All the super audio CD releases I’ve come across from
Linn have been of the very highest quality in terms of performances,
presentation and sound quality. This disc is no exception. Featuring
three Britten song-cycles and one canticle, everything about
it emanates thoughtfulness, intelligence and good design.
On This Island commences the recital; a song-cycle written
shortly after the important initial meeting between the precocious
young composer and the poet W.H. Auden. It sets five of Auden’s
poems. There is an exhilarating sense of joy in Gilchrist’s
rendition of the opening Let this florid music praise,
and wonderful lyricism in the second stanza. This sets a high
standard for the rest of the disc. We hear really beautiful
singing, a charged and intense atmosphere, and sensitive accompaniment
from Tilbrook. Gilchrist's vibrato is quite pronounced, yet
I don’t feel that this detracts at all - slightly on the
wide side it may be, yet it is nevertheless perfectly controlled
and never excessive. His enunciation is superb throughout. The
ensuing Now the Leaves are falling fast is an excellent
showpiece for Gilchrist's impressive technical ability - as
is Oh, to vex me in the following song-cycle, the Holy
Sonnets of John Donne). Ambience is most perfectly conveyed
- for example by slightly growling lower notes which reflect
the chilling and sinister atmosphere in Nocturne. At
times I wondered whether the balance was spot-on: in Seascape
the voice rather battles to be heard over the piano - perhaps
this is intentional. In As it is, plenty, I find the
piano a little heavy-handed; the jazzy inflections in the voice
are good here, though.
The Holy Sonnets of John Donne - dating from 1945 and setting
nine rather dark poems by John Donne - are given robust performances.
These are full of passion and commitment, and are superbly communicated.
Since she whom I loved in particular is exceptionally
beautiful.
The Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo of five years earlier
- setting words by the Italian artist, sculptor and poet Michelangelo
- are absolutely radiant - especially Si come nella penna
e nell'inchiostro and Veggio co' bei vostri occhi un
dolce lume. Gilchrist’s Italian pronunciation certainly
sounds absolutely convincing to my ear: sometimes a difficulty
for English tenors. I find myself here transported at once to
Renaissance Italy. The disc concludes with the first of Britten’s
five canticles, the eponymous My beloved Is Mine, in
a performance that I cannot fault. It provides an excellent
conclusion to the sequence.
Full texts and translations are provided alongside Gilchrist's
own, excellent and insightful notes. A highly desirable disc.
Em Marshall-Luck
Britten discography
& review index
Detailed Track-List
On This Island Op. 11
Let the florid music praise! [3.36]
Now the leaves are falling fast [2.20]
Seascape [2.01]
Nocturne [3.55]
As it is, plenty [1.31]
The Holy Sonnets of John Donne Op. 35
Oh my Black soule! [3.05]
Batter my heart [1.15]
O might those sighes and teares [3.32]
Oh, to vex me [1.10]
What if this present [3.15]
Since she whom I loved [3.39]
At the round earth's imagined corners [2.32]
Thou hast made me [1.23]
Death, be not proud [4.21]
Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo Op. 22
Si come nella penna e nell'inchiostro [1.56]
A che piu debb'io mai I'intensa voglia [1.28]
Veggio co' bei vostri occhi un dolce lume [3.12]
Tu sa' ch'io so, signior mie, che tu sai [1.44]
Rendete a gli occhi miei, o fonte o fiume [1.44]
S'un casto amor, s'una pieta superna [1.24]
Spirto ben nato, in cui si specchia e vede [5.10]
Canticle I 'My Beloved is Mine' Op. 40 [7.30]
Support
us financially by purchasing this disc from: |
|
|
|
|
James Gilchrist (tenor), Anna Tilbrook (piano) 
[62.16] 