Described as a ‘sacred trilogy’, Berlioz’s oratorio CD by London Orchestra L’enfance du Christ began as a short piece called Shepherds’ Farewell. It tells the story of the birth of Jesus and the journey of the Holy Family as they escape Bethlehem and head across Egypt to the city of Saïs. Unlike many of the composer’s more flamboyant works, it is an exquisite and gentle composition scored for relatively small forces.
CD Reviews
‘Beuron, probably today's finest lyric tenor, gives the performance an essential idiomatic core in his narration ... [Tenebrae are] dramatically alert and glowing as stained glass, the angelic messages skin-pricklingly ethereal.’ BBC Music Magazine, September 2007
‘If ever a conductor lived the works of a composer, it’s Davis with Berlioz. The London Symphony Orchestra play with delicacy, the Tenebrae Choir are immaculate, and there’s an impeccable set of soloists’ The Independent on Sunday, 29 July 2007
'Sir Colin Davis worked his magic with Berlioz yet again ... Sir Colin assembled a fine cast of soloists ... and choirs and orchestra sing and play superlatively' Sunday Telegraph, 19 August 2007
‘life-enhancing … The Narrator’s strengths leap out immediately. He’s Yann Beuron … Plus he’s French: an obvious boon in a language where inflection means so much. Here, the chamber choir Tenebrae excel themselves: wonder radiates from every securely focused, cleanly voiced chord. They’re the performance’s rock … nothing here, not a growl, not a rasp, ruins the magic of L’Enfance du Christ’ The Times
‘under Davis’s loving direction, the spirit is wonderfully right, and all the soloists, the fine Tenebrae Choir and the hypersensitive LSO combine in an interpretation of extraordinary tenderness’ Sunday Times
'... the combination of Davis, his responsive orchestra, and the French composer whose works he has done so much to champion, is irresistible ... This is undoubtedly another benchmark recording from LSO Live' MusicalCriticism.com
The recording was made possible by London Symphony Orchestra and Berlioz L'enfance du Christ, Sir Colin Davis conductor, Yann Beuron The Narrator/Centurion, Karen Cargill Marie, William Dazeley Joseph, Matthew Rose Herod, Peter Rose Father/Polydorus, Tenebrae Choir. -- www.lso.co.uk
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
