BBC Symphony Chorus & Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis - Edward Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius; Sea Pictures (2014) 2CDs

This is unquestionably the strongest Gerontius to have come my way since Sir Mark Elder’s Gramophone Award-winning Hallé account (1/09). A superbly paced and lovingly shaped Prelude immediately proclaims Sir Andrew Davis’s formidable credentials in this repertoire; indeed, his patient and scrupulously observant conception of the whole work evinces a selfless authority, wisdom and instinctive ebb and flow, and he certainly secures a splendidly disciplined and consistently fervent response from his massed BBC Symphony forces. Just occasionally I find myself craving a touch greater thrust – I personally prefer ‘Sanctus fortis’ to move on a fraction more than it does here, and perhaps the last ounce of exhilaration and edge-of-seat danger is missing from the Presto marking at fig 43 onwards (disc 2, tr 7) in the Demons’ chorus – but these tiny quibbles pale into insignificance when set beside the ineluctable sweep and glowing dedication of Davis’s reading in its entirety.

As for the vocal team, Stuart Skelton’s stamina, dramatic range and ringing, Vickers-like tone are a tremendous asset. He may not yet be a match for Heddle Nash on Sir Malcolm Sargent’s pioneering 1945 set (still the touchstone all these decades later), but he brings exactly the right awe-struck hush to ‘Novissima hora est’ and really shines in the oratorio’s later stages. David Soar, too, sings with lofty projection and unstinting eloquence (his Angel of the Agony is an especially pleasing achievement). Arguably best of all, though, is Sarah Connolly, who brings a deeply affecting radiance, sense of wonder and intelligence to everything she does.

Disc 2 also contains a majestic performance of the Gerontius Prelude with its concert ending, while the main offering is preceded by a wholly sympathetic rendering of Sea Pictures, which (once again) finds Connolly in glorious voice. Davis and the BBC SO play their full part in a performance to rival such distinguished forebears as the Baker/Barbirolli (EMI), Greevy/Handley (CfP) and, yes, Connolly’s own conspicuously fresh and rewarding interpretation with Simon Wright and the Bournemouth SO (Naxos, 12/06). Chandos’s thrillingly tangible SACD sound packs an almighty punch in terms of lustre, amplitude and range (Croydon’s Fairfield Hall was the helpful venue). Dare we look forward to The Kingdom and The Apostles from this same source?

Review by Andrew Achenbach, Gramophone

Edward Elgar's giant cantata (the composer rejected the term oratorio) The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, which appeared in 1900, has always been a popular work among British choirs and traditionally minded audiences. Outside of Britain its heavy Cardinal Newman tale of a soul going through divine judgment, redolent of Catholic theological detail (even British Anglicans demanded revisions), and massive orchestration have proven less appealing. Yet the work hangs on, for there's a certain fascination in seeing how wholeheartedly Elgar accepted the influence of Wagner, especially that of Parsifal. This is as Germanic as British music gets. What's required to bring it off is strong soloists on one hand and a conductor who keeps it all from slipping into murk on the other. This handsome Chandos release succeeds on both counts, with a very strong Wagnerian tenor, Stuart Skelton, in the role of Gerontius, a uniformly good supporting cast, and classically clear work in the choruses from the BBC Symphony Chorus. The text is included, but listeners could get away without using it in many sections. The Angel, contralto Sarah Connolly, is again a pure Wagnerian, and introducing the program with the five Sea Pictures, Op. 37, is a bonus here, as is the engineering work of Chandos in the relatively uncommon (except to pro wrestling devotees) venue of Fairfield Halls, Croydon. Recommended if The Dream of Gerontius rings your bell.

Review by James Manheim, Allmusic.com

Exact Audio Copy V1.1 from 23. June 2015

EAC extraction logfile from 14. April 2016, 2:15

BBC SO, Andrew Davis / Elgar - Sea Pictures; The Dream of Gerontius, Part I

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foobar2000 1.2 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2016-04-21 18:53:16

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: BBC SO, Andrew Davis / Elgar - Sea Pictures; The Dream of Gerontius, Part I
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR15 -11.77 dB -31.57 dB 4:47 01-Sea Pictures - 1. Sea Slumber-Song
DR13 -13.06 dB -30.84 dB 1:42 02-Sea Pictures - 2. In Haven (Capri)
DR13 -1.14 dB -22.44 dB 5:37 03-Sea Pictures - 3. Sabbath Morning at Sea
DR14 -7.33 dB -29.44 dB 3:41 04-Sea Pictures - 4. Where Corals Lie
DR16 -0.66 dB -22.27 dB 6:10 05-Sea Pictures - 5. The Swimmer
DR15 -0.36 dB -22.62 dB 9:08 06-The Dream of Gerontius - Prelude
DR15 -3.99 dB -27.24 dB 3:42 07-The Dream of Gerontius - Part I. Jesu, Maria - I am near to death
DR13 -11.23 dB -32.23 dB 2:12 08-The Dream of Gerontius - Part I. Kyrie eleison
DR12 -9.37 dB -28.40 dB 0:52 09-The Dream of Gerontius - Part I. Rouse thee, my fainting soul
DR15 -1.40 dB -24.10 dB 2:48 10-The Dream of Gerontius - Part I. Be merciful, be gracious
DR15 -0.26 dB -23.35 dB 5:43 11-The Dream of Gerontius - Part I. Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus
DR14 -1.75 dB -24.15 dB 2:06 12-The Dream of Gerontius - Part I. I can no more…
DR14 -0.16 dB -22.77 dB 2:07 13-The Dream of Gerontius - Part I. Rescue him, O Lord
DR11 -14.54 dB -35.87 dB 1:22 14-The Dream of Gerontius - Part I. Novissima hora est
DR14 -4.09 dB -26.27 dB 1:54 15-The Dream of Gerontius - Part I. Part I. Proficiscere, anima Christiana
DR13 -2.77 dB -21.72 dB 4:41 16-The Dream of Gerontius - Part I. Go, in the name of Angels
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Number of tracks: 16
Official DR value: DR14

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 549 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================

Exact Audio Copy V1.1 from 23. June 2015

EAC extraction logfile from 14. April 2016, 21:48

BBC SO, Andrew Davis / Elgar - The Dream of Gerontius, Part II

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Read offset correction : 48
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foobar2000 1.2 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2016-04-21 18:53:34

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: BBC SO, Andrew Davis / Elgar - The Dream of Gerontius, Part II
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR15 -10.36 dB -33.24 dB 6:16 01-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. I went to sleep and now I am refresh'd
DR15 -9.15 dB -30.84 dB 2:21 02-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. My work is done
DR14 -8.04 dB -29.29 dB 1:42 03-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. It is a member of that family
DR14 -4.62 dB -26.27 dB 4:06 04-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. I ever had believed
DR11 -2.05 dB -21.33 dB 0:50 05-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. But hark! upon my sense comes a fierce hubbub
DR14 -0.39 dB -18.65 dB 2:21 06-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. Low-born clods of brute earth
DR14 -1.85 dB -21.26 dB 2:24 07-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. The mind bold and independent
DR14 -8.92 dB -30.43 dB 3:11 08-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. I see not those false spirits
DR15 -1.86 dB -26.81 dB 2:59 09-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. Praise to the Holiest in the height
DR14 -4.34 dB -25.65 dB 1:18 10-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. Glory to Him, who evermore by truth and justice reigns
DR11 -5.43 dB -21.03 dB 1:18 11-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. But hark! a grand mysterious harmony
DR14 -0.19 dB -19.88 dB 6:50 12-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. Praise to the Holiest in the height
DR15 -7.52 dB -29.56 dB 3:06 13-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. Thy judgement now is near
DR14 -3.30 dB -26.76 dB 3:54 14-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. Jesu! by that shuddering dread which fell on Thee
DR12 -23.45 dB -41.89 dB 1:31 15-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. I go before my Judge
DR11 -5.33 dB -21.09 dB 1:30 16-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. Praise to His Name!
DR11 -0.73 dB -25.98 dB 3:20 17-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. Take me away, and in the lowest deep there let me be
DR11 -20.15 dB -39.01 dB 1:04 18-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. Lord, Thou hast been our refuge: in every generation
DR13 -7.65 dB -28.40 dB 6:46 19-The Dream of Gerontius - Part II. Softly and gently, dearly-ransom’d soul
DR15 -0.37 dB -22.83 dB 9:26 20-The Dream of Gerontius - Prelude (concert version)
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Number of tracks: 20
Official DR value: DR13

Samplerate: 44100 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 16
Bitrate: 542 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================