BaL 30.06.18 - Finzi: Dies Natalis

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30
Building a Library on Gerald Finzi’s Dies natalis with Elin Manahan Thomas.
Begun in the mid-1920s but not premiered until 1940, Finzi’s cantata for solo voice and string orchestra sets the words of 17th century English poet, Thomas Traherne. By turns ecstatic and pastoral, this most celebrated of Finzi’s works is but modestly represented in the recording catalogue, and then almost exclusively by British musicians.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dies_Natalis_(cantata)


Available versions:-


John Mark Ainsley, Corydon Orchestra, Matthew Best

Valdine Anderson, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Simon Streatfeild

Ian Bostridge, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Neville Marriner *

Wilfred Brown, English Chamber Orchestra, Christopher Finzi *

Amy Dickson (soprano saxophone), Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon

Rebecca Evans, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Vernon Handley

James Gilchrist, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, David Hill

Susan Gritton, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Edward Gardner

Philip Langridge, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox

Mark Padmore, Britten Sinfonia, Jacqueline Shave (SACD)

Toby Spence, Scottish Ensemble, directed from the violin by Jonathan Morton


* download only

[Pulcinella]

Alpie

The link seems not to work: here's hoping that this one does.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dies_Natalis_(cantata)

Wilfred Brown for me; possibly a case of 'the first version I got to know' syndrome, but still the one I'd reach for over the others in my collection (Langridge, JMA, Gilchrist, Hill, the last seemingly nla, though available used for £0.01 + p&p: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Finzi-Clari...s=Finzi+hickox).

PS: I had forgotten, until seeing gurnemanz' post (#26), that I had the Kennedy BBC MM CD too!

[Nick Armstrong]

Wilfred Brown for me; possibly a case of 'the first version I got to know' syndrome, but still the one I'd reach for over the others in my collection (Langridge, JMA, Gilchrist, Hill, the latter seemingly nla).

Same here - a slightly quaint 'period' singing style, but a kind of ecstatic pathos which sets it above others for me.

[BBMmk2]

I have Wilfred Brown as well but I rather like Handley and Gardner

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Alpie

The link seems not to work: here's hoping that this one does.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dies_Natalis_(cantata)

Thanks.

I've updated the OP also.

[Pulcinella]

I have Wilfred Brown as well but I rather like Handley and Gardner

Do you prefer soprano to tenor, Bbm?
Here, the 'first-version' syndrome has definitely given me an aversion (ha ha!) to the soprano option; it just seems to suit the tenor range so well.
Do we know if the first performance (mentioned in the wiki article) was with soprano or tenor? I can't read the thumbnails in the wiki link and can't be bothered registering with the site to get full article access.

[PJPJ]

Do you prefer soprano to tenor, Bbm?
Here, the 'first-version' syndrome has definitely given me an aversion (ha ha!) to the soprano option; it just seems to suit the tenor range so well.
Do we know if the first performance (mentioned in the wiki article) was with soprano or tenor? I can't read the thumbnails in the wiki link and can't be bothered registering with the site to get full article access.

Premiered 1940 by Elsie Suddaby....

https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Gerald-Finzi-Dies-Natalis/3680

[Pulcinella]

Premiered 1940 by Elsie Suddaby....

https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Gera...s-Natalis/3680

The notes to the Hyperion release say:
The planned première performance [at the Three Choirs Festival] was cancelled due to the outbreak of war and the work instead received its first performance at Wigmore Hall [sic: not just the BBC who have abandoned the definite article!] on 26 January 1940; Elsie Suddaby was the soprano soloist with Maurice Miles conducting his own string orchestra.

Now, I need to write out 100 times:
Do some simple research before posting questions you can easily answer yourself!

[DublinJimbo]

Wilfred Brown without any hesitation. As with others, this was the version which introduced me to the work and led to my investigation of Finzi's other output. None of the other recordings in my collection (Langridge, Padmore, Gilchrist, Ainsley) even come close.

[Pabmusic]

Wilfred Brown is my front runner. But it looks as though there's one recording not available - didn't Joan Cross record it with Boyd Neel, or have I got that hopelessly wrong? It was the work's first recording.

[Stanfordian]

Wilfred Brown without any hesitation. As with others, this was the version which introduced me to the work and led to my investigation of Finzi's other output. None of the other recordings in my collection (Langridge, Padmore, Gilchrist, Ainsley) even come close.

The Wilfred Brown 'Dies Natalis' is one of greatest recordings of English music I have heard! Remarkable sweet quality to his voice.

[BBMmk2]

Well that settles the result of this BaL then!

[Pulcinella]

YouTube video with score:

https://youtu.be/hkHj1H7Av9M

The comments suggest that this is the Wilfred Brown recording.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Well that settles the result of this BaL then!

Not secennarily, Bbm - Ms Thomas is a Soprano herself, after all, so might have a different perspective on the work from that of those of us used to Wilfred Brown's recording.

[BBMmk2]

Not secennarily, Bbm - Ms Thomas is a Soprano herself, after all, so might have a different perspective on the work from that of those of us used to Wilfred Brown's recording.

Very true. I hope to listen to this, while I am on holiday on the IoW!