Elgar: King Olaf, The Banner of Saint George / Davis, Bergen

$32.99
Label
Chandos
Release Date
February 24, 2015
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      ELGAR, SIR EDWARD
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegium Musicum Choir, Bergen Philharmonic Or
    • PERFORMER
      Birsan, Banks, Opie, Kor
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      February 24, 2015
    • UPC
      095115514924
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      CHSA 5149(2)
    • LABEL
      Chandos
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Choral - Secular
    Works ⌄

    1. Introduction: There Is a Wondrous Book (Chorus, Bass, Soprano, Tenor)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Emily Birsan, Barry Banks, Alan Opie

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    2. Summon now the God of Thunder (Bass)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Alan Opie

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    3. The Challenge of Thor (Chorus)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    4. King Olaf's Return (Tenor)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Barry Banks

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    5. Recitative: Tell How Olaf Bore the Cross (Bass)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Alan Opie

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    6. The Conversion: King Olaf's Prows at Nidaros (Chorus)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    7. The Conversion: Behold Me, My People (Tenor, Bass, Chorus)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Alan Opie, Barry Banks

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    8. The Conversion: As Leaps the Lights of Winter (Chorus, Bass)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Alan Opie

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    9. The Conversion: Then o'er the Blood-stained Hog-stone (Chorus, Tenor)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Barry Banks

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    10. Recitative: Now the Child of Ironbeard Dead (Bass)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Alan Opie

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    11. Gudrun (Soprano, Chorus, Tenor)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Emily Birsan, Barry Banks

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    12. Recitative: How the Wraith of Odin Old (Bass)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Alan Opie

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    13. The Wraith of Odin (Chorus)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    14. Recitative: Sisters, Sing Ye Now the Song (Bass)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Alan Opie

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    15. Sigrid: Sigrid Sits in Her High Abode (Chorus)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    16. Sigrid: Sigrid, Hail! With Royal Hand (Tenor, Soprano, Chorus)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Emily Birsan, Barry Banks

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    17. Recitative: Hark! She Flies From Wendland Forth (Bass)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Alan Opie

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    18. Thyri (Chorus)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    19. Duet: The Gray Land Breaks to Lively Green (Soprano)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Emily Birsan

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    20. Duet: Thyri, My Beloved (Tenor, Soprano)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Emily Birsan, Barry Banks

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    21. Recitative: After Queen Gunhild's Death (Chorus)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    22. The Death of Olaf (Chorus)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    23. Epilogue: In the Convent of Drontheim (Chorus)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    24. Epilogue: It Is Accepted (Soprano, Tenor, Bass, Chorus)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Emily Birsan, Barry Banks, Alan Opie

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    25. Epilogue: Stronger Than Steel (Soprano, Tenor, Bass, Chorus)

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Performer: Emily Birsan, Barry Banks, Alan Opie

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    26. Scene 1: Within Sylene's walls no sound is heard

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    27. Scene 1: The women of Sylene rend their hair

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    28. Scene 1: Forth from the palace, beautiful as day

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    29. Scene 1: O calm your hearts

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    30. Scene 2: Without a fear beside the dragon's tarn

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    31. Scene 2: Hark! 'tis the ringing hoof of steed

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    32. Scene 2: Loud cry the people

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis

    33. Epilogue: It comes from the misty ages

      Composer: Edward Elgar

      Ensemble: Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Collegiûm Mûsicûm Bergen Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester

      Conductor: Andrew Davis


Dating from his years of 'apprenticeship', these two works shaped Elgar's reputation as a leading orchestrator and most popular British composer of his time. The secular cantata Scenes from the Saga of King Olaf derives from Longfellow's epic poem about Olaf Tryggvason, who became King of Norway in 995. While the text was heavily adapted and augmented, the use of sophisticated compositional techniques, such as extensive motivic work, resulted in music of great power and solemnity. The ballad The Banner of Saint George is based on the story of Saint George of Cappadocia, as related by the Bristol poet Shapcott Wensley. It was commissioned by Britain's leading publisher, Novello, and composed in only one month in 1896. Elgar overcame the prescriptive nature of the words and produced a work of lasting charm, the music rising above the material to create atmosphere, momentum, and color.

Reviews:

What a nice idea it was to have a Norwegian choir and orchestra performing English music about a Norse hero. The combined Norwegian choirs sing very well indeed in both works, and the Bergen Philharmonic plays with verve and distinction. Sir Andrew Davis is just the man for these assignments.

– MusicWeb International

There's nothing stilted about Elgar's music: it crackles with confident vitality...the Norwegian choruses respond with crisp vigor and superb English diction, only faintly (and appropriately) Scandinavian-tinged. Davis's expansive conducting and the excellent Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra bring out Elgar's vivid orchestral textures.

– BBC Music Magazine