Search - Benjamin Britten, Matthew Best, English Chamber Orchestra :: Britten: Saint Nicolas A Cantanta Op.42/Hymn To Saint Cecilia Op.27

Anthony Rolfe-Johnson is resplendent

Larry Hill | Minneapolis, MN USA | 01/02/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Never mind that a recording of Britten's St. Nicholas was probably long overdue before this was issued: Rolfe-Johnson's sensitive and artfully and deftly phrased performance would give listeners enough reason to check out this CD. I don't know if the tenor has ever sounded this good any time, anywhere else."

WONDERFUL!!! BEST RECORDING AVAILABLE!!! GET IT!!!

Michael F. McMahon | Antioch Illinois USA | 12/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am very impressed and gratified by these beautiful choral performances of the Benjamin Britten's cantata "St. Nicolas"and the "Hymn to St. Cecilia". They are thoughtfully prepared and exquisitely paced. They sound musically "right". Matthew Best's Hyperion recordings have rapidly become great personal favorites, and this proves to me, once again, that you can't seem to go wrong with the BEST! This condustor has a winning approach to choral music (especially English) and balances respect for "tradition" with something fresh, unique and "unstuffy".
"St. Nicholas" crackles with excitement and vitality, yet Best does not allow the "joie de vivre" to obliterate any reflective moments. This performance dares to be both serious and fun, appropriate to the saint it depicts and the composer's wrtten intentions.
Tenor Anthony Rolfe-Johnson turns in a sensitive performance as Nicolas using his melifluous voice and elegant phrasing to tell the story of the saint from the INSIDE contrasting with the chorus who relate and ponder the events from the OUTSIDE. Rolfe- Johnson sings with keen understanding of the work's musical and dramatic contrasts. He manages the vocal and musical hurdles deftly without sounding "fussy or contrived" -and this is no mean feat, given that this criticism could be leveled at Britten himself for a couple of the vocal passages! Overall, it is a moving musical depiction. Rolfe-Johnson posesses the needed vocal line,the requisite poetry, the heady pianissimi,etc. in the best Britten/Pears tenor tradition. This is a solid performance!
Conductor Best expertly leads his musical forces. He seems to allow the singers and musicians room to MAKE MUSIC while remaining in perfect command. This gives the performance freedom, but also the needed musical charm and dramatic shape. This is key to the success of any performance of St. Nicolas. The percussion is a delight and the inclusion of a congregation for the two chorales a big plus!!
The Hymn to St. Cecilia benefits from Best's sensitive attention to musical details without bogging down the structure and movement of the piece. Best is truly amazing here! The unaccompanied vocal writing and the complex, delicate structure are enhanced and clarified by the chorus and conductor's employment of exquisite colors. You won't miss orchestral accompaniment in this piece - it's there in the choral writing, and Best's sensitive musical choices reveal it.
The Cordyon Singers are nothing less than celestial and their gossamer voices paint tone pictures worthy of the heaveny patroness of music! This piece is a real find and a welcome accompaniment to the St Nicolas cantata. NB Both pieces are harmonically accessible(easy on the ears ) and the texts are included too.
How nice to have these works available on CD. I strongly recommend this recording to any lover of choral music. For my money, this is THE recording of the ST. NICHOLAS !
While I half-expected the inclusion of the familiar Britten "Ceremony of Carols" on this recording, I am delighted to make the aquaintance of the delectable Hymn to St. Cecilia. Do not hesitate to purchase this CD!!! It's GLORIOUS!!! FIVE STARS !!!"