Search - Benjamin Britten, Martin Neary :: Ceremony of Carols

A voice teacher and early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 10/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"AN IMPASSIONED AND MASTERFULLY SUNG 'ABRAHAM AND ISAAC'



You are on the mount!!!Listen to the awesome commanding voice of God - listen to the anguish of Abraham (Ian Bostridge)- the confusion and fear-filled voice of Isaac (Michael Chance). Believe me, this highly skilled rendition of Benjamin Britten's 'Abraham and Isaac' (from the Bible) is uncanny in its realism. This is what can happen musically when two very talented musicians with uniquely beautiful voices unite and perform a dramatic scenario by a master composer!!!!This performance 'blew me out of my chair'. Although I have 3 other renditions of this work, this is by far the most dramatic of all, and I do like the others.



If there is one quality which sets the music of Britten apart from that of his comtemporaries, it is surely his unerring response to the theme of innocence. The works chosen for this album, ranging from 'A Ceremony of Carols' to 'Abraham and Isaac', all reflect, in their different ways,Britten's unique ability to capture an astonishing variety of moods through, as it were, the eyes of the innocent.



'A Ceremony of Carols' is much more than just a random selection of mediaeval texts, and displays perfectly Britten's flair for writing for boys' voices. It is sung exceptionally well by Neary's choristers of the Westminster Abbey Choir: diction flawless, tone quality clear, clean phrasing showing a neatness of attacks and tapering; outstanding soloists throughout the work.



The festival cantata 'Rejoice in the Lamb' has a freshness quite unlike anything previously written by Britten, and ultimately led to a much freer style of composition for the church. It too is very well sung by the choir as well as the soloists.



Britten wrote 'A Hymn to the Virgin'at the age of seventeen, for which he chose an anonymous 1300 text from 'The Oxford Book of English Verse'. Many will find this work familiar and associated with Christmas.



'The Wedding Anthem, Amo ergo sum' (I love, therefore I am): herein Britten has created an anthem of radiant brightness. The interchange between the tenor (Bostridge) and the treble soloists is incredibly lovely, and the entire performance of this fine composition just marvelous!!!!



Britten wrote the 'Antiphon' in 1956 for the centenary celebrations of St. Michael's College. I was not familiar with this composition , but I really found it enjoyable, partly because of the treble soloist's contribution.



As you no doubt realize, I'm really 'high' on this album. If you love Britten's music, or even if you don't :"Try it!! You'll like it!!!!""