Sargent: Elgar – Cello Concerto op.85, The Dream Of Gerontius op.38 (2 CD, APE)

Composer: Edward Elgar
Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Malcolm Sargent
Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 2
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Testament
Size: 273 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

# Cello Concerto in E minor (also arr. as Viola Concerto by F.Salmond), Op. 85
Composed by Edward Elgar
Performed by BBC Symphony Orchestra
with Paul Tortelier

# The Dream of Gerontius, oratorio for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 38
Composed by Edward Elgar
Performed by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
with Dennis Noble, Norman Walker, Heddle Nash, Gladys Ripley

Stands the test of time.

This was the first complete version of “Gerontius” to be committed to disc, recorded in 1945 just as the War was drawing to its close.
Heddle Nash, the Gerontius in this recording, had sung the part under the composer’s direction and the work had a special significance for the conductor, Sir Malcolm Sargent, who was performing the work when he received news of the death of his beloved daughter Pamela. It seems, too, that Sargent’s own recording of the work was played to him as he lay dying of cancer and so “Gerontius” was the last music that he heard in his life. These facts alone don’t make a great performance but Sargent was acclaimed as the greatest choral conductor of his day as well as being one who could draw fine results from an orchestra, and his mastery is evident in this recording. The soloists, in addition to Heddle Nash, are notable too, and so this set proves to be a valuable reminder of a conductor who, even though he was disliked by many orchestral players, was adored by the public, especially his “Beloved Promenaders” (As a teenager in the 1960s, I have fond memories of this elegant gentleman generously autographing the programmes of those who (myself included) waited for him at the artists’ entrance of the Royal Albert Hall after he had finished conducting yet another highly enjoyable “Prom” concert.)
Transfers from the original 78s (mono only, of course) have been nicely done and the set includes a performance of the Elgar Cello Concerto, again conducted by Sargent with Paul Tortelier as soloist, as a welcome bonus.