Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius; The Music Makers (2007)

In 2007, EMI finally resolved the decades-old debate among collectors as to which is the better recording of Elgar's oratorio The Dream of Gerontius -- John Barbirolli's with the Hallé Orchestra from 1964 or Adrian Boult's with the New Philharmonia from 1975. It did this by releasing Barbirolli's Gerontius coupled with Boult's 1966 recording of Elgar's The Music Makers, which had previously been released coupled with Boult's own Gerontius. The debate had been fierce on both sides of the issue, particularly because both ... Read More

In 2007, EMI finally resolved the decades-old debate among collectors as to which is the better recording of Elgar's oratorio The Dream of Gerontius -- John Barbirolli's with the Hallé Orchestra from 1964 or Adrian Boult's with the New Philharmonia from 1975. It did this by releasing Barbirolli's Gerontius coupled with Boult's 1966 recording of Elgar's The Music Makers, which had previously been released coupled with Boult's own Gerontius. The debate had been fierce on both sides of the issue, particularly because both sides admitted both recordings were superlative. Barbirolli's party praised his ardent sentimentality, his sweeping drama, and the sheer choral-orchestral splendor of the Hallé Orchestra and Chorus, as well as his great good luck in having Janet Baker as a magnificently moving Angel of Death. Boult's party acclaimed his stern spirituality, his commanding structures, and the radiant colors and luminous textures of the New Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus in addition to a tremendous cast... Read Less

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2007, Warner Classics UPC: 094639197323 CD See All