Composer: Edward William Elgar
Performer: Dame Janet Baker, Richard Lewis, Kim Borg, London Philharmonic Choir, Hallé Choir, Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, Ambrosian Singers
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra
Conductor: Sir Adrian Boult, John Barbirolli
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: EMI
Catalogue: 3919782
Release: 2007
Size: 694 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
CD 01
The Music Makers, Op. 69
01. (Moderato e nobilmente)
02. We are the music makers
03. With wonderful deathless ditties
04. We, in the ages lying
05. A breath of our inspiration
06. They had no vision amazing*
07. And therefore to-day is thrilling*
08. But we, with our dreaming and singing
09. For we are afar with the dawning
10. Great hail! we cry to the comers*
The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38
11. Prelude (Lento, mistico – Moderato – Andantino – Come prima)
12. Jesu, Maria – I am near to death (Gerontius)
13. Kyrie eleison…Holy Mary, pray for him (semi-chorus, chorus)
14. Rouse thee, my fainting soul (Gerontius)
15. Be merciful, be gracious (chorus)
16. Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus (Gerontius)
17. I can no more (Gerontius)
18. Rescue him, O Lord…Noe from the waters in a saving home (chorus, Gerontius, semi-chorus)
19. Novissima hora est (Gerontius)
20. Proficiscere, anima Christiana (Priest)
21. Go in the name of Angels and Archangels (chorus, Priest, semi-chorus)
CD 02
The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38
01. (Andantino)
02. I went to sleep (Soul of Gerontius)
03. My work is done (Angel)
04. It is a member of that family…All hail! my child and brother (Soul, Angel)
05. A presage falls upon thee (Angel, Soul)
06. But hark! upon my sense…Low-born clods of brute earth (Soul, Angel, chorus)
07. Dispossessed, aside thrust, chucked down (chorus, Angel)
08. The mind bold and indepent (chorus)
09. I see not those false spirits…There was a mortal (Soul, Angel)
10. Praise to the Holiest…We now have passed the gate (semi-chorus, chorus, Angel)
11. Glory to Him…But hark! a grand mysterious harmony (chorus, semi-chorus, Angel, Soul)
12. And now the threshold…Praise to the Holiest (Angel, chorus)
13. Thy judgment now is near (Angel, Soul)
14. Jesu! by that shuddering dread (Angel of the Agony, Soul)
15. I go before my Judge…Be merciful, be gracious (Soul, semi-chorus, chorus)
16. Praise to His Name!…Take me away (Angel, Soul)
17. Lord, Thous hast been our refuge (chorus)
18. Softly and gently (Angel, chorus, semi-chorus)
This 1964 recording of The Dream of Gerontius, though made over four days at Christmas in a miserable and foggy Manchester, has long been the version of choice in round-up reviews, most recently on BBC Radio 3 in Building a Library. Besides the leading Gerontius of his day, Richard Lewis, and the tremendous doubled chorus, it established Janet Baker as a peerless Angel.