Choir Of St John's, Elora, Noel Edison - Hear My Prayer
STYLE: Choral RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 19367- LABEL: Naxos Choral Favourites 8557493 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £5.95
Reviewed by Steven Whitehead
The 15 hymns and anthems on this budget-priced CD come from both the Catholic and Protestant traditions and from Europe and North America. The oldest composer featured is Henry Purcell (born in 1659) who gives us his setting of the Magnificat as well as "Remember Not, O Lord" which, to this reviewer, was not especially memorable. The first highlight is Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's ever popular "Hear My Prayer". Instead of the usual boy treble we have the Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin. Sopranos do not sound the same as trebles but on this recording it really does not matter. Miss Gauvin gives one of the nicest versions of this song that your reviewer has heard and takes wing with the dove and avoids any hint of cloying sentimentality. This one track is worth the admission price but there are others just as good, including Finzi's "God Is Gone Up" and Elgar's "Lux Aeterna". This is an arrangement of his immortal "Nimrod" variation and works wonderfully well as a choral piece. Less well known are the Canadian compositions: Eleanor Daley's "In Remembrance" from her 'Requiem', and Stephen Chatwin's setting of poet Christina Rossetti's "Remember". Noel Edison has assembled an excellent choir at Elora and this CD is excellent value for money.
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