Sullivan: Ivanhoe Opera Orchestral & Concertos Chandos

Sullivan: Ivanhoe

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CHAN 10578

Multiple Set of 3 CDs

Sullivan: Ivanhoe

Running Time: 164:33

Release Date: February 2010
Originally recorded in 2009

Composer (1842-1900)
Sir Arthur Sullivan

Baritone Voice baritone - Richard Cœur-de-Lion
Neal Davies

Baritone Voice baritone - Prince John
Stephen Gadd

Solo bass-baritone - Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert
James Rutherford

Tenor Voice tenor - Maurice de Bracy
Peter Wedd

Bass Voice bass - Cedric the Saxon
Peter Rose

Tenor Voice tenor - Wilfred, Knight of Ivanhoe
Toby Spence

Bass-Baritone Voice bass-baritone - Friar Tuck
Matthew Brook

Baritone Voice baritone - Isaac, the Jew of York
Leigh Melrose

Tenor Voice tenor - Locksley/The Squire
Andrew Staples

Soprano Voice soprano - The Lady Rowena
Janice Watson

Mezzo Voice mezzo-soprano - Ulrica
Catherine Wyn-Rogers

Soprano Voice soprano - Rebecca
Geraldine McGreevy

Choral
Adrian Partington Singers

Orchestra
BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Conductor
David Lloyd-Jones

Venue
BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, Wales

Producer (Executive)
Brian Couzens

Producer
Brian Pidgeon

Engineer
Ralph Couzens

Engineer (Assistant)
Jonathan Cooper

Genre:
Opera
Orchestral & Concertos

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P&P for single unit's: UK=£2.4, EU=£9, World=£12

SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN

(1842-1900)

Ivanhoe (1890-91)

165:33

Adapted from Sir Walter Scott's novel

A Romantic Opera in Three Acts

Words by Julian Sturgis

COMPACT DISC ONE

Act I

Scene 1. Cedric's Hall at Rotherwood: 24:27

Introduction -

0:57

Cedric: 'Each day this realm of England faints and fails' -

2:35

with Men

Isaac: 'Good Thane, most noble Thane, I pray…' -

2:21

with Men, Cedric, Squire

Cedric: 'Welcome, Sir Knights!' -

5:17

with de Bracy, Brian, Isaac, Women, Men, Rowena

Cedric: 'Drink, drink ye all…' -

3:46

with Men, de Bracy, Brian, Rowena, Ivanhoe

Men: 'The Palmer! The holy Palmer!'-

7:27

with Ivanhoe, Cedric, Brian, Rowena, de Bracy

De Bracy: 'Is she not fair? And she is rich withal'

2:01

with Brian, Men

Scene 2. An Ante-room in Rotherwood: 14:09

Rowena: 'O moon, art thou clad in silver mail…' -

4:30

Rowena: 'Good Palmer, thou dist speak of one I knew…' -

6:05

with Ivanhoe

10.

Ivanhoe: 'Like mountain lark my spirit upward springs'

3:34

with Isaac

Scene 3. The Lists at Ashby: 20:09

11.

Sopranos: 'Will there be no more fighting?' -

3:52

with Chorus, Friar, King

12.

Chorus: 'Plantagenesta!' -

3:06

13.

Prince John: 'Isaac, my Jew, my purse of Gold' -

3:07

with Cedric, de Bracy, Rebecca

14.

Prince John: ''Tis from our Royal brother, Louis of France' -

3:30

with Heralds, Crowd

15.

Sopranos: 'What means his motto?'

6:32

with Crowd, Friar, Locksley, Prince John, Rowena, Cedric

59:01

COMPACT DISC TWO

Act II

Scene 1. The Forest, Copmanhurst: 19:26

King: 'Strange lodging this for England's King' -

5:52

with Friar

King: 'There is a custom in the East' -

2:30

with Friar

King: 'I ask not wealth nor courtier's praise' -

3:03

Friar: 'Not bad, say I, not badly sung!' -

1:12

with King

Friar: 'The wind blows cold across the moor' -

3:01

with Outlaws

Friar: 'And now for combat! Where's this friend of mine?'

3:45

with King, Lockley, Chorus

Scene 2: A Passage-way in Torquilstone: 9:55

Cedric: 'Will not our captor dare to show his face?' -

5:48

with de Bracy, Rowena

De Bracy, 'Welcome, Sir Templar! But I may not stay' -

1:07

with Brian

Brian: 'Her southern splendour, like the Syrian Moon'

2:59

Scene 3. A Turret-chamber in Torquilstone: 22:33

10.

Ulrica: 'Whet the keen axes' -

7:26

with Rebecca

11.

Rebecca: 'O awful depth below the castle wall!' -

1:06

12.

Rebecca: 'Lord of our chosen race' -

3:16

13.

Rebecca: 'Take thou these jewels; here is wealth enow…' -

7:55

with Brian

14.

Rebeccca: 'What sound is that?'

2:48

with Brian

52:08

COMPACT DISC THREE

Act III

Scene 1. A Room in Torquilstone: 21:04

Ivanhoe: 'Happy with winged feet' -

5:33

Ulrica: 'Tend thou the Knight thou lovest' -

1:16

with Rebecca

Rebecca: 'Ah, would that thou and I might lead our

3:51

sheep…' -

with Ivanhoe

Ivanhoe: 'But hark! what sound is in mine ear?' -

1:48

with Rebecca

Rebecca: 'I see them now; the dark wood moves with

2:57

bows'

with Tenors, Basses, Ivanhoe

Ivanhoe: 'How canst thou know what pain it is to lie…'

5:38

with Rebecca, Soldiers, Brian, Outlaws, Ulrica, All

Scene 2. In the Forest: 16:50

Outlaws: 'Light foot upon the dancing green' -

4:16

with King, Ivanhoe

King: 'Maurice de Bracy, faithless knight' -

2:27

with de Bracy

King: 'Look, where thy moody father walks apart' -

5:29

with Ivanhoe, Cedric, Rowena

10.

Ivanhoe: 'How oft beneath the far-off Syrian Skies…' -

2:29

with Rowena

11.

Isaac: 'Knight, Knight of Ivanhoe, I come for thee!'

2:09

with Ivanhoe, Rowena

Scene 3. At Templestowe: 16:13

12.

Templars: 'Fremuere principes' -

3:06

13.

Grand Master: 'Thou Jewish girl, who art condemned to

4:03

die…' -

with Rebecca

14.

Brian: 'It shall not be' -

2:33

with Grand Master, Rebecca

15.

Voices: 'A champion! A champion! A champion!' -

1:51

with Ivanhoe, Chorus, Rebecca, Brian

16.

Chorus: 'A judgment! A judgment!' -

2:30

with King, Grand Master, Templars

17.

King: 'See where the banner of England floats afar…'

2:09

with Templars, Rebecca, Rowena, Ivanhoe, Cedric, All

54:24

Solo: James Rutherford bass-baritone - Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert

Knights and Ladies, Attendants, Saxons, Youths etc.

Choral: Adrian Partington Singers

Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Conductor: David Lloyd-Jones

24-28 June 2009

Dedication

To the late Richard Hickox who took the enthusiastic initiative to record Sir Arthur Sullivan's Ivanhoe and in whose memory this project has now been brought to completion by his friends.

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Reviews

Nominated for Best Opera Recording

2011 Grammy Awards

**** Good

Marcel Louis - Pizzicato Magazine - June 2010

*****

Robert Fraunholzer - rondomagazin.de - 12 June 2010

Repertoire *** Sound ****

Gerhard Persche - Fono Forum (Germany) - June 2010

“…This recording, conceived by Richard Hickox and dedicated to his memory, is quite marvellous, well-engineered, excitingly conducted and played, cast with a First XI of native artists – bravo Chandos!”

Rodney Milnes - Opera magazine - May 2010

“Chandos’s recorded sound and production are up are to its customary standards. The scenes with on-and off-stage trumpets (such as the magnificent one which concludes Act One) have vivid perspectives and there is a good balance between voices and orchestra; indeed the clarity of the latter is impressive.”

Timothy Ball - ClassicalSource.com - 2 April 2010

“… The performance benefits from conductor David Lloyd-Jones’ forthright and deeply committed leadership and from tenor Toby Spence’s beautiful shapely performance in the title role; there are also fine contributions by sopranos Janice Watson and Geraldine McGreevey as the two female principals and baritone Neal Davies as Richard Lionheart.”

Joshua Kosman - San Francisco Chronicle - 11 April 2010

**** Excellent Album

Xavier de Gaulle - Classica magazine - April 2010

"If you like grand opera then this is for you and Chandos are to be congratulated in completing the project begun by the late Richard Hickox."

Peter Worsley - Light Music Society - Spring Newsletter 2010

Performance ***** Recording *****

“…We can at last hear what Sullivan conceived and it’s impressive.”

Michael Scott Rohan - BBC Music Magazine - April 2010

“…The recording, conducted with love and commitment by David Lloyd-Jones, was the brainchild of the late Richard Hickox, to whom it is dedicated. Toby Spence is an impeccable Ivanhoe opposite Janice Watson’s aristocratic if effortful Rowena. But it’s Geraldine McGreevy and James Rutherford, astonishing as Rebecca and Brian, who will really sweep you away.” ****

Tim Ashley - The Guardian - 12 March 2010

“…All concerned are to be congratulated on this magnificent recording…” *****

Richard Lawrence - Classic FM Magazine - April 2010

“…Here at last is a recording [Ivanhoe] – planned for the late conductor Richard Hickox but realised in his memory – that makes the best possible case for the opera. A superb A-list cast of British soloists is led by Neal Davies as King Richard, Toby Spence as Ivanhoe and Geraldine McGreevy as Rebecca. There are lovely set pies, including a touching aria for Rowena(Janice Watson) and a brooding one for Ulrica (Catherine Wyn-Rogers), David Lloyd-Jones conducts with an ideal balance of swagger and lyricism... Anyone who enjoys the serious side of Sullivan, as in Yeoman of the Guard, will find much to enjoy here…”

Nicholas Kenyon - The Observer - 21 February 2010

Record of the Month
“…David Lloyd-Jones must be congratulated for the energetic pace he sets, never rushed but always advancing in a purposeful way. This has made all the difference to the way this kind of recording is perceived... The singers provide a polished performance, sing superbly and support each other admirably. Special mention should be made of Janice Watson with sincerity of portrayal and effortless top notes; Toby Spence with his strength of delivery and powerful presence; and peter Rose for warmth of tone and clear diction…. The chorus is fine and adds considerable weight to the opera. What has made all the difference in this recording is the impact that is added by the meaningful phrasing of the vocal lines and absence of bland characterisation… sure to please the harshest of critics.”

Raymond J Walker - MusicWeb-International - February 2010

“…Sullivan’s tuneful score makes for pleasant listening in this recording, planned for the late Richard Hickox, but stylishly conducted by David Lloyd-Jones. A fine British cast is headed by Toby Spence and Geraldine McGreevy, with James Rutherford as the lustful baddie.”

Hugh Canning - The Sunday Times - 14 February 2010

“…In the title-role, Spence is on top form, catching Ivanhoe’s nobility in a voice which has grown stronger and fuller over the years. His tone is clean: free from breathiness and rough edges. He reacts fittingly, be Ivanhoe wooing or warring. Other roles are satisfactorily undertaken.
The project is dedicated to Richard Hickox, who ‘took the enthusiastic initiative’ to record the work. In his place, David Lloyd-Jones secures fine playing from the orchestra and gives a worthy illustration of what Sullivan could do in the field of serious opera."

John T Hughes - International Record Review - February 2010

Gramophone Recommends
“…The three key roles are well cast. Toby Spence admirably balances heroic and lyrical demands, culminating in a fine Act 3 solo ‘Come gentle sleep’. James Rutherford as Sir Brian de Bois –Guilbert and Geraldine McGreevy as Rebecca combine to bring the most out of Act 2, Scene 3 – the opera’s musical high point… nobody interested in British opera should miss this opportunity to hear a work that represents a milestone in British operatic history."

Andrew Lamb - Gramophone - March 2010

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