." This may not be the way someone today would say it, but it is graceful and memorable English, and Newman's words inspired Elgar to create his finest work.

Gerontius combines superb writing for solo voices and chorus with orchestration of great power and delicacy. In this recording, Richard Hickox conducts a glowing performance by the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, whose association with Elgar's music goes back to their earliest years. The soloists are excellent, with Davies and Palmer both convincing in the leading roles. Barbirolli's legendary performance on EMI--due for re-release in January 2000--is still the benchmark by which others are measured, but, with clear, vivid sound from Chandos, this recording is a leading choice, too.

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