Elgar's Oratorios

André · April 23, 2025, 07:14:03 AM

Any performance by Barbirolli (there's 3 of them I know of) has that extra ounce of emotion. The EMI recording is superb. Boult runs him close, with different qualities. Svetlanov is a must also IMO despite the live conditions. The sound is quite good but some people don't tolerate coughs (I don't find them intrusive but there you go). And let's not forget Sargent's magical 1945 recording.

I should revisit Elder's recording, but before that I have another set on hand I must explore (unwrap): McCreesh. Stay tuned !

Der lächelnde Schatten · April 23, 2025, 07:22:33 AM

Quote from: André on April 23, 2025, 07:14:03 AMAny performance by Barbirolli (there's 3 of them I know of) has that extra ounce of emotion. The EMI recording is superb. Boult runs him close, with different qualities. Svetlanov is a must also IMO despite the live conditions. The sound is quite good but some people don't tolerate coughs (I don't find them intrusive but there you go). And let's not forget Sargent's magical 1945 recording.

I should revisit Elder's recording, but before that I have another set on hand I must explore (unwrap): McCreesh. Stay tuned !

Ah, very good, indeed.

Here are the ones I own: Boult (EMI/Warner), Barbirolli (EMI/Warner), Elder, McCreesh, Andrew Davis, Britten and I'll have to check and see if I own the Hickox or not. I can't remember.

Edit: Okay, I checked a few hours ago and the only other Gerontius I own is Colin Davis' LSO Live recording. I thought I owned Hickox, but looks like I don't since my Elgar collection is together in one spot.

relm1 · April 24, 2025, 05:28:00 AM

Quote from: Der lächelnde Schatten on April 23, 2025, 07:22:33 AMAh, very good, indeed.

Here are the ones I own: Boult (EMI/Warner), Barbirolli (EMI/Warner), Elder, McCreesh, Andrew Davis, Britten and I'll have to check and see if I own the Hickox or not. I can't remember.

Edit: Okay, I checked a few hours ago and the only other Gerontius I own is Colin Davis' LSO Live recording. I thought I owned Hickox, but looks like I don't since my Elgar collection is together in one spot.

I love the Hickox/LSO set. I'm curious about the Simon Rattle/CBSO recording of Gerontius. Any opinions?

Der lächelnde Schatten · April 24, 2025, 06:16:10 AM

Quote from: relm1 on April 24, 2025, 05:28:00 AMI love the Hickox/LSO set. I'm curious about the Simon Rattle/CBSO recording of Gerontius. Any opinions?

Good to know about the Hickox. I'll have to pass on it as I own way too many as it is, but, also, I don't buy CDs any more.

Roasted Swan · April 24, 2025, 09:12:24 AM

Quote from: Der lächelnde Schatten on April 24, 2025, 06:16:10 AMGood to know about the Hickox. I'll have to pass on it as I own way too many as it is, but, also, I don't buy CDs any more.

This is a live Gerontius (pardon the pun....) from the Proms with Andrew Davis. A genuinely very fine, I'd say inspired performance with great soloists (Keith Lewis , Sir Willard White and Florence Quivar) but beautifully paced by Davis. One of the very very best versions I reckon.

An unmentioned studio recording I like is this one;

I rate Oramo in general but his Elgar is excellent (his BIS Stockholm Symphonies for example....)

Der lächelnde Schatten · April 24, 2025, 10:58:30 AM

Quote from: Roasted Swan on April 24, 2025, 09:12:24 AM

This is a live Gerontius (pardon the pun....) from the Proms with Andrew Davis. A genuinely very fine, I'd say inspired performance with great soloists (Keith Lewis , Sir Willard White and Florence Quivar) but beautifully paced by Davis. One of the very very best versions I reckon.

An unmentioned studio recording I like is this one;

I rate Oramo in general but his Elgar is excellent (his BIS Stockholm Symphonies for example....)

That Oramo recording of Gerontius is rare and OOP. So you've got a gem on your hands. One possible reason for its scarcity could be due to the fact that it was the CBSO's house label, which I'm not sure is even still around.

Roasted Swan · April 24, 2025, 11:02:46 AM

Quote from: Der lächelnde Schatten on April 24, 2025, 10:58:30 AMThat Oramo recording of Gerontius is rare and OOP. So you've got a gem on your hands. One possible reason for its scarcity could be due to the fact that it was the CBSO's house label, which I'm not sure is even still around.

I didn't know that. But do have a look at the YouTube/Davis performance I think it is rather special and proves just what a fine conductor Davis was.

Der lächelnde Schatten · April 24, 2025, 11:04:17 AM

Quote from: Roasted Swan on April 24, 2025, 11:02:46 AMI didn't know that. But do have a look at the YouTube/Davis performance I think it is rather special and proves just what a fine conductor Davis was.

Oh, I agree Andrew Davis was a great Elgar conductor. I've got his Gerontius on Chandos which isn't bad, but as I've said before, I'm not completely in love with this work anyway.

André · April 25, 2025, 01:14:25 PM

So far my top recommendations for Gerontius irrespective of sound quality are the Barbirolli/Rome with Jon Vickers (live, 1957) and Sargent's 1945 EMI with Heddle Nash. I have another live Barbirolli performance (Carnegie Hall 1959 with Richard Lewis and Maureen Forrester) that is waiting in the pile. The only Gerontius I've never really enjoyed is Britten's Decca recording.