William Vann, Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Jamie Andrews, Ashley Riches
Release Date: 11 October 2024
Label: Albion Records
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 5060158190638
Description
A Christmas Fantasia is a collection of carols and fantasias written (mainly) by Ralph Vaughan Williams and his friends and former students. The exception is a new carol composed by the album's director, William Vann, setting a poem by Ivor Gurney.
The two most substantial works are Vaughan Williams's own 'Fantasia on Christmas Carols', which has never ceased to be popular since it was first produced in 1912, and Gustav Holst's 'Christmas Day', a 'choral fantasy on old carols' from 1910. There are shorter works by Holst himself and by Herbert Howells, John Ireland, Rebecca Clarke, Armstrong Gibbs, Gerald Finzi, Elizabeth Maconchy and William Vann.
William Vann conducts the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. The choir regularly records for Albion Records and featured on two very successful earlier Christmas collections: ALBCD035 A Vaughan Williams Christmas, and ALBCD050 An Oxford Christmas.
The bass-baritone Ashley Riches contributes solos for the 'Fantasia on Christmas Carols' and two other works, while other solo voices are drawn from the choir. Organ accompaniment is provided as required by Jamie Andrews.
The songs in this collection present a picture of 'carols for choirs' from the early twentieth century up to 1961, when a book of that name began another revolution, and several of these carols were incorporated within it.
The conductor and pianist William Vann is recognised in particular for his acclaimed revivals of neglected works of British choral music and song and is Director of Music at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. His eight critically acclaimed recordings with the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital Chelsea have included first recordings of works by Elgar, Holst and Vaughan Williams and his studio recordings of Parry's Judith and Prometheus Unbound have been awarded a host of accolades, including Gramophone's 'Recording of the Month'.
The Royal Hospital Chelsea has been since 1692 the home of the famous Chelsea Pensioners, who are retired soldiers of the British Army. The Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital is one of the finest professional church choirs in the UK, whose primary purpose is to sing at the Sunday morning Matins service in the Wren Chapel.
'The performances across this Fantasias disc are uniformly excellent and the programme well chosen. Alongside warmly familiar and touchingly sensitive items like John Ireland's The Holy Boy or Herbert Howells's Here is the Little Door, we are given a pair of Rebecca Clarke carols: There is no Rose and Ave Maria.' – Music Web International
'This is a lovely release, each piece to be cherished singly or as a sequence whilst overindulging on mulled wine and opening presents under that tinselly tree.' – Organist's Review
'I enjoyed this Christmas collection very much indeed. The music is delightful and full of interest; the selections have been made discerningly. The standard of performance is unfailingly high, as we've come to expect from William Vann and the Chapel Choir of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. Ashley Riches is a fine soloist and Jamie Andrews provides excellent contributions from the organ loft in the accompanied pieces.' – Music Web International
'VW's folk song arrangements are among the most striking moments in the recital.' – BBC Music Magazine (4 stars)
"Everything is freshly delivered by the excellent Royal Hospital Chelsea choir under the conductor William Vann...there is a lot to be enthusiastic about." The Times, 4 STARS
Tracklisting
Tredegar Town Band, Ross Knight, Ian Porthouse, Martyn Brabbins
Alessandro Fisher, William Vann, The Navarra Quartet
Adrian Sims & Alan Rowlands
David Briggs
Chapel Choir Of The Royal Hospital, Joshua Ryan & William Vann
Timothy West, Samuel West, Mary Bevan, Sophie Bevan, Choir Of Clare College, Cambridge, Britten Sin
Various
David Welton & Iain Burnside
Polina Pastirchak, Anke Vondung, Sungmin Song, Milan Siljanov, Chorwerk Ruhr, Bochumer Symphoniker,
Kammerchor Stuttgart; Barockorchester Stuttgart; Frieder Bernius; Hannah Morrison; Franziska Bobe;
Choralchor der St. Johannis-Kantorei Rostock
Capella Daleminzia, Capella Vocale Waldheim, Rene Michael Roder
Gewandhaus Children's Choir, Frank-Steffen Elster, Gewandhaus Youth Choir, Gewandhaus Choir, Gregor
Aukso - Chamber Orchestra Of The City Of Tychy, Camerata Silesia Katowice City Singers' Ensemble, M
Herbert von Karajan; The Philharmonia Orchestra; Berliner Philharmoniker
Soloists, Netherlands Chamber Choir, Orchestra of the 18th Century, Frans Bruggen
