New Choir CD gets great reviews
Categories: News
Howells, The Winchester Service – and other late works features some of the lesser known later works of Herbert Howells (1892-1983), who was one of the most prolific English composers of sacred choral music in the twentieth century. The disc includes the Winchester setting of the Evening canticles, which was written for the Cathedral Choir in 1967. The CD as been given a number of top reviews from well know classical music magazines.
International Record Review – Peter Lynan
‘The Winchester Cathedral Choir is first-rate: intelligently responsive to the texts, phrasing naturally shaped and with near flawless ensemble and dynamic control, all admirably demonstrated throughout, but especially so in the two unaccompanied motets (Come, my soul and Antiphon). The Beautiful pianissimo chord that ends Thee will I love, held unwavering for more than 20 seconds, is just spellbinding.’
Classical FM Magazine
‘Winchester Cathedral Choir, a former stalwart of the Hyperion catalogue, returns to the label in fine form under Andrew Lumsden. The line-up of boy choristers can compete in terms of strength and incision with the best among there cathedral and collegiate peers. Their tonal richness and compelling collective conviction, outstanding in Come, my Soul and Howells’s virtuosic Te Deum, bear witness to a choral institution clearly on the rise.’
BBC Music Magazine – Terry Blain
‘Winchester Cathedral Choir are so good you hardly register the need to ‘assess’ them – exactly as it should be in devotional music. That’s a huge tribute to the state of singing at the cathedral, and to Andrew Lumsden, who directs it. A marvellous CD, beautifully planned and executed.’
Gramophone Magazine – Christopher Nickol
‘This is one of the most beautiful CDs of choral music you’re likely to hear (…) If the music is challenging to listeners, it presents choirs with a Herculean task. Fortunately, the magnificent Winchester Cathedral Choir gives performances of near-perfection that sound completely effortless. One notices the subtle variety of phrasing, ranging from seamless legato to punchy accents in irregular rhythms. There’s an ideal blend and balance between upper and lower voices, and the trebles have a warm, glowing brightness reminiscent of the choir of King’s College, Cambridge, in the 1960s. Andrew Lumsden chooses just the right tempi throughout the CD and Simon Bell provides impeccable accompaniments with intimate colouring.’
The CD is available online from the Cathedral Gift Shop.