Delius: A Mass of Life

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Williams brings a degree less heroic grit than some rivals, but compensates richly by his intelligent pointing of Nietzsche’s headily symbolic text, and his generously lyrical tone...But it’s... — BBC Music Magazine, January 2024, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 24th Nov 2023
Catalogue No: LWC1265
Label: LAWO
Length: 94 minutes

Presto Recordings of the Year

Finalist 2023
Presto Recording of the Week

24th November 2023

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Frederick Delius, Friedrich Nietzsche: A Mass of Life, RT II / 4, Pt. 1

Work length32:10

$6.50

$9.10

$11.35

Roderick Williams, Gemma Summerfield, Claudia Huckle, Bror Magnus Tødenes
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Edvard Grieg Kor, Collegium Musicum Choir, Bergen Philharmonic Choir
Mark Elder

I. Animato—O du mein Wille!

Track length4:56

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

II. Erhebt eure Herzen, Brüder, hoch! (Recitativ)

Track length2:04

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

III. Andante tranquillo con dolcezza—In dein Auge schaute ich jüngst, O Leben

Track length13:50

$2.00

$2.80

$3.50

IV. Agitato ma moderato—Wehe mir! Wo ist die Zeit hin?

Track length3:01

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

V. Andante molto tranquillo—Nacht ist es

Track length8:19

$1.50

$2.10

$2.60

Delius: A Mass of Life, RT II / 4, Pt. 2: Introduction

Work length3:42

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Mark Elder

Frederick Delius, Friedrich Nietzsche: A Mass of Life, RT II / 4, Pt. 2

Work length58:25

Album only

Gemma Summerfield, Roderick Williams, Claudia Huckle, Bror Magnus Tødenes
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Edvard Grieg Kor, Collegium Musicum Choir, Bergen Philharmonic Choir
Mark Elder

I. Con elevazione e vigore—Herauf! Nun herauf, du grosser Mittag!

Track length3:54

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

II. Andante—Süsse Leier! Ich liebe deinen Ton

Track length5:07

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

III. Lento molto—Lasst vom Tanzen ab, ihr lieblichen Mädchen!

Track length18:57

Album only

IV. Lento—Heisser Mittag schläft auf den Fluren

Track length13:10

$2.00

$2.80

$3.50

V. Allegro ma non troppo—Gottes Weh ist tiefer, du wunderliche Welt

Track length3:14

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

VI. Largo con solennita—Kommt! Lasst uns jetzt wandeln!

Track length14:03

$2.00

$2.80

$3.50

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Recording of the Week, Delius's A Mass of Life from Sir Mark Elder and the Bergen Philharmonic

24th November 2023

Elder's beautifully-judged approach to pacing and balance makes the strongest case possible for a score which he describes as 'Delius's magnum opus', aided by Roderick Williams on typically eloquent form in the huge central role of Zarathustra.

Roderick Williams heads up the cast for this new recording of Delius' A Mass of Life with the Bergen Philharmonic, conducted by Sir Mark Elder. Accompanied by soloists Gemma Summerfield, Claudia Huckle and Bror Magnus T?denes, the Bergen Philharmonic Choir and Edvard Grieg Kor join Collegium Musicum Choir to complete the tour de force needed to perform and record this monumental work.

Born Fritz Delius to German parents in Bradford, England, any links to that country are offset by his various attachments to America, France, Germany and of course Norway.

Norway?its people, landscape, language and literature?never loosened its grip on Delius's imagination so Norwegian label Lawo Classics is the perfect partner to be able to bring this new recording to life.

The extent to which Norway's natural environment fired Delius's musical imagination is evident in A Song of the 5 High Hills, for orchestra and wordless chorus, and in his love letter to Norway's cool, clean air and majestic scenery, the orchestral tone poem Eventyr. A Mass of Life also owes its existence to Norway.

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, a Norwegian national orchestra, dates back to 1765. Edvard Grieg served as its artistic director from 1880 to 1882. Edward Gardner is Chief Conductor and Sir Mark Elder is the orchestra's Principal Guest Conductor.

The Orchestra was nominated Orchestra of the Year 2020 by Gramophone and won two Gramophone Classical Music Awards in 2021: Recording of the Year and Opera Award Winner for Britten's Peter Grimes.

Roderick Williams needs no introduction as one of the most sought-after baritones of his generation who enjoys relationships with all the major UK and European opera houses.

This stunning new recording is available at a special price.

Reviews

January 2024

Williams brings a degree less heroic grit than some rivals, but compensates richly by his intelligent pointing of Nietzsche’s headily symbolic text, and his generously lyrical tone...But it’s Elder’s astute conducting that really stands out here, lending a work that easily overheats a satisfying measure of nuance and dignity.

Mar/Apr 2024

Listeners who enjoy the emotional intimacy of Zemlinsky’s Lyric Symphony will likely find themselves touched here. Delius’s music is similarly warm...A Mass of Life may be the composer’s greatest work, and this release its greatest performance to date.

January 2024

Elder steers a commendably purposeful course through Delius’s giant canvas, elucidating both its frequently dense textures and its adventurous chromatic harmonies with penetrating skill.

24th November 2023

This superb new set from Bergen makes the strongest case for the piece imaginable, thanks to the irreproachable singing of the Edvard Grieg Kor and Collegium Musicum Choir (who deliver accuracy and athleticism in spades), Roderick Williams’s warmly sympathetic Zarathustra, and above all Elder’s masterly grasp on the architecture and detail of a score which can so easily seem sprawling and overblown.

2nd December 2023

A new recording, in German, may be the longed-for boost the mass needs. Mark Elder, a natural for this work, rouses his forces into life with subtlety and focus, as well as gusto...I was converted.

22nd November 2023

Mark Elder secures some magical playing from the Bergen Philharmonic, and the Norwegian choirs and soloists headed by Roderick Williams battle manfully against the orchestral waves.

Delius: A Mass of Life

2 CDs

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Recording of the Week, Delius's A Mass of Life from Sir Mark Elder and the Bergen Philharmonic

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