HOLST: The Mystic Trumpeter Op. 10. First Choral Symphony, Op. 41.
Susan Grtton, soprano; BBC Symphony Chorus and Orch/Sir Andrew Davis, cond.
CHANDOS SACD CHSA 5127 TT: 69:20
VIERNE: Symphony No. 3 in F minor, Op 28. Symphony No. 4 in G minor,
Op. 32.
HansEberhard Rols, organ
AUDITE SACD 92.675 TT: 64:49
HAYDN: Lord Nelson Mass. Symphony No. 102 in B flat.
Mary Wilson, soprano. Abigail Fischer, Keith Jameson, tenor. Kevin Deas,
bass-baritone; Boston Baroque/Martin Pearlman, cond.
LINN SACD CRD 428 TT: 62:03
Two lesser known but important works of Gustav Holst are featured on
this fine Chandos issue. More than a decade
ago R.D.
mentioned a Naxos issue of The Mystic Trumpeter,
coupled with The
Planets, a performance that included Colin Matthews' Pluto,
The
Renewer,
so we would now have a complete musical representation of the planets (Holst
died
before Pluto was
discovered).(REVIEW).. Pluto is seldom
heard
today although you can hear a 2012 performance with the Berlin Philharmonic directed
by Simon Rattle on YouTube with intriguing visuals that surely
add to the music. The Mystic Trumpeter, composed in 1904 and revised
eight years later, is based on a
Walt
Whitman poem from Leaves of Grass. This18-minute richly-scored setting
for soprano and orchestra is heard here in a revised version by Colin Matthews,
who also
wrote CD notes. Also we have Holst's first choral symphony written in 1923 with
texts
from various works of Keats. It isn't heard
often, perhaps because of the uninspired texts, but this superb performance surely
makes a strong case for it.
Both
works
have
an
important
soprano role, and Susan Gritton is radiantly perfect. Complete texts are provided,
and
the Chandos sound
is excellent although not particularly "surround."
.
This past February this site mentioned a superb Audite disk of the first
two
organ symphonies of Louis Vierne (REVIEW).That review
gave many details of the composer's life and music. Now Audite
continues
this commendable series with the second disk containing symphonies 3 and 4 also
played by Hans-Eberhard Ross, and it is magnificent. Symphony No. 3 was composed
in 1911, symphony No. 4 in 1914. Each symphony has five movements, usually in
a minor key, but each ends with a blaze of major-key glory. Again Hans-Eberhard
Ross is the superb
soloist, and the rich sounds of the Goll-Organ of St. Martin, Memmingen
have been captured with remarkable richness by Audite's
engineers. The low bass of this organ will test any quality speaker
system!
Martin Pearlman and his magnificent Boston Baroque have never disappointed.
Their repertory is wide and they have made many superb recordings, primarily
on Telarc. The latest mentioned on this site was Haydn's Creation issued
more than a year ago (REVIEW). Now we have another
venture into Haydn, Lord Nelson Mass, performed with period instruments
that produce beautiful sounds, a splendid chorus and outstanding soloists.
The disk is filled out with the composer's Symphony No 102, a spiritedly
reading for an orchestra larger than heard in the mass. Audio is state-of-the
art and complete texts are provided. Another winner from Boston Baroque.
R.E.B. (November 2013)
(NBXT SURROUND SOUND REVIEW)
|
