BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis - Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius, Sea Pictures (2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/96 kHz | Time - 124:18 minutes | 1.42 GB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Artwork: Digital booklet
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/96 kHz | Time - 124:18 minutes | 1.42 GB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Artwork: Digital booklet
The peerless Elgarian Sir Andrew Davis conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in this new recording of Elgars choral masterpiece, The Dream of Gerontius, recognized today by many as the greatest choral work by any English composer. Joining conductor and orchestra are star soloists Stuart Skelton, David Soar and Sarah Connolly, who also sings here in the Elgar song cycle Sea Pictures. This recording was accomplished in the run up to a triumphant Gerontius live performance in April, 2014, after which Mr. Skelton was praised as the ideal Gerontius tenor and Mr. Soar was described as an implacable, dark-sounding Priest and Connolly, a consummately polished Angel (The Guardian). Sea Pictures sets a collection of poetry by different authors all on a single theme. Inspired by his love of nature, Elgars songs explore the emotional resonances of the sea, from serene still waters to a mighty ocean storm. Sir Andrew Davis was awarded in 2014 the prestigious Elgar Society Medal in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the composers music.
Sir Andrew Davis's inspired performance of Elgar's glorious masterpiece is perfect. The Priest (David Soar) sings an arresting 'Go forth upon thy journey', and the warm-voiced Gerontius (Stuart Skelton) is received magnificently by the BBC Symphony Chorus's 'Praise to the Holiest in the height'. Finally comes the Angel, Sarah Connolly's infinitely touching 'Farewell'. She is equally moving in the autumnal Sea Pictures. –Gramophone
"Davis's orchestra and chorus are alert and responsive, and the SACD sound is remarkably clear and appealing, allowing one to admire the delicacy of the orchestral playing in the quiet sections. Anyone to whom sonics are paramount may have found in this set their Dream of Gerontius. The three soloists (David Soar sings the ariosos of both Part One's Priest and Part Three's Angel of the Agony) are certainly worthy enough but don't register as "historic" or definitive. Connolly's eloquent and committed Angel offers the most memorable and most keenly inflected singing." –David Shengold, Opera News, April 2015
TRACKLIST
Sea Pictures, Op. 37 (1897 – 99)
Song Cycle for Contralto and Orchestra
1 1 Sea-Slumber- Song. Andantino - Tranquillo - Tempo I - Tranquillo - 4:43
2 2 In Haven (Capri). Allegretto 1:37
3 3 Sabbath Morning at Sea. Moderato - Più mosso - Più mosso - Tempo I - Molto maestoso - 5:31
4 4 Where Corals Lie. Allegretto ma non troppo 3:37
5 5 The Swimmer. Allegro di molto - Largamente - Poco meno mosso - Tempo I - Largamente 6:00
The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38 (1900)*
by Cardinal Newman
set to Music for Mezzo-soprano, Tenor, and Bass Soli, Chorus and Orchestra
Part I
6 Prelude. Lento, mistico - 9:07
7 Gerontius: 'Jesu, Maria - I am near to death' - 3:42
8 Assistants: 'Kyrie eleïson' - 2:11
9 Gerontius: 'Rouse thee, my fainting soul, and play the man' - 0:51
10 Assistants: 'Be merciful, be gracious' spare him, Lord' - 2:48
11 Gerontius: 'Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus' - 5:43
12 Gerontius: 'I can no more; for now it comes again' - 2:06
13 Assistants: 'Rescue him, O Lord, in this his evil hour' - 2:06
14 Gerontius: 'Novissima hora est; and I fain would sleep' - 1:21
15 The Priest: 'Proficiscere, anima Christiana, 1:54
16 Assistants: 'Go, in the name of Angels and Archangels' de hoc mundo!' - 4:38
Part II
17 Introduction. Soul of Gerontius: 'I went to sleep; and now I am refresh'd' - 6:15
18 Angel: 'My work is done' - 2:20
19 Soul of Gerontius: 'It is a member of that family' - 1:42
20 Soul of Gerontius: 'I ever had believed' - 4:06
21 Soul of Gerontius: 'But hard! upon my sense comes a fierce hubbub' - 0:49
22 Demons: 'Low-born clods of brute earth' - 2:20
23 Demons: 'The mind bold and independent' - 2:23
24 Soul of Gerontius: 'I see not those false spirits' - 3:10
25 Choir of Angelicals: 'Praise to the Holiest in the height' - 2:59
26 Choir of Angelicals: 'Glory to Him, who evermore by truth and justice reigns' - 1:18
27 Soul of Gerontius: 'But hark! a grand, mysterious harmony' - 1:17
28 Choir of Angelicals: 'Praise to the Holiest in the height' - 6:49
29 Angel: 'Thy judgment now is near' - 3:05
30 Angel of the Agony: 'Jesu! by that shuddering dread which fell on Thee' - 3:53
31 Soul of Gerontius: 'I go before my Judge' - 1:30
32 Angel: '…Praise to His Name!' - 1:30
33 Soul of Gerontius: 'Take me away, and in the lowest deep there let me be' - 3:20
34 Souls in Purgatory: 'Lord, Thou hast been our refuge: in every generation' - 1:03
35 Angel: 'Softly and gently, dearly-ransom'd soul' 6:34
36 Prelude, concert version 9:23
PERSONNEL
Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano
Stuart Skelton, tenor
David Soar, bass
BBC Symphony Chorus
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sir Andrew Davis, Conductor
foobar2000 1.3.7 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2017-03-28 17:26:02
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Analyzed: Sarah Connolly, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis / Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius & Sea Pictures (1-5)
Sarah Connolly, Stuart Skelton, David Soar, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis / Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius & Sea Pictures (6-36)
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DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR15 -11.74 dB -31.56 dB 4:47 01-Sea Pictures, Op. 37: I. Sea Slumber-Song
DR13 -13.02 dB -30.83 dB 1:42 02-Sea Pictures, Op. 37: II. In Haven (Capri)
DR13 -1.12 dB -22.43 dB 5:37 03-Sea Pictures, Op. 37: III. Sabbath Morning at Sea
DR14 -7.31 dB -29.42 dB 3:41 04-Sea Pictures, Op. 37: IV. Where Corals Lie
DR15 -0.65 dB -22.26 dB 6:10 05-Sea Pictures, Op. 37: V. The Swimmer
DR15 -0.40 dB -22.61 dB 9:08 06-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Prelude
DR15 -3.99 dB -27.23 dB 3:42 07-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Jesu, Maria - I am near to death (Gerontius)
DR13 -11.23 dB -32.22 dB 2:12 08-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Kyrie eleison (Chorus)
DR13 -9.37 dB -28.36 dB 0:52 09-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Rouse thee, my fainting soul (Gerontius)
DR15 -1.37 dB -24.08 dB 2:48 10-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Be merciful, be gracious (Chorus)
DR15 -0.26 dB -23.34 dB 5:43 11-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus (Gerontius)
DR14 -1.70 dB -24.15 dB 2:06 12-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: I can no more; for now it comes again (Gerontius)
DR14 -0.14 dB -22.76 dB 2:07 13-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Rescue him, O Lord (Chorus)
DR11 -14.51 dB -35.85 dB 1:22 14-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Novissima hora est (Gerontius)
DR13 -4.08 dB -25.65 dB 1:54 15-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Profiscere, anima Christiana (The Priest)
DR13 -2.74 dB -21.67 dB 4:38 16-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Go, in the name of Angels (Chorus)
DR15 -10.34 dB -33.23 dB 6:16 17-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: I went to sleep (The Soul of Gerontius)
DR15 -9.13 dB -30.83 dB 2:21 18-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: My work is done (The Angel, The Soul of Gerontius)
DR14 -8.03 dB -29.28 dB 1:42 19-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: It is a member of that family (Soul of Gerontius)
DR14 -4.58 dB -26.31 dB 4:06 20-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: I ever had believed (The Soul of Gerontius)
DR12 -2.01 dB -21.33 dB 0:50 21-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: But hark, upon my sense comes a fierce hubbub (Soul of Gerontius)
DR14 -0.40 dB -18.62 dB 2:21 22-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Low-born clods of brute earth (Chorus)
DR14 -1.68 dB -21.25 dB 2:24 23-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: The mind bold and independent (Chorus)
DR14 -8.91 dB -30.41 dB 3:11 24-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: I see not those false spirits (The Soul of Gerontius, The Angel)
DR15 -1.85 dB -26.74 dB 2:59 25-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Praise to the Holiest (Chorus, Angel)
DR13 -4.33 dB -25.63 dB 1:18 26-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Glory to Him, who evermore by truth and justice reigns (Chorus)
DR11 -5.42 dB -20.84 dB 1:18 27-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: But hark! A grand mysterious harmony (The Soul of Gerontius)
DR14 -0.20 dB -19.87 dB 6:50 28-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Praise to the Holiest in the height (Chorus)
DR15 -7.50 dB -29.00 dB 3:06 29-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: The judgment now is near (The Angel, The Soul of Gerontius)
DR14 -3.29 dB -26.77 dB 3:54 30-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Jesu! By that shuddering dread (The Angel of the Agony)
DR12 -23.43 dB -41.83 dB 1:31 31-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: I go before my Judge (The Soul of Gerontius, Chorus)
DR11 -5.28 dB -21.08 dB 1:30 32-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Praise to His Name! (The Angel)
DR11 -0.80 dB -25.96 dB 3:20 33-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Take me away, and in the lowest deep there let me be (The Soul of Gerontius)
DR10 -20.12 dB -39.01 dB 1:04 34-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Lord, Thou hast been our refuge (Chorus)
DR14 -7.64 dB -28.39 dB 6:46 35-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Softly and gently (The Angel, Chorus)
DR15 -0.40 dB -22.80 dB 9:24 36-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Prelude
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Number of tracks: 36
Official DR value: DR13
Samplerate: 96000 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 24
Bitrate: 1496 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================
log date: 2017-03-28 17:26:02
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Sarah Connolly, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis / Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius & Sea Pictures (1-5)
Sarah Connolly, Stuart Skelton, David Soar, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis / Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius & Sea Pictures (6-36)
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR15 -11.74 dB -31.56 dB 4:47 01-Sea Pictures, Op. 37: I. Sea Slumber-Song
DR13 -13.02 dB -30.83 dB 1:42 02-Sea Pictures, Op. 37: II. In Haven (Capri)
DR13 -1.12 dB -22.43 dB 5:37 03-Sea Pictures, Op. 37: III. Sabbath Morning at Sea
DR14 -7.31 dB -29.42 dB 3:41 04-Sea Pictures, Op. 37: IV. Where Corals Lie
DR15 -0.65 dB -22.26 dB 6:10 05-Sea Pictures, Op. 37: V. The Swimmer
DR15 -0.40 dB -22.61 dB 9:08 06-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Prelude
DR15 -3.99 dB -27.23 dB 3:42 07-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Jesu, Maria - I am near to death (Gerontius)
DR13 -11.23 dB -32.22 dB 2:12 08-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Kyrie eleison (Chorus)
DR13 -9.37 dB -28.36 dB 0:52 09-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Rouse thee, my fainting soul (Gerontius)
DR15 -1.37 dB -24.08 dB 2:48 10-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Be merciful, be gracious (Chorus)
DR15 -0.26 dB -23.34 dB 5:43 11-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Sanctus fortis, Sanctus Deus (Gerontius)
DR14 -1.70 dB -24.15 dB 2:06 12-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: I can no more; for now it comes again (Gerontius)
DR14 -0.14 dB -22.76 dB 2:07 13-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Rescue him, O Lord (Chorus)
DR11 -14.51 dB -35.85 dB 1:22 14-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Novissima hora est (Gerontius)
DR13 -4.08 dB -25.65 dB 1:54 15-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Profiscere, anima Christiana (The Priest)
DR13 -2.74 dB -21.67 dB 4:38 16-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Go, in the name of Angels (Chorus)
DR15 -10.34 dB -33.23 dB 6:16 17-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: I went to sleep (The Soul of Gerontius)
DR15 -9.13 dB -30.83 dB 2:21 18-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: My work is done (The Angel, The Soul of Gerontius)
DR14 -8.03 dB -29.28 dB 1:42 19-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: It is a member of that family (Soul of Gerontius)
DR14 -4.58 dB -26.31 dB 4:06 20-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: I ever had believed (The Soul of Gerontius)
DR12 -2.01 dB -21.33 dB 0:50 21-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: But hark, upon my sense comes a fierce hubbub (Soul of Gerontius)
DR14 -0.40 dB -18.62 dB 2:21 22-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Low-born clods of brute earth (Chorus)
DR14 -1.68 dB -21.25 dB 2:24 23-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: The mind bold and independent (Chorus)
DR14 -8.91 dB -30.41 dB 3:11 24-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: I see not those false spirits (The Soul of Gerontius, The Angel)
DR15 -1.85 dB -26.74 dB 2:59 25-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Praise to the Holiest (Chorus, Angel)
DR13 -4.33 dB -25.63 dB 1:18 26-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Glory to Him, who evermore by truth and justice reigns (Chorus)
DR11 -5.42 dB -20.84 dB 1:18 27-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: But hark! A grand mysterious harmony (The Soul of Gerontius)
DR14 -0.20 dB -19.87 dB 6:50 28-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Praise to the Holiest in the height (Chorus)
DR15 -7.50 dB -29.00 dB 3:06 29-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: The judgment now is near (The Angel, The Soul of Gerontius)
DR14 -3.29 dB -26.77 dB 3:54 30-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Jesu! By that shuddering dread (The Angel of the Agony)
DR12 -23.43 dB -41.83 dB 1:31 31-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: I go before my Judge (The Soul of Gerontius, Chorus)
DR11 -5.28 dB -21.08 dB 1:30 32-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Praise to His Name! (The Angel)
DR11 -0.80 dB -25.96 dB 3:20 33-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Take me away, and in the lowest deep there let me be (The Soul of Gerontius)
DR10 -20.12 dB -39.01 dB 1:04 34-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Lord, Thou hast been our refuge (Chorus)
DR14 -7.64 dB -28.39 dB 6:46 35-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Softly and gently (The Angel, Chorus)
DR15 -0.40 dB -22.80 dB 9:24 36-The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Prelude
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Number of tracks: 36
Official DR value: DR13
Samplerate: 96000 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 24
Bitrate: 1496 kbps
Codec: FLAC
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