Stabat Mater Op.53 (1925-6) [23:25]
Harnasie Op.55 (1923-31) [34:59]
Lucy Crowe (soprano), Pamela Helen Stephen (mezzo), Robert Murray (tenor), Gábor Bretz (baritone)
BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Edward Gardner
rec. Fairfield Halls, Croydon, England, January 2013
SACD Surround reviewed.
CHANDOS SACD CHSA5123 [58:36]
After waiting several years for modern recordings of Szymanowski
we are suddenly being presented with several at once including two
complete sets of the symphonies. This is excellent because for all
that Szymanowski is not regarded outside Poland with quite the respect
he gets at home, his music is undoubtedly well worth hearing. Some
of it achieves real importance: I would suggest King Roger,
the Stabat Mater and the First Violin Concerto are amongst
the loveliest pieces of the early to mid-20th century.
This disc arrived along with another recording of the Stabat Mater
from LSO Live conducted by Gergiev so comparisons were inevitable.
As I say in the other review (yet to be published), there is little
to choose as regards the orchestral playing and choral singing save
that the LSO Chorus sounds bigger than the BBC Symphony Chorus. Gergiev
takes much the same time overall as Gardner. The big differences are
twofold: the recordings, in which this Chandos comes out far the best,
and in the female soloists. Lucy Crowe especially has a beautifully
clean and pure voice and makes the most ethereal sound in this gorgeous
music. Her partnership with Pamela Helen Stephen is a joy to hear.
The recording was made in the Fairfield Halls and works extremely
well. Heard in surround a lovely spaciousness is achieved. This, combined
with some judicious spot miking, results in a very finely detailed
recording with no loss of impact even in the quietest moments. Well
done to engineer Ralph Couzens and his team.
The impact of the ballet Harnasie here far exceeds that of
my other two recordings dating from decades ago. This is an exotic
and evocative score full of lush sounds and lively drama. Unusually
for a ballet the forces include chorus and tenor soloist which will
have made performances very few and far between. Harnasie has
much in common with Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe though only the
most indulgent could suggest the music is as good as Ravel's great
masterpiece. The detailed notes describe how the composer immersed
himself in the culture of the Tatra mountain region of Poland during
the long gestation of his score. It is certainly a far more rhythmic
and dramatic invention than the Stabat Mater and makes a nice
contrast on the disc.
This is the second disc of Szymanowski recordings being made as part
of Chandos' Musyka Polska series. All the others have been
of Lutosławski. One assumes that the most important of Szymanowski's
remaining works will appear in due course (Third Symphony and First
Violin Concerto perhaps?) and Chandos do suggest at least one more
release is being prepared. On the strength of the present SACD it
will be worth waiting for.
Dave Billinge
A superb performance and recording of the Stabat Mater, coupled
with an excellent but rarely heard ballet score.
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