Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

In 1869 the 27 year old Sullivan climbed another rung up the career ladder for new composers by accepting a commission from the Three Choirs Festival committee. He was given a slot lasting one hour and filled it by adapting the familiar story from Luke's Gospel and supplementing it with texts from other passages. The piece was popular in its time but dropped from the repertoire after the First World War. On this welcome recording Ronald Corp conducts The New London Orchestra and London Chorus, bringing the work to life. Admirers of Sullivan’s Savoy Operas will notice some themes that were to reappear in later years and the whole sparkles throughout. In addition we get Sullivan’s final work, the Boer War “Te Deum” written in the year of his death in 1900 and left unperformed until the war finally ended in 1902. Sullivan skilfully incorporates his famous tune “Onward, Christian Soldiers” and gives us a moving and memorable work. Both pieces deserve to be listened to as more than historical curiosities. The “Te Deum” belongs in its context but this reviewer would be delighted if “The Prodigal Son” was performed more often.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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