Elegy - Songs by Bridge, Lilburn, Ireland, Orr & Finzi
The debut recital of a promising baritone and an introduction to some interesting [song] songs
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Frank Bridge, Gerald (Raphael) Finzi, C(harles) W(ilfred) Orr, John (Nicholson) Ireland, Douglas Lilburn
Label: Morrison & Co Trust
Magazine Review Date: 5/2000
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 65
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: MMT2023

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Adoration |
Frank Bridge, Composer
David Harper, Piano Frank Bridge, Composer Paul Whelan, Baritone |
Go not, happy day |
Frank Bridge, Composer
David Harper, Piano Frank Bridge, Composer Paul Whelan, Baritone |
Love went a-riding |
Frank Bridge, Composer
David Harper, Piano David Whelan, Baritone Frank Bridge, Composer |
Let us garlands bring |
Gerald (Raphael) Finzi, Composer
David Harper, Piano Gerald (Raphael) Finzi, Composer Paul Whelan, Baritone |
Great things |
John (Nicholson) Ireland, Composer
David Harper, Piano John (Nicholson) Ireland, Composer Paul Whelan, Baritone |
Sea Fever |
John (Nicholson) Ireland, Composer
David Harper, Piano John (Nicholson) Ireland, Composer Paul Whelan, Baritone |
When lights go rolling round the sky |
John (Nicholson) Ireland, Composer
David Harper, Piano John (Nicholson) Ireland, Composer Paul Whelan, Baritone |
Elegy |
Douglas Lilburn, Composer
David Harper, Piano Douglas Lilburn, Composer Paul Whelan, Baritone |
Song Cycle from '(A) Shropshire Lad' |
C(harles) W(ilfred) Orr, Composer
C(harles) W(ilfred) Orr, Composer David Harper, Piano Paul Whelan, Baritone |
Author: John Steane
Fine songs for singing and (many of them) rare songs to hear. At the centre of the programme is the cycle that gives the record its name. In 1947 a young man met with a fatal accident while mountaineering; the New Zealand poet Alistair Campbell wrote of the event 'in memoriam' and Douglas Lilburn published his cycle for voice and piano in 1951. Though not announced as a premiere recording, the disc will certainly provide many listeners with their introduction to a skilful and sensitive setting of some deeply moving verses. Orr's Seven Songs from 'A Shropshire Lad' are also rarities in performance: gracefully written, reserved rather than demonstrative, growing in strength with repetition.
Ireland is represented by the most famous of his songs along with unusually vigorous partners; Bridge by his two best-known and the lovely Keats setting, Adoration; and Finzi by his masterpiece, the best of all Shakespearean cycles.
Much interest will attach to Paul Whelan's debut recital on record. He has had a busy career since winning the Lieder prize in the 1993 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, and is announced as Escamillo in the Opera-in- English series on Chandos. For the most part, his firm, sympathetic baritone records well, at its best in the quieter passages, as in Orr's Hughley Steeple; at a forte the high notes want a more vibrant ring and the low ones a little more freedom and body. He hasn't quite the way of making words live (Bryn Terfel has spoilt us for that), but neither is he dull or inexpressive. David Harper, Whelan's fellow New Zealander, is an excellent accompanist, and the record has been well produced in all respects.'
Ireland is represented by the most famous of his songs along with unusually vigorous partners; Bridge by his two best-known and the lovely Keats setting, Adoration; and Finzi by his masterpiece, the best of all Shakespearean cycles.
Much interest will attach to Paul Whelan's debut recital on record. He has had a busy career since winning the Lieder prize in the 1993 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, and is announced as Escamillo in the Opera-in- English series on Chandos. For the most part, his firm, sympathetic baritone records well, at its best in the quieter passages, as in Orr's Hughley Steeple; at a forte the high notes want a more vibrant ring and the low ones a little more freedom and body. He hasn't quite the way of making words live (Bryn Terfel has spoilt us for that), but neither is he dull or inexpressive. David Harper, Whelan's fellow New Zealander, is an excellent accompanist, and the record has been well produced in all respects.
Discover the world's largest classical music catalogue with Presto Music.

Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £8.75 / month
Subscribe
Gramophone Full Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Full website access
From £11.00 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.