Caractacus R3 23/9/11 7:30pm

[mercia]

As part of the 2011 Three Choirs Festival, Sir Andrew Davis takes to the podium at Worcester Cathedral to conduct Elgar's dramatic cantata based on the legend of British chieftain Caractacus. The work was inspired, in part, by Elgar's mother remarking on an ancient hill, full of historical interest. This was the Herefordshire Beacon in the Malvern Hills, not far from Worcester, where, according to legend, Caractacus made his last, doomed stand against the Romans.

Elgar: Caractacus

Eigen ..... Judith Howarth (soprano)
Orbin ..... Ben Johnson (tenor)
Caractacus ..... Peter Savidge (baritone)
Arch-Druid/Bard ..... Stephen Roberts (baritone)
Claudius ..... Brindley Sherratt (bass)
Festival Chorus - George Castle (organ) - Philharmonia Orchestra - Sir Andrew Davis (conductor)


Does this get performed very often? I've never heard it.

[Chris Newman]

Does this get performed very often? I've never heard it.

Not often. It has some very fine moments (super marches and "arias") but does rather proceed in a stop-start manner. Two years later EE really had learnt through writing with Dream of Gerontius.
I heard it once on the radio with Sir Charles Groves in charge in the early seventies and he recorded it at about the same time with RLPO forces. Recordings by Groves and Richard Hickox have received good reviews. It looks like an excellent cast. A must-listen for Elgar lovers. I hope Sir Andrew D does not rush proceedings as he is often tempted to do.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It's really an opera. There are even stage directions in the score and Elgar did want it to be staged, but this never happened.
In Scene 3, there is a love duet worthy of Puccini. Magnificent stuff. The well-known bits, including the Triumphal March are not the best of this work. Sample Caractacus's Lament in Scene 4 following the Britons' defeat by the Romans. It's like an Elgarian March theme, but in 7/4 time.
This work has always been on my Desert Island list (which a certain Strauss tone poem never has).

I first heard it on Radio 3 in the 1970s with Bryan Fairfax conducting. Soloists included Teresa Cahill as Eigen and Richard Lewis as Orbin. I recorded it (in mono as my stereo tape deck was being serviced - I was most upset). Commercial recordings followed - Groves I thought was dreadful, lacking any dramatic thrust and with inappropriate soloists. Hickox was much better, though I still prize that Fairfax broadcast for sheer operatic spontaneity.

[salymap]

As someone who walked the length of the Hills when young, a question. Is the Herefordshire Beacon the same hill that I knew as the British Camp?

I spent some time exploring the BC and it was still definitely showing the shape of the encampment.

[BBMmk2]

This looks a very tempting evening's listening! I do hope AD doesn't proceed with fast tempi! I will have to get this one in!!

I hav EMI's Elgar 'The Collectore's Edition'. I wonder if Groves's recording is in there?

[Pabmusic]

Is the Herefordshire Beacon the same hill that I knew as the British Camp?

Yes. I think the British Camp is actually the hill-fort on the Herefordshire Beacon. Apparently, it was linked in legend with Caradoc (Caractacus) as the place he made his 'last stand' against the Romans. Certainly that's what Elgar believed.

Incidentally, it was only a day or two after Elgar returned from Leeds (where Caractacus had had its premiere) that Elgar began the Enigma Variations.

[Ventilhorn]

As part of the 2011 Three Choirs Festival, Sir Andrew Davis takes to the podium at Worcester Cathedral to conduct Elgar's dramatic cantata based on the legend of British chieftain Caractacus. The work was inspired, in part, by Elgar's mother remarking on an ancient hill, full of historical interest. This was the Herefordshire Beacon in the Malvern Hills, not far from Worcester, where, according to legend, Caractacus made his last, doomed stand against the Romans.

Elgar: Caractacus

Eigen ..... Judith Howarth (soprano)
Orbin ..... Ben Johnson (tenor)
Caractacus ..... Peter Savidge (baritone)
Arch-Druid/Bard ..... Stephen Roberts (baritone)
Claudius ..... Brindley Sherratt (bass)
Festival Chorus - George Castle (organ) - Philharmonia Orchestra - Sir Andrew Davis (conductor)


Does this get performed very often? I've never heard it.

We played this at the RAM at a concert in the Duke's Hall. A stirring work and a fine cast for the 3 Choirs Festival.

Is this concert going to be broadcast? I certainly would look forward to hearing it again

VH

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I have EMI's Elgar 'The Collector's Edition'. I wonder if Groves's recording is in there?

It is. But the Hickox is much better on Chandos, in my opinion. Eigen is sung by Judith Howarth in that recording, as well as for Sir Andrew this week. It needs an Eigen who sounds youthful and ardent, rather than like Caractacus's mother, which both Sheila Armstrong (Groves) and Helen Field (Simon Wright broadcast in 1999) resembled. Judith Howarth fitted the bill for Hickox. I hope she still does.

(Eigen is/was the daughter of Caractacus and is thought to be a historical figure, though Orbin is not.)

[mercia]

Is this concert going to be broadcast?

this coming Friday, 7:30pm Radio 3

[EdgeleyRob]

This looks a very tempting evening's listening!........I will have to get this one in!!

Me too . I have never heard this complete.

[salymap]

Yes one not to be missed. My friends and I, all lovers of Elgar's music, sat up on the Beacon/British Camp and composed some verses about Caractacus and his story. Then had a good lunch at the British Camp Hotel, down at ground level. 1954 [ish] and a day to remember.

[BBMmk2]

It is. But the Hickox is much better on Chandos, in my opinion. Eigen is sung by Judith Howarth in that recording, as well as for Sir Andrew this week. It needs an Eigen who sounds youthful and ardent, rather than like Caractacus's mother, which both Sheila Armstrong (Groves) and Helen Field (Simon Wright broadcast in 1999) resembled. Judith Howarth fitted the bill for Hickox. I hope she still does.

(Eigen is/was the daughter of Caractacus and is thought to be a historical figure, though Orbin is not.)

Ah, right!! Thank you EA! Another recording to buy!!

[JimD]

Sample Caractacus's Lament in Scene 4 following the Britons' defeat by the Romans.... Groves I thought was dreadful, lacking any dramatic thrust and with inappropriate soloists.

Well I liked the Groves version, never having heard anything else. Couldn't agree more about the Lament ("Oh, my warriors, tell me truly") though.

Speaking of obscure Elgar choral works, there is also his King Olaf. I have an old recording by Vernon Handley. It's (even) more episodic and mixed than Caractacus, but has some good things, including, best of all, the closing chorus 'As torrents in summer'.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Speaking of obscure Elgar choral works, there is also his King Olaf. I have an old recording by Vernon Handley. It's (even) more episodic and mixed than Caractacus, but has some good things, including, best of all, the closing chorus 'As torrents in summer'.

"As Torrents in Summer" is well-known simply as an unaccompanied partsong, which I never found particularly exciting, but when heard in context, with the orchestra taking over afterwards, the effect is quite magical.

[moeranbiogman]

Listening to the R3 broadcast but can't believe that the chorus are singing to such a poor standard.