The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge / Stephen Layton
Release Date: 12 January 2024
Label: Hyperion Records Ltd
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 034571284408
Description
Apocalyptic walls of sound cascade around the Gothic vaults of Saint-Eustache in Paris as Stephen Layton and David Briggs unleash, respectively, the full power of a top-notch Trinity Choir and the mighty van den Heuvel organ of 1989. Trinity College Choir / Stephen Layton - Anthems, Vol. 1 (CDA68434):
"Followers of British church music will snap this refulgently sung recital up, and await eagerly its successors." – BBC Music Magazine; Recording 5 STARS, Performance 4 STARS
"ecstatic dynamic singing with sensitive, orchestrally coloured accompaniments and an unerring sense of architectural balance" – Gramophone
"Stephen Layton has selected some thrilling pieces and his choir, which is on tremendous form throughout, sings them wonderfully. Their performances are alive to every nuance in the music and technically the singing is beyond reproach." – MusicWeb International
"This album can be savoured on so many levels: as a masterclass in organ improvisation or for the radiance of Stephen Layton's choristers and the rare opportunity to wallow in the marvel of an English choir in tip-top condition bathed in the vastness of Saint-Eustache." – Gramophone
"The organ, played by Briggs himself, is an exuberant, carilloning presence in the opening Jubilate Deo, spurring the Trinity College Choir's adrenaline-fired performance." – BBC Music Magazine *****
"This is a splendid album. As was the case in the previous collaboration between David Briggs and the Trinity College choir, Briggs is confirmed as an exciting composer for voices and for voices and organ. […] His music clearly sets considerable challenges to the singers but the Choir of Trinity College is equal to every demand and, energised by Stephen Layton, produces superb performances." – MusicWeb International
"an ambitious album that exposes a fine composer-organist to a larger audience […]. This album offers new music by an underrated composer, splendidly performed and engineered. Who could ask for anything more?" – AllMusic
"Briggs gives us a dazzling kaleidoscopic tour or the remarkable Satin-Eustache organ […]. Indeed, his for utterly breathtaking improvisations, exploring a wealth of different colours and textures are worth the prices of the CD alone, and it is hard to imagine another choir making a stronger case for the choral compositions than we hear on this excellent recording." – Cathedral Music
'Each of these improvisations takes a different character and as a set they showcase the mighty van den Heuvel organ of Saint-Eustache, Paris (built in 1989 under the direction of Jean Guillou) to stunning effect.' – Organist's Review
Tracklisting
The Orlando Consort
Alina Ibragimova, Cedric Tiberghien
Roberto Prosseda, London Philharmonic Orchestra / Nir Kabaretti
The Brabant Ensemble / Stephen Rice
Steven Isserlis
The Nash Ensemble
MultiPiano Ensemble, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin / Ivor Bolton
Marc-Andre Hamelin
The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge / Stephen Layton
