Bernstein: Chichester Psalms
Bernstein: Chichester Psalms
Director of Music:
Andrew NethsinghaOrgan Scholar:
Léon CharlesRelease date:
January 2012Featuring:
- Francis Kelly (harp)
- Cameron Sinclair (percussion)
- Justin Lavender (tenor)
Record label:
SJCRCatalogue number:
SJCR 105-2The recording takes as its tagline 'Music for Choir and Harp' and at its core are three substantial works: Bernstein's Chichester Psalms in its 'chamber' version for choir, organ, harp and percussion; a setting of the Lord's Prayer by Leoš Janáček, Otčenáš; and A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten, in its arrangement by Julian Harrison for SATB, rather than the original version with three treble parts.
Produced by David Lowe
Edited by John Rutter
Janáček's Otčenáš recently featured on Aled Jones's The Choir (BBC Radio 3).
Track list
- Chichester Psalms, Bernstein
- Aria in Classic Style for Harp and Organ, Grandjany
- Otčenáš, Janáček
- Improvisations, Mathias
- A Ceremony of Carols, Britten arr. Harrison
More about this release
A highly enjoyable disc ... idiomatic performances under Nethsingha's expert direction with great clarity of textures.
Choir and Organ
The polished sound of the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge (including some very accomplished treble soloists) under the meticulous direction of Andrew Nethsingha.
Gramophone
The Choir sounds on good form under Andrew Nethsingha's direction...well supported by the organist Léon Charles and harpist Frances Kelly...The treble solo is nicely poised at the start of the second movement [of the Bernstein] and the violent eruption ('Why do the nations rage')...is suitably crisp and aggressive...This St John's performance [of the Britten] is as good as it's going to get... It's well recorded, with sound that has real impact at the same time as putting plenty of space around the voices.
International Record Review
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The contribution of Andrew Nethsingha and St John's College, Cambridge to the Evensong tradition - both in the chapel and on record - deserves great praise
Gramophone