Richard Blackford: Mirror of Perfection; Vision of A Garden

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Blackford’s 1996 Mirror of Perfection is a big-boned and breathtaking opener, while the more recent Vision of a Garden – based on Peter Johnstone’s ‘ICU Diaries’ written while in hospital with... — BBC Music Magazine, September 2022, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 6th May 2022
Catalogue No: SRCD406
Label: Lyrita
Length: 53 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

September 2022

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Blackford: Mirror of Perfection

Work length37:22

$9.00

$11.70

Elizabeth Watts, Roderick Williams
Ikon, Britten Sinfonia
David Hill

I. Canticle of the Creatures

Track length7:01

$2.00

$2.60

II. Canticle of Love I

Track length3:48

$1.00

$1.30

III. Canticle of the Furnace

Track length3:24

$1.00

$1.30

IV. Canticel of Love II

Track length4:07

$1.00

$1.30

V. Canticle of the Birds

Track length5:06

$1.00

$1.30

VI. Canticle of Love III

Track length5:53

$1.00

$1.30

VII. Canticle of Peace

Track length8:03

$2.00

$2.60

Blackford: Vision of a Garden

Work length15:41

$6.00

$7.80

Stephen Gadd
Bach Choir, Philharmonia Orchestra
David Hill

I. The Nursing Staff

Track length1:13

$1.00

$1.30

II. The ICU

Track length3:31

$1.00

$1.30

III. Visions of a Garden

Track length3:00

$1.00

$1.30

IV. The Rehab Ward

Track length3:40

$1.00

$1.30

V. Farewells

Track length1:56

$1.00

$1.30

VI. Two Months Later

Track length2:21

$1.00

$1.30

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Lyrita is releasing two of Richard Blackford’s choral works, Mirror of Perfection and Visions of a Garden

both conducted by David Hill. Mirror of Perfection is performed by Britten Sinfonia, with soloists Elizabeth

Watts (soprano) and Roderick Williams (baritone). The words, with the exception of the Canticle of The

Creatures, are settings of almost unknown poems by St Francis of Assisi. They cover a wide expressive

and emotional range: from hope to despair, longing to acceptance, love to bitterness, delight in Creation to

an impassioned plea for peace amongst mankind. The cantata is no pious word-setting of an ancient saint

– rather it is a passionate and vibrant evocation of a man who remains a symbol of hope for millions of all

faiths.

Visions of a Garden is performed by the Bach Choir and the Philharmonia Orchestra, performing with

soloist Stephen Gadd (baritone). Premiered at Festival Hall in October 2021, Vision of a Garden, echos ICU

nurses during Covid19. This work reflects on the personal experiences of both patients and nursing staff in

dealing with the Covid crisis, set to texts of medical diaries and of the experiences of Peter Johnstone that

tell the story of his delirium, crisis, and recovery from his time in hospital.

Richard Blackford is one of the foremost choral composers in Europe and his much-acclaimed Pietà, a

rework of the Stabat Mater, won the Ivor Novello Composer Award in 2020 for the Choral Category. World

renowned Tenor Jonas Kaufmann writes of Pietà: ""Richard Blackford has created an outstanding choral

work: a passionate and personal tribute in memory of all who suffer from violence, suppression and political

persecution, which has deeply impressed me. Finally, a modern composer who is not afraid of writing beautiful and touching music".

Reviews

September 2022

Blackford’s 1996 Mirror of Perfection is a big-boned and breathtaking opener, while the more recent Vision of a Garden – based on Peter Johnstone’s ‘ICU Diaries’ written while in hospital with Covid – sobres with its unhurried intensity. The Philharmonia and Bach Choir are on top form in the latter.

September 2022

Richard Blackford definitely has the knack of writing audience-friendly works with singable lines appealing to amateur and professional performers alike.

Offer,Richard Blackford: Mirror of Perfection; Vision of A Garden

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