This CD is complementary
to SRCD331,
a Lyrita disc that includes three of
Hoddinott’s symphonies. Here two choral
works flank two pieces for soloist and
orchestra.
The Britten-ish cantata
Dives and Lazarus acts as a dynamic
opener to the programme, not least because
of the Welsh National Opera Chorus’s
keen and dynamic response to Hoddinott’s
skilled writing. The work itself is
superbly crafted. fully in the choral
tradition of the British Isles, with
a strong sense of drama. The soloists,
Felicity Palmer and Thomas Allen, are
well matched, an exposed section for
just the two of them beginning at 10’30
confirms just how true this statement
is. Both this piece and the Viola Concertino
were originally to be found on Argo
ZRG824.
If anything, the Sinfonia
Fidei of 1977 is even more impressive.
Set in three movements, Latin words
as opposed to English, this time, Hoddinott
employs glowing harmonies and sometimes
glittering scoring to great effect.
The first movement, ‘Sequentia de Sancto
Michaele’, has a distinctly ritualistic
feeling about it. The entry of the soloists,
a lovely moment, is carefully and effectively
prepared by Hoddinott. Throughout, Jill
Gomez is radiant. Perhaps it is the
moments of greatest delicacy that are
most memorable (in ‘Ave Maris Stella’,
the second movement), yet this is not
to demean the very close of the work,
which exudes a haunting sense of stillness.
The Viola Concertino,
dating from 1958 and written for Cecil
Aronowitz, is the earliest work on the
disc. It opens with a Nocturne, but
an uneasy one. An agile Allegro molto
forms contrast, but it appears that
Hoddinott is happiest evoking sweet
crepuscular pangs of regret – something
that fits the viola like a glove. The
violist here, Csaba Erdélyi,
seems entirely at home. Of almost equivalent
length, the Nocturnes and Cadenzas
for Cello and Orchestra dates from around
a decade later. Moray Welsh is here
the experienced soloist in this mysterious
and powerful score (try the elegiac
first cadenza) in a performance that
was originally on Unicorn Kanchana RHD401.
The presence of two top-rank soloists
ensures the success of these performances;
both conductors are experienced accompanists
and shadow their charges effectively
when required.
Equipped with both
this disc and with the Hoddinott Symphonies,
you will be ideally poised to appreciate
many aspects of this composer’s art.
Hearing this music, the thought repeatedly
came to mind that Hoddinott is due some
sort of reappraisal.
Colin Clarke
The
Lyrita catalogue
aFelicity Palmer, dJill Gomez
(sopranos); dStuart Burrows (tenor);
aThomas Allen (baritone); bCsaba
Erdélyi (viola); cMoray Welsh
(cello); aWelsh National Opera Chorus;
abNew Philharmonia Orchestra/David
Atherton; Philharmonia dChorus and
cdOrchestra/ Sir Charles Groves. 