Elgar - The Dream of Gerontius; Sea Pictures

Edward Elgar

Sea Pictures Op.37

Janet Baker; London Symphony Orchestra

The Dream of Gerontius Op.38

Janet Baker; Richard Lewis; Kim Borg

Halle Choir and Sheffield Philharmonic Choir

Ambrosian Singers; Halle Orchestra

John Brbirolli

original recording 1965

 Sir John Barbirolli dearly loved Elgar's music and this comes out in all his recordings, but perhaps nowhere with such passionate intensity as in this magnificent account of The Dream of Gerontius. He said of this recording, "I wanted to leave it as a kind of testament of my faith", and I think that this is very evident as the performance proceeds. He is helped enormously by the sublime singing of Dame Janet Baker, most surely a kindred spirit. Richard Lewis also sings magnificently bringing a wealth of experience to his singing of the part of Gerontius. The only fly in the ointment is Kim Borg who struggles with his English pronunciation and lacks the power and projection of Robert Lloyd in Sir Adrian Boult's recording or John Shirley-Quirk in Benjamin Britten's account. The playing of the Halle Orchestra is not always immaculate, but does that really matter when it is so inspired?

The chorus is also similarly inspired. In the Demons' Chorus they are hair raising, and they certainly don't sing like "bank clerks on a Sunday outing", but like "souls sizzling in hell" as Sir John once remarked to a chorus! Another amazing moment is the great blaze of "Praise to the Holiest", which has to be heard to be believed.

The recording has its moments of overload and distortion, but the performance is so overwhelming that this does not really matter.

Sir John left us many wonderful recordings but none better than this.