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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Naxos's previous release of the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge, performing works by Herbert Howells, was widely recognised as an outstanding bargain and rightly so. This latest offering from the same choir is no less impressive. The singing is alert, committed, rhythmically incisive, full of character (most of all in that minor masterpiece Rejoice in the Lamb) with excellent blend and unanimity, clear and colourful vowels (if occasionally a shade exaggerated) and tremendous reserves of power for dramatic moments, all blessed with an ideal acoustic and superb support from the (assumed) organist Iain Farrington. The many solo parts are for the most part well covered--I especially enjoyed Benedict Giles considering his cat, Jeffrey, in Rejoice in the Lamb. Minor quibbles: perhaps there is marginally less assurance in the a cappella works, such as A Hymn to the Virgin and some of the rhythmic articulation in the Missa Brevis is a touch affected. The menu includes such slightly less-well-known works as the Festival Te Deum and the intriguing men-and-angels Antiphon of 1956. All in all, Britten--Choral Works is an impressive reminder that Britten was as committed as Howells to the English church music tradition--a fitting vessel for his passionate belief that his art should be "useful". --Andrew Green
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
stunning!!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Britten - Choral Works (Audio CD)
This is an absolutely stunning recording of some fantastic pieces. Benjamin Britten has set some more obscure texts, for example Rejoice in the Lamb, which is the first recording on this CD. The text was written by someone who was in a mental assylum and this comes across quite clearly in Britten's very apt and involving music. Many choirs have performed at least one of these works and it is refreshing to hear them sung to such a high standard which just leaves you wanting more. Definitely worth buying, even just for Rejoice in the Lamb.
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"from the hand of the artist inimitable",
By Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Britten - Choral Works (Audio CD)
Benjamin Britten ads to the tradition of English choral music with his inventive genius in these lovely pieces, sung so beautifully by the Choir of St. John's College in Cambridge, which consists of 16 choristers and 14 choral students, led since 1991 by Christopher Robinson, and with Iain Farrington on organ.The first work, "Rejoice in the Lamb" was commissioned in 1943, and uses the 18th century poems of Christopher Smart, who was considered insane in his lifetime. The words have a childlike wonder to them, and praise God's creation in everything from flowers to a mouse, who is "a creature of great personal valour"; my favorite is "I will consider my Cat Jeoffrey", and both text and music in this composition are enchanting. "Te Deum", from 1934, was according to the liner notes the first of Britten's works to be published. "Jubilate Deo" is a short piece from 1961, and "Antiphon" (1956), is one of my favorites, a conversation between men and angels. "Hymn to the Virgin" was composed in 1930, when Britten was only seventeen. "Festival Te Deum" ( 1944) is another terrific selection, melodic and powerful. Fitting for Britten, who was born on St. Cecilia's day, the final piece is "Hymn to St. Cecilia". It was written during the early 40's, using the sad, reflective words of W.H. Auden, which are full of conflict, and the final resolution of "Translated daughter, come down and startle, Composing mortals with immortal fire".
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful recording,
By Aquinas "summa" (celestial heights, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Britten - Choral Works (Audio CD)
This is a really lovely recording - the singing is sublime, the music is wonderful, tuneful but eccentrically Britten.
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