Search - Gustav Holst, Stephen Layton, The Holst Singers :: This Have I Done for My True Love: Partsong by Gustav Holst

I *really* like this CD

L. Mountford | Bellingham, WA United States | 01/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like others here, I've heard several recordings of many of these pieces, and I've sung several of them. This is, by far, my favorite recording of a number of them. If I had to select one of the pieces, it would be "I Love My Love." The performance by the Holst Singers is *perfect* -- the singers are so totally in touch with the text and music that I cannot think of anything they could have done differently that would improve it. You can hear the sad desperation in the young girl's voice as she chants the song's title over and over from her cell in Bedlam through the vibrato-less almost "dead" sound of the sopranos. You can just picture her, driven nearly mad by the cruelty of her love's parents. You can hear the young man's passion as he races to rescue her; her quiet disbelief as she searches for the truth. They just don't write 'em like this anymore, and you won't hear a better interpretation of this anywhere else. The tempo is what it needs to be to convey the emotion and message of the text.I'll be using this as a "reference" recording for this music from now on. Bravo!!!"

Brilliant!

Pascal Tremblay | Québec, Canada | 08/30/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Well, it seems that some reviewers does not appreciate that CD as mush as I do. Personnaly, I have not heard other interpretations and I ignore all critics based on interpretation. It is useless to do so because that is a question of taste. Think about it: on what can we base ourselves to critic interpretation? There is only an answer: on ther other we heard. Which in particular? The first one. We get used to the first recording we listen to. Thus, any recordings that comes after is simply... not the same. Personnaly, I find this CD quite good, singers are perfect, sound is good and the selection is impeccable. All songs are incredible. A Welcome Song is just so lyric and Lullay My Liking so unforgettable. If I just give 4 stars it is because I cannot assume that ir is the best recording ever since I did not heard other ones (safe for some songs on other Holst's CDs)."

Perhaps interpretation differs.... but quality is good.

Pascal Tremblay | 04/20/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am a huge conniseur of choral music, and this CD is not as bad as those other people have made it out to be! Yes, some of the songs may have been performed differently than I have, or they have performed it, but then again, why is music performed? We all give our own interpretations of music when we conduct. Who are we to say which interpretation is better than another? It is all personal taste. Do not let those two pessamists dissuade you from trying it out. They generally blend well, they have dynamics and emotion, and they sing in tune, so what are they griping about! I've enjoyed it."