Reissue - recording made in 1965

For myself, this is the recording of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius. From the opening bars of the Prelude, Sir John's deep love of, and devotion to this sublime work is very apparent, with beautiful phrasing, immaculate pacing, judicious use of portamento and rubato, and awesomely thrilling climaxes. Everybody shines, even the much criticised English pronunciation of Kim Borg is easily forgiven for his powerful declamation of '…Go forth upon thy journey, Christian soul' which so thrillingly closes Part 1. The chorus is heavenly in 'Praise to the Holiest…' and gleefully devilish in the Demons' Chorus. Janet Baker is, clearly, deeply moved especially in her beautiful closing aria, 'Softly and gently, dearly ransomed soul…' Indeed, Michael Kennedy writing in the booklet remembers "tears running down her cheeks, whispering the Angel's farewell: 'Farewell, but not for ever, brother dear.' " Richard Lewis impresses as probably the most intensely expressive Gerontius on record. His 'Sanctus fortis…' in Part 1 thrills and pierces one to the core. (He is even more intense on the 1955 Sargent recording.) This new incarnation of this much-revered recording boasts a new digital remastering at EMI's Abbey Road Studios. The sound, indeed, is generally very clean and detailed. But EMI, what has happened to the equally wonderful Baker/Barbirolli recording of Elgar's Sea Pictures which was coupled in the last 2-CD reissue of this Gerontius? Rating a disc like this is really superfluous, nevertheless -

Reviewer

Ian Lace

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