BaL 15.02.20 - Poulenc: Gloria

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

9.30am
Building a Library
Elin Manahan Thomas discusses a shortlist of recordings of a 20th-century choral masterpiece, Poulenc's Gloria, whittling it down in order to pick her personal choice of the ultimate library choice.

Available versions:-

Judith Blegen, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Westminster Choir, Leonard Bernstein
Françoise Pollet, R.T.F. Choeur De Radio France, Orchestre National de France, Charles Dutoit
Giovanna Damian, Schola San Rocco, Francesco ErleNorma Burrowes, City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Louis Frémaux
Jessica Rivera, Chicago Symphony Chorus & Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
Catherine Dubosc, Westminster Singers & City of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox *
Luba Orgonasova, Netherlands Radio Choir, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Mariss Jansons (SACD)
Patricia Petibon, Choeur de l'Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre de Paris, Paavo Järvi
Susan Gritton, Polyphony, Trinity College Choir Cambridge, Britten Sinfonia, Stephen Layton
Sylvia Greenberg, Choeur de la Radio Suisse Romande, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Choeur Pro Arte de Lausanne, Jesús López-Cobos
Adele Addison, Chorus Pro Musica, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch
Kathleen Battle, Tanglewood Festival Chorus & Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa
Danielle Borst (soprano), Orchestre de la Cite, Ile de France Vittoria Regional Choir, Michel Piquemal
Rosanna Carteri, Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Georges Prêtre
Rosanna Carteri, Choeurs de la R.T.F, Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française, Georges Prêtre
Barbara Hendricks, Choeurs de Radio France & Orchestre National de France, Georges Prêtre *
Donna Deam, Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia, John Rutter
Julie Kaufmann, Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Rico Saccani *
Sylvia McNair, , Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, erbert Shaw
Jennifer Wheeler, TMEA All-State Mixed Choir, André J. Thomas
BBC Singers, BBC Philharmonic, Yan Pascal Tortelier

* = download only

[rauschwerk]

It doesn't seem long since Jeremy Summerly tackled this piece. I remember his anecdote about the composer visiting Boston at the time of the première and telling the chorus master that they should sing the piece like Maurice Chevalier! My mind has boggled at this ever since. However, I can't recall which version Mr Summerly recommended.

[Pulcinella]

Looks like these were the recommendations:

Poulenc, Francis
Gloria
Jeremy Summerly
1/3/08

Luba Orgonasova (soprano), Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Mariss Jansons (conductor)
RCO Live RCO06003 (SACD)

Brigitte Fournier (soprano), Chorus and Orchestra of the Gulbenkian Foundation (Lisbon), Michael Corboz (conductor)
Virgin Classics 5 62322 2 (CD)

[Cockney Sparrow]

I bought the Jansons on RCO Live following this BAL. Very happy with it - I do like Poulenc's works!

[LeMartinPecheur]

I have the old Pretre HMV LP coupling of the Gloria ("recorded in the presence of the composer") with the Organ Concerto, and the Y-P Tortelier CD. Should be enough but you never know...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I only came into contact with this work recently, for my last concert with the Torbay Singers. I bought the Jesús López-Cobos recording, which I'm very happy with, but I'm open to alternative versions if the review comes up with something better.

[Pulcinella]

Five versions here, so time for a comparative listen at home!

NYPO/Bernstein
CBSO/Fremaux
CLS/Hickox
OSR/López-Cobos
Orch Nat ORTF/Prêtre (surely Essential, even if not the winner)

(And a BBC MM release: BBCSO/Andrew Davis, with Christine Brewer as soloist.)

[Serial_Apologist]

I have the old Pretre HMV LP coupling of the Gloria ("recorded in the presence of the composer") with the Organ Concerto, and the Y-P Tortelier CD. Should be enough but you never know...

Mine too! In terms of sound quality it leaves much to be desired; but against that is the knowledge of the composer supervising and being present for the recording.

[rauschwerk]

Mine too! In terms of sound quality it leaves much to be desired; but against that is the knowledge of the composer supervising and being present for the recording.

Yes, but Rosanna Carteri's tuning leaves something to be desired. Norma Burrowes (for Frémaux) is superior imho.

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes, but Rosanna Carteri's tuning leaves something to be desired. Norma Burrowes (for Frémaux) is superior imho.

True.

[Pulcinella]

Has anyone heard any recordings of Adele Addison, the soloist in the first performance, chosen by Munch?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adele_Addison

PS: Just realised that I have the Copland Emily Dickinson songs (listening as I type).
And also noticed that a BSO/Munch performance with her as soloist (the premiere?) is available.

[jayne lee wilson]

A glorious Gloria indeed!

Hard to see past Prêtre for me too.... ah but which etc..... I do feel it has to have a French Orchestral sound as its foundation....

[Petrushka]

I have RCO/Jansons, Chicago SO/Haitink, NYPO/Bernstein and BBCSO/Andrew Davis (BBC MM).

It's either Jansons or Haitink for me, both fine.

[Petrushka]

Has anyone heard any recordings of Adele Addison, the soloist in the first performance, chosen by Munch?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adele_Addison

PS: Just realised that I have the Copland Emily Dickinson songs (listening as I type).
And also noticed that a BSO/Munch performance with her as soloist (the premiere?) is available.

Adele Addison is the soprano soloist in George Szell's recording of the Beethoven 'Choral' with the Cleveland Orchestra. I see from the Wiki article that she is still alive at the age of 94.

[gurnemanz]

Surprised that Richard Hickox with Catherine Dubosc, Westminster Singers & City of London Sinfonia is now download only. It was a top recommendation when I bought it and I have no regrets. (The admirable Dubosc also contributes to Decca's classic 4CD Poulenc Complete Songs). I will listen to the BaL with interest but am unlikely to need a second version.