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Elgar: Caractacus

Elizabeth Llewellyn (Eigen), Elgan Llŷr Thomas (Orbin), Roland Wood (Caractacus), Christopher Purves (Arch-Druid, A Bard) & Alastair Miles (Claudius)

Huddersfield Choral Society, Orchestra of Opera North, Martyn Brabbins

Elgar: Caractacus

Awards:

Elgan Llŷr Thomas and Elizabeth Llewellyn are especially touching, while in the title role, baritone Roland Wood is on terrific form.

Choir & Organ, May/June 20195 out of 5 stars

More reviews

Elgar: Caractacus

Elizabeth Llewellyn (Eigen), Elgan Llŷr Thomas (Orbin), Roland Wood (Caractacus), Christopher Purves (Arch-Druid, A Bard) & Alastair Miles (Claudius)

Huddersfield Choral Society, Orchestra of Opera North, Martyn Brabbins

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Awards:

Elgan Llŷr Thomas and Elizabeth Llewellyn are especially touching, while in the title role, baritone Roland Wood is on terrific form.

Choir & Organ, May/June 20195 out of 5 stars

More reviews

About

The centuries do indeed ‘roll away’ as the libretto addresses questions of empire—Roman and Victorian—and Britain’s place in the world. But that shouldn’t detract from the music; this is simply glorious and worthy of the mature Elgar.

  • Release date: 29th Mar 2019
  • Label: Hyperion
  • Catalogue number: CDA68254
  • Length: 96 minutes
  • Genre:

Contents and tracklist

Elgar: Caractacus, Op. 35
Work length1:36:02
Scene 1 No 1. Watchmen, alert! (Chorus) –
Track length5:50
Scene 1 No 2. Watchmen, alert! the King is here (Caractacus / Sentries) –
Track length5:51
Scene 1 No 3. Father! Sire and King (Eigen / Caractacus / Orbin / Sentries) –
Track length2:32
Scene 1 No 4. At eve to the greenwood (Eigen) –
Track length2:35
Scene 1 No 5. On the ocean and the river (Eigen / Orbin / Caractacus) –
Track length2:45
Scene 1 No 6. Rest, weary monarch (Spirits of the Hill)
Track length2:56
Scene 2 No 1. Tread the mystic circle round (Arch-Druid / Druids / Druid Maidens) –
Track length4:27
Scene 2 No 2. Invocation: Lord of dread, and lord of pow'r (Chorus / Arch-Druid) –
Track length2:24
Scene 2 No 3. Bard, what read ye? (Arch-Druid / Orbin / Caractacus / Druids / Druid Maidens) –
Track length7:08
Scene 2 No 4. Leap, leap to light (Caractacus / Soldiers / Orbin / Arch-Druid) –
Track length4:45
Scene 2 No 5. Hence, ere the Druid's wrath is woke (Druids / Druid Maidens / Orbin / Soldiers)
Track length3:22
Scene 3 No 1. Introduction: The woodland interlude
Track length1:50
Scene 3 No 2. Come! beneath our woodland bow'rs (Youths / Maidens) –
Track length1:08
Scene 3 No 3. O'er-arch'd by leaves (Eigen / Orbin) –
Track length3:32
Scene 3 No 4. Last night beneath the sacred Oak (Orbin) –
Track length1:32
Scene 3 No 5. Come! beneath our woodland bow'rs – They gather the wreaths (Youths / Maidens / Orbin / Eigen)
Track length5:18
Scene 4 No 1. Wild rumours shake our calm retreat (Maidens) –
Track length2:24
Scene 4 No 2. When the glow of the evening (Eigen / Maidens) –
Track length2:11
Scene 4 No 3. We were gather'd by the river (Soldiers) –
Track length2:09
Scene 4 No 4. Lament: O my warriors (Caractacus / Chorus)
Track length4:11
Scene 5. Captive Britons, see them! (A Bard / Druid Maidens) –
Track length3:51
Scene 6 No 1. Processional music: The march triumphal thunders (Chorus)
Track length7:03
Scene 6 No 2. Unbind his hands (Claudius) –
Track length1:11
Scene 6 No 3. Heap torment upon torment (Caractacus / Eigen / Orbin) –
Track length4:45
Scene 6 No 4. Slay, slay the Briton! (Roman Citizens / Claudius) –
Track length0:35
Scene 6 No 5. I plead not for myself (Caractacus / Orbin / Eigen / Roman Citizens / Claudius) –
Track length2:32
Scene 6 No 6. Grace from the Roman! (Eigen / Orbin / Caractacus / Claudius) –
Track length2:25
Scene 6 No 7. The clang of arms is over (Chorus)
Track length4:50

Spotlight on this release

Awards and reviews

  • Gramophone Magazine
    April 2019
    Editor's Choice

May/June 2019

Elgan Llŷr Thomas and Elizabeth Llewellyn are especially touching, while in the title role, baritone Roland Wood is on terrific form.
5 out of 5 stars

April 2019

[Brabbins] brings an electricity and Straussian Schwung to the orchestral sound throughout…There are some fine performances here from the soloists. Roland Wood is very much up to the weighty role of Caractacus…Llewellyn lends some lyrical respite to much of the forceful rhetoric of the work’s warrior spirit…The well-prepared Huddersfield Choral Society provide a range of sensitive light and shade, as well as muscular tone.

April 2019

The orchestral contribution to this recording is excellent in every way.

7th April 2019

Brabbins clearly believes in the cantata, judging by this forthrightly played and sung account. Roland Wood is a commanding Caractacus, with clarion tone and eloquent diction...Not great Elgar, perhaps, but rousingly performed.

classicalsource.com April 2019

The choral singing and orchestral playing are splendid in so many ways.
5 out of 5 stars
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