Perhaps it’s not surprising
that ASV give Felicity Lott top billing
on the sleeve of this CD for she is,
after all, a wonderful artist. People
buying the disc should be warned, however,
that she only contributes to four of
the tracks. One of these contributions
is the well-known Cornelius/Atkins Three
Kings, which I have never heard
sung by other than a baritone. Suffice
to say, Dame Felicity sings it radiantly.
As I listened through
the disc for the first time I began
to realise that the programme has been
compiled with rare intelligence. There
are several items that complement each
other. Thus, for example, the reading
from the medieval Wakefield Play is
followed by Kenneth Leighton’s carol
from the Coventry Play. Later on the
aforementioned Three Kings is
followed immediately by the T. S. Eliot
poem, marvellously read by Gabriel Woolf.
Those who buy this disc will find that
the programme contains further examples
of thoughtful juxtaposition.
Though the accompanying
documentation does not make this clear
it seems that the CD is, in fact, a
"live" recording. However,
for much of the programme the audience
is commendably silent and it was only
at track 16 when Gabriel Woolf’s reading
of Dylan Thomas rightly raises laughter
that one realizes that an audience is
present.
I’ve mentioned Gabriel
Woolf twice already. No less than 10
of the 24 tracks on the CD are readings
by him. He really is an excellent narrator,
varying his delivery and accent intelligently
and possessing the priceless gift of
good timing. The Dylan Thomas reading
is one of the very best things that
he does. The Laurie Lee reading is another
(and how refreshing to find a choice
other than the ubiquitous Cider with
Rosie.) The Laurie Lee item is one
of a few where there is a segue
from a reading into the succeeding vocal
item, always to good effect.
The singing throughout
this collection is first rate. Dame
Felicity is in lustrous voice (though
I did wonder if her sheer vocal sophistication
was just a little too much of a good
thing in the Leighton, sacrificing thereby
some of the stark simplicity of the
piece?) The contributions of Peter Broadbent
and his Joyful Company of Singers will
also give much pleasure. They offer
a beautiful account of Victoria’s O
Magnum Mysterium and they project
vividly Samuel Barber’s dark 1968 setting
of Laurie Lee, Twelfth Night.
Their performance of the Max Reger piece
is gorgeous, featuring some fine solo
work from soprano soloists drawn from
the choir itself. Here, it seems to
me, Broadbent and his singers really
convey the spirit of traditional German
Christmas music.
No texts are provided.
In general this is not a problem since
diction is very clear throughout but,
of course, several items are not in
English. There is a succinct but useful
note. There is a minor confusion about
the track listing. The reading from
E. V. Lucas and The Holly and the
Ivy are listed as separate tracks
(18 and 19) but in fact the carol is
sung during the reading so the
subsequent track listings and timings
are incorrect. However, as this affects
only the last few tracks on the disc
it is scarcely a major problem unless
one wants to play one of the last tracks
in isolation, in which case a little
mental adjustment will be needed.
This is a highly entertaining
seasonal anthology, the contents of
which have been chosen and executed
with great skill and no little imagination.
In fact, I’m almost tempted to say that
the title "Plum Pudding" is
a little misleading since it suggests
a collection of Christmas sweetmeats.
There are some such items, to be sure,
but there is some more serious fare
also in what is a very well balanced
programme. Though one may wish to listen
to individual tracks this is certainly
a disc that will give most pleasure
when listened to straight through for
then the whole becomes greater than
the sum of the not inconsiderable parts.
I predict that this CD will give a great
deal of Christmas pleasure and I warmly
recommend it.
John Quinn
Dame Felicity Lott (soprano)