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Review
This second Marco Polo disc of Edward German's more serious music evokes the same warm welcome I recently gave the first. --Gramophone on 8.223726
''This new recording [is] highly worthwhile. A strong and largely british cast is excellently conducted by David Russell Hulme, clearly singing with much enthusiasm Great fun.'' --Scotland on Sunday
''That the work deserves a complete recording is no more in doubt than that it has here received a worthy one. David Russell Hulme, the conductor, has long made a special study of German's music, and his grasp of its scope and nuances is readily apparent...[an] exceptionally fine achievement.'' --Gramophone
''This new recording [is] highly worthwhile. A strong and largely british cast is excellently conducted by David Russell Hulme, clearly singing with much enthusiasm Great fun.'' --Scotland on Sunday
''That the work deserves a complete recording is no more in doubt than that it has here received a worthy one. David Russell Hulme, the conductor, has long made a special study of German's music, and his grasp of its scope and nuances is readily apparent...[an] exceptionally fine achievement.'' --Gramophone
Product Description
Opéra comique en 3 actes / Marianne Hellgren Staykov (Sophia), Richard Morrison (Tom Jones), Heather Shipp (Honour), Donald Maxwell (Squire Western), Simon Butteriss (Gregory)... - National Festival Orchestra and Chorus - David Russell Hulme, direction
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Albion
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The music of Sir Edward German (1862-1936) has been increasingly well-served in recent years: two very impressive discs from the Dutton label (CDLX 7156 and CDLX 7202) (giving us a comprehensive survey of his orchestral music, beautifully played and recorded by the BBC Concert Orchestra under John Wilson) supplement two fine Marco Polo discs from the 1990s.
For many listeners, Edward German will be known primarily as the composer of the comic opera 'Merrie England' written for the Savoy in 1902, a work which at the time seemed to herald a new and exciting operatic partnership with Basil Hood (the skilled librettist for Arthur Sullivan's last completed opera 'The Rose of Persia', 1899). Indeed, when Sullivan died in 1900 leaving his next collaboration with Hood 'The Emerald Isle' unfinished, Edward German was chosen by Richard and Helen D'Oyly Carte to complete the work which was subsequently unveiled in 1901 to considerable acclaim.
Perhaps the jewel among German's operatic scores is 'Tom Jones', first performed in Manchester in 1907 and swiftly transferred to London's Apollo Theatre. There has been a previous recording of highlights (now available on a Classics for Pleasure coupling with 'The Beggar's Opera'), but it has been a long wait for a complete recording of this masterly work. From the hugely impressive opening chorus (pitting a busily-chattering female group against their hunting spouses) to the joyous finale, German provides number after number which will remain in the memory long after the performance has finished.
In every way, this new recording from Naxos is a triumph. The soloists are consistently fine and bring their colourful characters vividly to life. The chorus and orchestra are a pleasure to listen to as well, greatly aided by the excellence of the recording in which words are crystal clear and orchestral details are exceptionally well-defined. David Russell Hulme (a leading expert in the life and music of Edward German) proves the ideal comic opera conductor with vivacious tempi and a sure handling of the tricky and elaborate Finales to Acts One and Two. Hulme has also edited the score from the composer's manuscript and various other sources in order to give us as faithful and complete a recording as possible: we are given the rare chance to hear three numbers cut during the original run and each proves a joy. Fascinating background notes and a detailed synopsis add to the quality of this release - all in all, a superb achievement which does great credit to Naxos and will hopefully lead to other similar projects.
For many listeners, Edward German will be known primarily as the composer of the comic opera 'Merrie England' written for the Savoy in 1902, a work which at the time seemed to herald a new and exciting operatic partnership with Basil Hood (the skilled librettist for Arthur Sullivan's last completed opera 'The Rose of Persia', 1899). Indeed, when Sullivan died in 1900 leaving his next collaboration with Hood 'The Emerald Isle' unfinished, Edward German was chosen by Richard and Helen D'Oyly Carte to complete the work which was subsequently unveiled in 1901 to considerable acclaim.
Perhaps the jewel among German's operatic scores is 'Tom Jones', first performed in Manchester in 1907 and swiftly transferred to London's Apollo Theatre. There has been a previous recording of highlights (now available on a Classics for Pleasure coupling with 'The Beggar's Opera'), but it has been a long wait for a complete recording of this masterly work. From the hugely impressive opening chorus (pitting a busily-chattering female group against their hunting spouses) to the joyous finale, German provides number after number which will remain in the memory long after the performance has finished.
In every way, this new recording from Naxos is a triumph. The soloists are consistently fine and bring their colourful characters vividly to life. The chorus and orchestra are a pleasure to listen to as well, greatly aided by the excellence of the recording in which words are crystal clear and orchestral details are exceptionally well-defined. David Russell Hulme (a leading expert in the life and music of Edward German) proves the ideal comic opera conductor with vivacious tempi and a sure handling of the tricky and elaborate Finales to Acts One and Two. Hulme has also edited the score from the composer's manuscript and various other sources in order to give us as faithful and complete a recording as possible: we are given the rare chance to hear three numbers cut during the original run and each proves a joy. Fascinating background notes and a detailed synopsis add to the quality of this release - all in all, a superb achievement which does great credit to Naxos and will hopefully lead to other similar projects.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Mr E Jones
Format:Audio CD
Other reviewers have summed this up perfectly. Most enjoyable, great music and worth every penny! It's a mystery to me why in this country we ignore works like this which should be in our national repertoire.
I have listened to this several times now with a score from ebay and with each listening I have become more impressed with German's achievement. The two big finales are superb and I am slightly ashamed to say that I find them quite moving! Things have moved on from Sullivan's time and the orchestration is much richer and positively Elgarian at times. A couple of passages I'm sure influenced later musical composers including Richard Rogers. I love the low rich chords with full orchestra at the ends of pieces, and brass are used much more prominantly than Sullivan's scores, with some lovely passionate counter-melodies for the horns.
David Russell Hulme does not put a foot wrong. His love for the music shines through in the care and attention to detail. To be picky, he doesn't have the Royal Philharmonic at his command and there are one or two intonational challenges in the brass, including a little horn burble hidden in the Prologue which I'm surprised was missed. Strings and woodwind are excellent. However these are minor criticisms and in a way add to the live character of the performance.
The soloists without exception are excellent. Marianne Hellgren Staykov sings the virtuosic arias with great panache - just a hint of accent at times - "the san in 'ees flight". The chorus also is good, but being small could perhaps have had the volume boosted in some tutti sections.
All in all, thoroughly recommended and I look forward to the next release.
I have listened to this several times now with a score from ebay and with each listening I have become more impressed with German's achievement. The two big finales are superb and I am slightly ashamed to say that I find them quite moving! Things have moved on from Sullivan's time and the orchestration is much richer and positively Elgarian at times. A couple of passages I'm sure influenced later musical composers including Richard Rogers. I love the low rich chords with full orchestra at the ends of pieces, and brass are used much more prominantly than Sullivan's scores, with some lovely passionate counter-melodies for the horns.
David Russell Hulme does not put a foot wrong. His love for the music shines through in the care and attention to detail. To be picky, he doesn't have the Royal Philharmonic at his command and there are one or two intonational challenges in the brass, including a little horn burble hidden in the Prologue which I'm surprised was missed. Strings and woodwind are excellent. However these are minor criticisms and in a way add to the live character of the performance.
The soloists without exception are excellent. Marianne Hellgren Staykov sings the virtuosic arias with great panache - just a hint of accent at times - "the san in 'ees flight". The chorus also is good, but being small could perhaps have had the volume boosted in some tutti sections.
All in all, thoroughly recommended and I look forward to the next release.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
An excellent job on an operetta we've all been waiting for. It starts a little slow but picks up greatly. Good singers, good orchestra, good lyrics, good music, who could ask for more.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A welcome recording
I really like G&S. My wife doesn't. We both quite like this and there is certainly nothing here to scare the horses. Read more
Published on 25 July 2010 by M. Joyce
4.0 out of 5 stars
A useful addition to the catalogue, but lacking star quality
Especially at the issue price, we must be very grateful to Naxos for filling another gap in the catalogue of modern recordings of English operetta. Read more
Published on 22 Oct 2009 by P. Markham
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fine Successor to Gilbert & Sullivan
Sadly,Edward German is one of those composers that few have heard of,and even more sadly fewer have actually heard the music of. Read more
Published on 18 Aug 2009 by SeaSideSam
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