Composer: Edward German
Orchestra: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Adrian Leaper
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Naxos
Catalogue: 8555171
Release: 2022
Size: 291 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Nell Gwyn
01. I. Overture
02. II. Country Dance
03. III. Pastoral Dance
04. IV. Merrymaker’s Dance
Gipsy Suite
05. I. Valse melancolique “Lonely Life”
06. II. Allegro di bravura “The Dance”
07. III. Menuetto “Love Duet”
08. IV. Tarantella “The Revel”
Henry VIII
09. No. 1, Morris Dance
10. No. 2, Shepherds’ Dance
11. No. 3, Torch Dance
The Tempter
12. Berceuse
Romeo and Juliet
13. Pavane
14. Nocturne
15. Pastorale
Tom Jones
16. For Tonight “Sophia’s Waltz-Song” (Arr. E. Tomlinson for Orchestra)
Merrie England Suite
17. I. Hornpipe
18. II. Minuet
19. III. Rustic Dance
20. IV. Jig
Acknowledged by Sir Arthur Sullivan as his musical heir, Edward German enjoyed huge acclaim during his lifetime. His dances are ‘charged with the fragrant essence of the greenwood’ and the Overture to Nell Gwyn, with its richly English themes, explains Elgar’s liking for German’s music. The gloriously romanticised Gipsy Suite pays subtle homage to Dvořák; the dances from Henry VIII were responsible for his early celebrity; and Tom Jones (on 866027071) and Merrie England were two of his greatest stage successes.
Gramophone commented on German’s operetta Tom Jones: ‘this Naxos release admirably makes the point that there was a great deal more to pre-World War I British musical theatre than just Gilbert & Sullivan.’
International Record Review wrote of it: ‘A winning performance…German’s colourful orchestration is given its due by Russell Hulme’s players. If you like a good tune and a story with a happy ending, bear this delightful work in mind’, while Opera Now said ‘A delightful score, with bags of period charm.’
Conductor Adrian Leaper is a prominent conductor in Naxos’s roster and in addition to those light music discs he has also recorded formidable recordings of Elgar and Wieniawski (8572952), and Havergal Brian (8572014), among many others.