Elgar: Scenes from the Saga of king Olaf Choir Orchestral & Concertos CHANDOS SACD

Elgar: Scenes from the Saga of king Olaf

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CHSA 5149

Multiple Set of 2 CDs

Elgar: Scenes from the Saga of king Olaf

Running Time: 111:37

Release Date: February 2015
Originally recorded in 2014

Composer (1857-1934)
Sir Edward Elgar

Soprano Voice soprano
Emily Birsan

Tenor Voice tenor
Barry Banks

Baritone Voice baritone
Alan Opie

Choral
Bergen Philharmonic Choir

Choral
Choir of Collegium Musicum

Choral
Edvard Grieg Kor

Orchestra
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor
Sir Andrew Davis

Venue
Grieg Hall, Bergen, Norway

Producer
Brian Pidgeon

Engineer
Ralph Couzens

Engineer (NRK)
Gunnar Herleif Nilsen

Genre:
Choir
Orchestral & Concertos

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SIR EDWARD ELGAR (1857 – 1934)

(1857-1934)

COMPACT DISC ONE

Scenes from the Saga of King Olaf (beginning)

53:18

Introduction

Soli and Chorus 'There is […] a wondrous book'. Andante

3:07

Recitative. Bass: 'Summon now the God of Thunder'. Allegro con fuoco - Poco men mosso -

0:57

The Challenge of Thor

Chorus: 'I am the God Thor'. Moderato - Molto maestoso -

4:01

King Olaf's Return

Solo. Tenor: 'And King Olaf heard the cry'. Allegro - [ ] - Allegro -

6:42

Recitative. Bass: 'Tell how Olaf bore the Cross'. Allegro moderato - Meno mosso -

0:38

The Conversion

Scene. Chorus: 'King Olaf's prows at Nidaros'. Allegro moderato -

3:08

Olaf (Tenor): 'Behold me, my people, and answer and say'. [ ] - Allegro - Più mosso -

4:58

Chorus: 'As leap the lights of winter'. Allegro con fuoco - Moderato -

3:02

Chorus: 'Then o'er the blood-stained Horg-stone'. L'istesso tempo - Lento -

5:30

10.

Recitative. Bass: 'Now the child of Ironbeard dead'. Andantino

0:44

Gudrun

11.

Scene. Soprano: 'On King Olaf's bridal night'. Adagio - Più mosso - Tempo I -

6:05

12.

Recitative. Bass: 'How the Wraith of Odin old'. Allegro

0:48

The Wraith of Odin

13.

Chorus (Ballad): 'The guests were loud, the ale was strong'. Allegro -

5:40

14.

Recitative. Bass: 'Sisters, sing ye now the song'. Allegro -

0:43

Sigrid

15.

Scene. Chorus: 'Sigrid sits in her high abode'. Allegro -

2:23

16.

Olaf (Tenor): 'Sigrid, hail! with royal hand'. Meno mosso - Più animato -

4:30

COMPACT DISC TWO

Scenes from the Saga of King Olaf (conclusion)

31:37

Recitative. Bass: 'Hark! she flies from Wendeland forth'. Allegretto -

0:41

Thyri

Chorus (Ballad): 'A little bird in the air'. Allegro -

4:48

Duet. Thyri (Soprano): 'The gray land breaks to lively green'. Allegro - Tranquillo -

2:19

Olaf (Tenor): 'Thyri, my beloved'. Moderato - [ ] - Più tranquillo -

6:06

Choral Recitative: 'After Queen Gunhild's death'. Allegro moderato -

1:30

The Death of Olaf

Chorus: 'King Olaf's dragons take the sea'. Allegro -

6:41

Vivace - Più mosso -

Epilogue

Soli and Chorus. Recitative. Bass: 'In the convent of Drontheim'. Allegro -

1:29

Soli and Chorus: '"It is accepted"'. Andante - [ ] -

3:19

Soli and Chorus: '"Stronger than steel"'. Più mosso - Animato - Andante (Tempo I)

4:37

The Banner of Saint George

27:15

Scene 1

10.

'Within Sylenë's walls no sound is heard'. Andantino - Animato - Tempo I -

2:41

11.

'The women of Sylenë rend their hair'. Allegretto - Andantino -

1:37

12.

'Forth from the palace, beautiful as day'. Allegretto - Più mosso - Animato - [ ] -

3:18

13.

'"O calm your hearts." [she cries,] "O still your fears"'. Allegro

3:12

Scene 2

14.

'Without a fear beside the dragon's tarn'. Andante - Tranquillo - L'istesso tempo -

2:46

15.

'Hark! 'tis the ringing hoof of steed'. Allegro - [ ] -

2:38

16.

'Loud cry the people, "Hate! the dragon comes!"' [ ] - Tempo I - L'istesso tempo -

5:25

Epilogue (March)

17.

'It comes from the misty ages'. Maestoso, alla Marcia - Largamente e grandioso

5:34

Total time: 59:07

Choral: Bergen Philharmonic Choir

Choral: Choir of Collegium Musicum

Choral: Edvard Grieg Kor

Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis

16-19 June (Scenes from the Saga of King Olaf) & 19 and 20 June (The Banner of Saint George)

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Reviews

… first-rate Elgar in first-rate performances …”

Charles H Parsons – American Record Guide – July/August 2015

“… the ardent and energetic Barry Banks (Olaf), the sonorous Alan Opie (Ironbeard) and the characterful Emily Birsan (the would-be brides) bring utter conviction and complete commitment to their roles; the combined Norwegian choirs sing in faultless English, while Davis leads the Bergen Symphony Orchestra with unerring sensitivity and nuanced conducting…” *****

Graeme Kay – Choir & Organ magazine - May/June 2015

***** (Superb album)

Jean-Charles Hoffelé – Diapason magazine (France) – May 2015

"...Both works boast moments of power and beauty underpinned by orchestrations that point to the best of the mature Elgar. Strong solo contributions from Emily Birsan, Barry Banks and Alan Opie, and excellent notes by Andrew Neill, adds to the considerable pleasure." *****

Michael Quinn - Classical Ear (App) - 26 February 2015

“…Here, under the experienced Elgarian hand of Sir Andrew Davis and the appropriate forces of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and three fine Norwegian choirs (with splendid diction and intonation), the sound quality is vibrant, clear and compelling, and does justice to the enthusiasm of Elgar’s score… For devotees of Elgar and of English choral music of the late Victorian era, this pulsating recording has all those emotional attributes that make the heart beat faster.”

Jeremy Dibble – Gramophone magazine – April 2015

Choral & Song Choice

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

“…Elgar’s music crackles with confident vitality presaging great things … Davis’s expansive conducting and the excellent Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra bring out Elgar’s vivid orchestral textures … a brilliant new recording …”

Michael Scott Rohan – BBC Music magazine – April 2015

“…this [Saga of King Olaf] is a powerful and absorbing work …”

John Warrack – International Record Review – March 2015

“…The Bergen orchestra plays with a keen ear for colour and dramatic flux, and the chorus – amplified here by the choir of the Collegiûm and by the Edvard Grieg Kor –makes narrative live and breathe in suppleness, expressive sensitivity and lusty power. Added to that, three fine soloists in the soprano Emily Birsan, tenor Barry banks and baritone Alan Opie carry the story with great distinction, subtlety and immediacy of impact …”

Geoffrey Norris – The Daily Telegraph – 7 February 2015

Album of the Week

"...King Olaf is a folk-tale narrative about the Norwegian Olaf Tryggvason, in the tradition of Mahler’s Das Klagende Lied or Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder, and it is splendidly performed by Davis’s Bergen forces. The soloists, Emily Birsan (soprano), Barry Banks (tenor) and Alan Opie (baritone), all make positive contributions ..."

Hugh Canning - The Sunday Times (Culture magazine) - 15 February 2015

“…. The Bergen orchestra and choir play and sing Elgar as though it were part of their regular repertoire, while the soloists – soprano Emily Birsan, tenor Barry Banks and baritone Alan Opie – all cope well with what is sometimes strenuous vocal writing …” ****

Andrew Clements – The Guardian – 6 February 2015

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