John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult

Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius; The Music Makers

Add to Custom List

Add to My Collection

AllMusic Rating
10
User Ratings (0)
Your Rating

AllMusic Review by James Leonard

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 of soloists in Nicolai Gedda, Helen Watts, and Robert Lloyd. By attaching Boult's masterful recording of The Music Makers with the London Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus and, once again, Baker as the soloist, EMI has essentially split the difference. For longtime fans of The Dream of Gerontius, this coupling is wholly superfluous since they will already have both these recordings plus Benjamin Britten's, Richard Hickox's, and Colin Davis', along with either or both of Sargent's recordings. For those who don't already know the work, this coupling is a fine place to start -- and if they come to love the work, there are always the recordings of Britten, Boult, Hickox, Davis, and Sargent to investigate. EMI's '60s stereo sound is rich, warm, deep, and detailed.

Track Listing - Disc 1

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
The Music Makers, ode for alto, chorus, organ & orchestra, Op. 69
	1	(Moderato e nobilmente) Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	03:31	Amazon
	2	We are the music makers Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	01:57	Amazon
	3	With wonderful deathless ditties Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	01:41	Amazon
	4	We, in the ages lying Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	03:58	Amazon
	5	A breath of our inspiration Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	04:00	Amazon
	6	They had no vision amazing Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	03:21	Amazon
	7	And therefore to-day is thrilling Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	04:27
	8	But we, with our dreaming and singing Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	03:30	Amazon
	9	For we are afar with the dawning Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	02:38	Amazon
	10	Great hail! we cry to the comers Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	08:58	Amazon
The Dream of Gerontius, oratorio for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 38
	11	Part 1. Prelude (Lento, mistico - Moderato - Andantino - Come prima) Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	10:12	Amazon
	12	Part 1. Jesu, Maria - I am near to death Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	03:59	Amazon
	13	Part 1. Kyrie eleison... Holy Mary, pray for him Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	02:19	Amazon
	14	Part 1. Rouse thee, my fainting soul Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	01:00
	15	Part 1. Be merciful, be gracious Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	03:20	Amazon
	16	Part 1. Santus fortis, Sanctus Deus Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	05:28	Amazon
	17	Part 1. I can no more Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	02:08	Amazon
	18	Part 1. Rescue him, O Lord... Noe from the waters Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	02:11	Amazon
	19	Part 1. Novissima hora est Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	01:30	Amazon
	20	Part 1. Proficiscere, anima Christiana Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	01:55	Amazon
	21	Part 1. Go in the name of Angels and Archangels Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	04:43	Amazon

Track Listing - Disc 2

Sample		Title/Composer	Performer	Time
The Dream of Gerontius, oratorio for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op. 38
	1	Part 2. (Andantino) Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	01:56
	2	Part 2. I went to sleep Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	04:09
	3	Part 2. My work is done Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	02:29
	4	Part 2. It is a member of that family... All hail! my child and brother Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	04:19
	5	Part 2. A presage falls upon thee Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	01:55
	6	Part 2. But hark! upon my sense... Low-born clods of brute earth Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	01:34
	7	Part 2. Dispossessed, aside thrust, chucked down Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	01:24
	8	Part 2. The mind bold and independent Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	02:17
	9	Part 2. I see not those false spirits... There was a mortal Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	03:32
	10	Part 2. Praise to the Holiest... We now have passed the gate Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	03:19
	11	Part 2. Glory to Him... But hark! a grand mysterious harmony Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	02:19
	12	Part 2. And now the threshold... Praise to the Holiest Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	08:06
	13	Part 2. Thy judgement now is near Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	03:16
	14	Part 2. Jesu! by that shuddering dread Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	04:11
	15	Part 2. I go before my Judge... Be merciful, be gracious Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	01:33
	16	Part 2. Praise to His Name!... Take me away Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	04:56
	17	Part 2. Lord, Thou hast been our refuge Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	01:07
	18	Part 2. Softly and gently Edward Elgar	John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult	06:59

blue highlight denotes track pick

AllMusic

Discography Browser

Release Date

Duration

Genre

Styles

Album Moods

Album Themes

John Barbirolli / Adrian Boult

Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius; The Music Makers

AllMusic Review by James Leonard

Track Listing - Disc 1

Track Listing - Disc 2