Rutter: Psalmfest

Rutter: Psalmfest cover $25.00 Low Stock add to cart

JOHN RUTTER
Rutter: Psalmfest
Elizabeth Cragg (soprano), Pascal Charbonneau (tenor) / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, St Albans Cathedral Choir and Abbey Girls Choir, Andrew Lucas

[ Naxos / CD ]

Release Date: Sunday 15 May 2016

Should this item be out of stock at the time of your order, we would expect to be able to supply it to you within 4 - 7 business days.

The psalms of David have been a source of inspiration to composers for centuries, each text forming a poetic shape the equivalent of a gothic arch, and expressing a broad range of timeless emotions. Recorded here for the first time in its complete form, John Rutter's Psalmfest is a collection of nine settings for full orchestra as rich and varied as the original texts. The remaining psalm settings were written for special occasions, including the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011.

Key Features:

We have had numerous successes with the work of John Rutter, including his Gloria (8572653) performed by almost exactly the same musical team as this première of the Psalmfest. Of the Gloria, Gramophone wrote that "Andrew Lucas's St Albans choristers (particularly the girls and boys, united on the top line) are on sparkling form, with first-class support from organist Tom Winpenny and the Ensemble DeChorum who scrupulously adhere to every one of the score's markings. More recordings from St Albans, please." Added to this, ClassicsToday.com considered it "a terrific performance… solid and recommendable…"

Gramophone acknowledges Rutter as "the man who has become the most popular British composer of choral music in recent years."

Topped by a first class line-up of award-winning soloists and reinforced by the excellent Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, this release will be one of the main jewels in our choral and general catalogue for 2016.

Andrew Lucas has been Master of the Music at St Albans Cathedral and Music Director of St Albans Bach Choir since 1998, and was Artistic Director of the St Albans International Organ Festival from 1999 to 2007. Born in 1958, he studied at the Royal College of Music with John Birch and Herbert Howells and later with Peter Hurford and Piet Kee. Before 1998 he was Assistant Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral, London and a freelance musician, conductor, chorusmaster and keyboard continuo. He has made many recordings as an organist from St Paul's and conducting at St Albans and has played concerts throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. This is his fourth recording for Naxos, the first as organ soloist (8550955) and the others conducting music by Rutter (8572653) and Mozart (8573092).

"The performances by the St. Albans Cathedral Choir and Royal Philharmonic are first rate. Soloists may be variable in quality, but no one can question their commitment to Rutter's music. Rutter acolytes will already be on to this, an exemplary collection that celebrates a composer whose work throughout his career has reflected the message of these psalms: hopeful, expectant, upbeat." (ClassicsToday May 2016)

"'O be joyful in the Lord' sets the tone: the bright, chattering orchestration and chirpy syncopations are quintessential Rutter, and the rousingly fresh-toned response of the St Albans singers lifts the music vibrantly…[Rutter completists] are fortunate the job has been so professionally executed by the St Albans forces, and that the sound is warmly atmospheric" (BBC Music)

"A highly enjoyable collection of psalm settings by John Rutter in excellent performances." (MusicWeb June 2016)

Tracks:

Psalm 150 (with Tom Winpenny, organ)
Lord, thou hast been our refuge
This is the day which the Lord hath made
Psalmfest