RECORDING OF THE MONTH
Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934) American Masterworks
Koanga - excerpts from the opera (1895-97) (Palmyra's
aria [3:35]; Martinez introduces Koanga [4:54]; La Calinda
[3:13]; Koanga's invocation [4:50]) [16:32]
Appalachia, Variations on an old Slave Song with final chorus (1896;
1902-03) [36:29]
Sea Drift for Baritone Solo, Mixed Chorus and Orchestra (1903-04)
- Words by Walt Whitman [25:26]
Henriette Bonde-Hansen (soprano) (Palmyra); Johan Reuter (baritone) (Koanga);
Simon Duus (baritone) (Martinez, Perez); Aarhus Cathedral Choir and Aarhus
Symphony Orchestra Choir; Aarhus Symphony Orchestra/Bo Holten
rec. Symfonisk Sal Aarhus, Denmark, 11 October 2011, 24-25 May, 18-22 June
2012
DANACORD DACOCD 732 [78:26]
Following hard on the heels of Sir Andrew Davis’s fine 2010 Chandos recording
(CHSA5088)
of Delius’s Appalachia, comes another captivating performance from
Bo Holten in his much acclaimed Delius series for Danacord (see end of review).
It is a glorious and very affecting, so much so that tears often stood in
my eyes especially through its choral finale.
Just to repeat what I have written previously about this evocative work: ‘In
his preface to the score Delius wrote: “Appalachia is the old Indian name
for North America. The composition mirrors the moods of tropical nature in
the great swamps bordering on the Mississippi River which is so intimately
associated with the life of the old Negro slave population.”
The inspiration for this work can be traced back to the time when Delius was
in Florida, near the wide St Johns River, engaged in cultivating oranges.
His mind dwelt on music not oranges. He would sit smoking on sultry nights
engrossed in listening to the complex harmonies of the singing of black farm
labourers in the distance. Many Delians also believe that he fell in love,
at that time, with a black girl with whom he had a child. Although the romance
did not end well, Delius never forgot it. Tasmin Little has even suggested
that this girl was the love of his life. It is thought by some that the emotional
turbulence spilled over into this and so many other works besides those inspired
by his time in America. So much of Delius’s music speaks of the transience
and tragedy of life and love. This sadness is emphasised in the sentiments
of the slave song on which Appalachia is based. These slaves were
considered as little more than commodities to be bought and sold, families
being split up in the process and literally ‘sold down the river’. Delius’s
music, especially in that heart-rending concluding song, is full of pathos
and pity for their predicament.
Bo Holten gives a beautifully-shaped and sensitive reading of Appalachia
commencing with a wondrous scene-setting as the brass echo back and forth
across the sound-stage and misty strings, horns and harp shape a sultry landscape
along the river. The quickening tempo ushers in the melody of the slave song
first hinted at on strumming strings imitative of banjos and then in a majestic
sweep conjuring up a vision of the mighty Mississippi. After this comes the
statement of the theme proper first on cor anglais and then transferred to
the minor key for the first variation on horn. This is followed by nine other
variations in a variety of moods of joy, of reflection and almost unbearable
poignancy. Holten’s sensitivity to them all never slackens and how instinctively
and subtly his Aarhus players respond. There is a waltz and marches and episodes
of heartfelt delicacy and exquisitely shaded nature-painting. The climax is
that magnificent and heart-rending final variation for chorus and orchestra
and the slave’s reassurance to his woman – ‘And don’t you be so lonesome love.
And don’t you fret and cry ... And you’ll find me ever waiting ...’ – as the
boat comes to carry him away down river.
I wish I could be as enthusiastic about this performance of Sea Drift.
The words by Walt Whitman, centre on a young boy’s sudden awareness of ‘the
harsh realities of life and love’ as he witnesses the sundering of the love
of two sea-birds when the she-bird fails to return to her nest and the male
is left to mourn endlessly. Holten’s portrait of the seas off Long Island
shines and shimmers in sympathy with the tragedy unfolding on the beach. The
Aarhus singers respond likewise, ecstatic in their first “Shine! shine! shine!”
chorus as the sea birds bask in the sun together, through to the hopeful “Blow,
blow, blow sea-winds … blow my mate to me” and finally, hopelessly, to - “…
no more, no more with me!” The blending of their voices with that of the baritone
soloist voicing the growing despair of the male-bird, is particularly poignant.
The weakness here is the soloist Johan Reuter who in his reach for technical
competence, and just once or twice less than perfect English, lacks just enough
expressiveness to really convince about the male bird’s growing despondency
and anguish.
Of more interest to committed Delians is the excerpt from Delius’s early opera,
Koanga. This covers the action of the scene in which Koanga, a negro
slave who was formerly an African chieftain, is to marry his sweetheart Palmyra.
She is abducted by the plantation’s overseer, Perez who covets her. In his
wrath and anguish Koanga strikes Martinez the plantation owner. This is a
hanging offence and Koanga has to escape into the forest invoking the vengeance
of his voodoo gods. Henriette Bonde-Hansen radiantly sings Palmyra’s aria
as she anticipates her imminent nuptials and later at her immediate pre-wedding
celebration as she sings and dances to one of Delius’s most famous melodies,
‘La Calinda’, as arranged by Bo Holten. Reuter is more impressive as Koanga,
dignified and wrathfully vengeful.
Another fine addition to Holten’s growing Delius discography. Holten’s Appalachia
is glorious but I have some minor reservations about Sea Drift.
Ian Lace
Another fine addition to Holten’s growing Delius discography. His Appalachia
is glorious but I have some minor reservations about Sea Drift.
Bo Holten’s Delius series for Danacord:
DACOCD
536 Danish Masterworks
DACOCD
592 Norwegian Masterworks
DACOCD
721 English Masterworks
DACOCD
728 French Masterworks
DACOCD
717 Rare historic recordings
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