Gilchrist Williamson - One Hundred Years British 2 - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

SOMM Recordings announces Volume 2 of it's revelatory survey of One Hundred Years of British Song with tenor James Gilchrist and pianist Nathan Williamson. Volume 1 received wide acclaim, Gramophone hailing it as Incha most impressive Inch, adding InchGilchrist's contribution is past praise... [with] immaculate support throughout from WilliamsonInch. Awarded it's Recording of the Month accolade, Limelight declared it Incha penetrating, frequently revelatory start to a promising new seriesInch. Featuring 10 first recordings - Elizabeth Maconchy's Three Donne Songs and seven songs by Doreen Carwithen - Volume 2 focuses on five composers whose belated involvement with song straddled the Second World War. Maconchy's Three Donne Songs are described by Williamson in his informative booklet notes as Inchsubstantial, ambitious songs, imbued with a genuine sense of drama by an assured composer at the height of her powersInch. Carwithen's seven miniatures represent her complete song output and display, as Williamson notes, Inchthe most imaginative and creative writing... real gems revealing the seeds of a truly imaginative and expressive musical personalityInch. William Alwyn's A Leave-Taking deftly counterbalances the obvious influence of German romanticism with music of striking, involving simplicity. Alan Rawsthorne's Two Songs to Poems of John Fletcher combine Elizabethan counterpoint with music hall humour. Rawsthorne also contributes to Prison Cycle alongside Alan Bush, a vivid setting of political texts by the German socialist playwright and poet Ernst Toller. James Gilchrist's previous SOMM releases include two volumes of Parry's English Lyrics (SOMMCD 257; 270) and Penelope Thwaites' From Five Continents (SOMMCD 0612), to which, theclassicalreview said, InchGilchrist brings authority throughoutInch. Nathan Williamson's SOMM association includes Great American Sonatas