Arthur Sullivan
During the Victorian era The Golden Legend was second only to Handel’s Messiah in popularity and is regarded by Sullivan experts as his finest concert work. Never before recorded in its entirety, Hyperion and Ronald Corp, with support from the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society and The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, have resurrected this masterpiece…
During the summer of 1886 following on from the huge success that was The Mikado, Sullivan hid himself away in a cottage in Yorktown and composed a secular cantata that Gilbert was to recognise as ‘the biggest thing you’ve done’. Scenes following the première at the Leeds Festival on 15 October transcended any known before, with the audience on its feet waving programmes and hats, climbing on chairs and hurling flowers. The choir had formed an opinion of its own of the work at rehearsal – and had accumulated bouquets under their chairs to launch at the composer.
SULLIVAN
The Golden Legend
Janice Watson, soprano
Jean Rigby, mezzo soprano
Mark Wilde, tenor
Jonathan Brown, tenor
Jeffrey Black, baritone
The London Chorus
New London Orchestra
Ronald Corp, conductor
Total duration: 94′ 47″
‘A vivid and melodious score worthy to stand among Sullivan’s finest works.’
BBC Music Magazine
HYPERION CDA67280 (2 discs)
Click to listen, buy or download from Hyperion
SULLIVAN
The Prodigal Son
Boer War Te Deum
Claire Rutter, soprano
Catherine Denley, mezzo soprano
Mark Wilde, tenor
Garry Magee, baritone
The London Chorus
New London Orchestra
Ronald Corp, conductor
Total duration: 75′ 6″
‘Sullivan-admirers and British-music buffs need not hesitate … Strongly recommended.’
Fanfare, USA
HYPERION CDA67423
Click to listen, buy or download from Hyperion
SULLIVAN
The Contrabandista (or ‘The Law of the Ladrones’)
The Foresters (or ‘Robin Hood and Maid Marian’)
Claire Rutter, soprano
Joanna Cohn, soprano
Catherine Hopper, soprano
Frances McCafferty, contralto
Ashley Catling, tenor
Justin Bindley, tenor
Donald Maxwell, baritone
Richard Suart, baritone
Geoffrey Moses, bass
The London Chorus
New London Orchestra
Ronald Corp, conductor
Total duration: 76′ 16″
HYPERION CDA67486
The above recordings were made possible by
The Arthur Sullivan Society
of which Ronald Corp is a Vice-President
‘The choir and orchestra with Ronald Corp seem to be having a good time, enthusiastic in their task. The clear recording is helped by the fine acoustics of the Henry Wood Hall. This is a worthwhile addition to the Sullivan discography.’
International Record Review
See Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Choruses edited by Ronald Corp published by Faber Music
Click to listen, buy or download from Hyperion
SULLIVAN
Festival Te Deum (1872) (World première recording)
Teresa Cahill, soprano
Margaret Phillips, organ
The London Chorus
BBC Concert Orchestra
Ronald Corp, conductor
Sullivan: Macbeth Overture
Cello Concerto
Paul Watkins, cello
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Charles Mackerras, conductor
Total duration: 58′ 23″
BBC MM 203
‘It’s an excellent performance… Until a world-shattering new version comes along complete with military band [as stipulated in the score], this disc is an absolute must for any Sullivan enthusiast.’
Stephen Turnbull, oakapplepress.com
