English Art Song

[Lethevich]

Can anyone recommend any good recordings of songs by the 19th century generation of British composers (Stanford, Parry, etc)? From what I've heard, their songs were a lot more interesting than much of the rest of their music.

[mn dave]

Thanks, Annie. Is that out of print?

I just ordered this. Anyone heard it?

So, no one has heard this? Am I supposed to avoid the King's Singers?

[bhodges]

Can anyone recommend any good recordings of songs by the 19th century generation of British composers (Stanford, Parry, etc)? From what I've heard, their songs were a lot more interesting than much of the rest of their music.

Hyperion is chock-full of recordings by Parry, Stanford and others, and although I've heard only a fraction of them the ones I have heard are excellent.  Christopher Maltman has a beautiful CD, English Orchestral Songs, with those two composers plus Gurney and Finzi.  And if you like choral music, the one below by the Trinity College Choir with Parry's Songs of Farewell is lovely, very atmospheric and warmly sung.

So, no one has heard this? Am I supposed to avoid the King's Singers?

Oh no, they're very good.  I haven't heard this particular recording...

--Bruce

[Lethevich]

Hyperion is chock-full of recordings by Parry, Stanford and others, and although I've heard only a fraction of them the ones I have heard are excellent.  Christopher Maltman has a beautiful CD, English Orchestral Songs, with those two composers plus Gurney and Finzi.  And if you like choral music, the one below by the Trinity College Choir with Parry's Songs of Farewell is lovely, very atmospheric and warmly sung.

That is actually the exact disc which sparked my interest I will look into the Hyperion catalogue, thank you

[bhodges]

You mean the Christopher Maltman?  If so, by all means, don't hesitate!     If you like his voice, he has recorded a number of other things on Hyperion with just piano accompaniment.

--Bruce

[mn dave]

Thanks, Annie. Is that out of print?

I just ordered this. Anyone heard it?

I received this in the mail yesterday. While these aren't exactly art songs, it's good to have them all in my possession. And such a nice selection too.

[Kullervo]

Lately I've been really enjoying Vaughan Williams's On Wenlock Edge (Bostridge/Haitink/London Phil). In the past I've often reacted favorably to orchestral songs/lieder in French, German and other languages, but always feel that the language barrier keeps me from enjoying it as much as I could.

Does anyone have any recommendations for art songs/orchestral songs in English, or even English translations of songs written in other languages?

[Drasko]

Britten - Serenade for tenor, horn & strings op.31
          - Nocturne for tenor, seven obbligato instruments & strings op.60

And I myself would like a recommendation for George Butterworth's songs

[Kuhlau]

I'll join Drasko in requesting a recommendation for the songs of Butterworth.

I recently heard the deeply affecting, 'Is my team ploughing?' from this composer's 'A Shropshire Lad' song cycle, and it made me feel very emotional and a little overwhelmed. Jonathan Lemalu was singing - a man whose voice I'd previously never heard but which I liked very much.

Lately I've been really enjoying Vaughan Williams's On Wenlock Edge

Can I recommend this recording as an excellent alternative?



Both singer and instrumentalists are very moving indeed.

You might also want to try some of Beethoven's settings of songs from the British Isles. And almost anything by Finzi, too - that man was a natural when it came to word setting.

FK

[knight66]

You will find discussion of the topic here, though more discussions would be very welcome.

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,8439.msg207144/topicseen.html#msg207144

Mike

[Kullervo]

You will find discussion of the topic here, though more discussions would be very welcome.

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,8439.msg207144/topicseen.html#msg207144

Mike

Oh, sorry. I tried searching but didn't see that one.

[knight66]

No problem at all. I could bore for England on the subject, but would be more interested in finding out what others enjoy, or don't.

Mike

[karlhenning]

Not quite the topic, but:

Andrew Lloyd Webber makes theatre history by premiering new Phantom musical across three continents

[knight66]

I have not heard about this. I had assumed when I saw his name that this would be mention of him agreeing to write the coming year's UK entry to the Eurovision Song Competition.

I wonder why a new Phantom musical when he has already written one. Is it a rehash I wonder? He is commercially very clever, so perhaps it is a way of being paid all over again for the same product in different clothes.

Mike

[The new erato]

The Quilter disc in Naxos series of English songs (I think it is vol 5 IIRC) is very fine.

[knight66]

Care to tell us more? For instance, who is on it, which are the best songs/performances?

Mike

[The new erato]

I think it is one of their Collins reissues with a sterling roster of artists

Lisa Milne (soprano)
Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor)
Louisa Fuller (violin)
Ivan McCready (cello)
Graham Johnson (piano)
The Duke Quartet

To comment on individual songs I would have to break out the disc again - but it was my introduction to Quilter and I was very pleasantly surprised with it, and have played it repeatedly over the years, always beeing struck by the quality of the settings.

[knight66]

Thanks, I see, a variety of singers as against a recital and some chamber music accompaniment. I will look out for it. I don't have more than a handful of his songs, all of them the famous ones.

Mike

[Tsaraslondon]

I wonder why a new Phantom musical when he has already written one. Is it a rehash I wonder? He is commercially very clever, so perhaps it is a way of being paid all over again for the same product in different clothes.

Mike

According to the news item I read, this is a sequel to Phantom of the Opera, the Phantom having relocated to Cony Island, where, surprise surprise, Christine is now living. It is set 10 years after the close of the previous musical.

[karlhenning]

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