The following text field will produce suggestions that follow it as you type.

Charles Villiers Stanford: Orchestral SongsCharles Villiers Stanford: Orchestral Songs
Charles Villiers Stanford: Orchestral Songs

Charles Villiers Stanford: Orchestral Songs in Bloomington, MN

Current price: $18.99
Loading Inventory...
Get it at Barnes and Noble

Size: OS

Get it at Barnes and Noble
Several good recordings have appeared in conjunction with the centenary of the death of
Charles Villiers Stanford
, who is getting a modest but deserved revival. The graphics for this release on the
Resonus Classics
label mention the emergence of the orchestral song in the hands of such composers as
Mahler
,
Richard Strauss
Elgar
, and
Granville Bantock
. However,
Stanford
's orchestral songs are something different. Most are short, either straightforward settings of classic English verse (some of it religious) or adaptations of the folk music of
's native Ireland. Pop music fans are directed toward "Emer's Farewell to Cucullain," which is known by several more recent names. These songs are mostly, if one may be permitted to feel this way, entertaining, and the
BBC Concert Orchestra
under conductor
John Andrews
is the ideal ensemble for them, respecting their clean, modest dimensions and turning on the foot-tapping energy where appropriate, as in the
Cavalier Songs, Op. 17
, to texts by
Robert Browning
. The soloists -- mezzo-soprano
Sharon Carty
and baritone
Morgan Pearse
, are ideal -- with excellent, involved articulation that renders the enclosed booklet texts largely superfluous. This isn't exactly top-drawer
, but top-drawer
can be on the heavy side, and almost anyone will enjoy this release. ~ James Manheim
Powered by Adeptmind