Delius: A Mass Of Life

Description

Born Fritz Delius to German parents in Bradford, England, any links to that country are offset by his various attachments to America, France, Germany and of course Norway.

Norway—its people, landscape, language and literature—never loosened its grip on Delius's imagination, and A Mass of Life also owes its existence to Norway, so Norwegian label Lawo Classics is the perfect partner to be able to bring this new recording to life.

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, a Norwegian national orchestra, dates back to 1765. Edvard Grieg served as its artistic director from 1880 to 1882. Edward Gardner is Chief Conductor and Sir Mark Elder is the orchestra's Principal Guest Conductor. The Orchestra was nominated Orchestra of the Year 2020 by Gramophone and won two Gramophone Classical Music Awards in 2021: Recording of the Year and Opera Award Winner for Britten's Peter Grimes.

Roderick Williams needs no introduction as one of the most sought-after baritones of his generation who enjoys relationships with all the major UK and European opera houses.

This stunning new recording is available at a special price.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

"this superb new set from Bergen makes the strongest case for the piece imaginable, thanks to the irreproachable singing of the Edvard Grieg Kor and Collegium Musicum Choir, Roderick Williams's warmly sympathetic Zarathustra … [is] instantly compelling …, and above all Elder's masterly grasp on the architecture and detail of a score which can so easily seem sprawling and overblown." – Presto Music

RECORDINGS OF THE YEAR, FINALIST – PRESTO MUSIC

"The score has some of the ecstasy of Schoenberg's Guerrelieder, the rolling power of Wagner's Ring, the elastic lyricism of Strauss's operas, the impressionistic sparkle of Debussy's ballets, even the front-footed passion of Puccini […]. Its moments of radiance and rapture are all Delius' own. Perhaps its those still, tender passages that prove the most remarkable of all. Capable of setting all the rest in relief." – Gramophone

"Elder steers a commendably purposeful course through Delius's giant canvas" – Gramophone

"Baritone Roderick Williams is at the top of his game throughout, delivering the German text […] with a rapt conviction, comprehensive understanding, and beauty of tone." – Gramophone

"this newcomer represents a considerable achievement and augurs well for Elders new role as the Bergen PO's Principal Guest Conductor." – Gramophone

"Roderick Williams is so effortlessly eloquent […], those high G's come out and the voice opens up there in a tremendous way." – BBC Radio 3, Record Review (Roger Parker / Andrew McGregor)

"It's a tremendous atmosphere that Mark Elder manages to create in this movement [Part 1: V. Nacht is es]. […] It's really well recorded as well: it has to be for it to come across as well as this. It is a gorgeous sound" – BBC Radio 3, Record Review (Roger Parker / Andrew McGregor)

"Mark Elder manages to clearly differentiate the complex score, this fine weave of words and music. The poetry of Delius' music is never lost in the masses, the arc of tension acts like a magnet and grips the listener right up to the pianissimo finale." – Pizzicato, ****

"Mark Elder, a natural for this work, rouses his forces into life with subtlety and focus, as well as gusto." – The Guardian

"Sir Mark Elder is a seasoned Delian, attuned to every nuance of the composer's musical language and, despite the gargantuan forces involved, he finds the tender beauty at the heart of the composer's music. Roderick Williams is the excellent leading soloist, and the combined choral forces sing their hearts out for Elder." – Choir & Organ, *****

"In this recording, baritone Roderick Williams well captures and projects the heroic character of the text. He is supported by a stellar cast. […] These combined Norwegian and British musicians deliver a convincing account of this elaborate and complex, yet highly expressive work." - Classical Music Sentennial

"An invitation for lyrically lovely singing, whether solo or choral, finely achieved by all, with the top-billed Roderick Williams exemplary of enunciation to meaningful effect. It's an absorbing listen, […], and not withstanding recordings by Beecham, Groves, Hickox and Hill, this Elder is the one to go for – for me it opens fully a door previously only ajar." – Colin Anderson

"Roderick Williams delivers with lieder-like attention to detail, immense conviction and considerable feeling […]. The orchestral playing and choral singing are vibrantly fresh and alive (the woodwind especially so); the ensemble immaculate. [This is] the finest account of the work available." – Classical Source *****

LIMELIGHT EDITORS CHOICE, January 2024

"This blazing new recording under Sir Mark Elder [is] something of a radical reassessment, it leapfrogs to the top of the pile." – Limelight *****

MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL RECOMMENDED RECORDING

"this might just be one of [Elder's] very finest achievements – he has galvanised this highly talented group to give a performance of genuine greatness. A slumbering giant awakens." – MusicWeb International

"This is a marvellous performance which has made me appreciate Eine Messe des Lebens anew […]. Devotees of Delius and, equally, collectors who are still to be convinced of the stature of Eine Messe des Lebens should hasten to hear this outstanding recording." – MusicWeb International

"Elder is indefatigable in his championing of Delius […] and baritone Roderick Williams is outstanding in the part of Zarathustra." – MusicWeb International

MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL RECCOMMENDED RECORDING

"This is a marvellous performance which has made me appreciate Eine Messe des Lebens anew […]. Devotees of Delius and, equally, collectors who are still to be convinced of the stature of Eine Messe des Lebens should hasten to hear this outstanding recording." – MusicWeb International

"Listeners who enjoy the emotional intimacy of Zemlinsky's Lyric Symphony will likely find themselves touched here. Delius's music is similarly warm [...] A Mass of Life may be the composer's greatest work, and this release its greatest performance to date." – Fanfare

"[Roderick Williams'] mahogany tone impishly wraps itself around his paean to laughter, its lilting phrases both buoyant and characterful." – Opera Today

"[Sir Mark Elder] fashions a life-affirming performance that reconciles Delius the dreamer and Delius the visionary. […] all true Delians should add this major recording to their collection." - Opera Today

"Williams brings a degree less heroic grit than some rivals, but compensates richly by his intelligent pointing of Nietzsche's headily symbolic text, and his generously lyrical tone [...]. But it's Elder's astute conducting that really stands out here, lending a work that easily overheats a satisfying measure of nuance and dignity" – BBC Music Magazine ****

MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL RECOMMENDED RECORDING

"this might just be one of [Elder's] very finest achievements – he has galvanised this highly talented group to give a performance of genuine greatness. A slumbering giant awakens." – MusicWeb International