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Choral, Elgar (composer)
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New. Rachmaninoff: The Bells & Elgar: Falstaff
RecommendedMirjam Mesak (soprano), Pavel Petrov (tenor), Andrii Kymach (baritone), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Chorus, Vasily Petrenko
Petrenko is in his element [in The Bells] and so too is the Philharmonia Chorus, particularly electrifying when unleashed at full tilt in the 'Alarm Bells' movement...Petrenko's view [of Falstaff]... — More…
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 14th November 2025
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2025
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Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius & Sea Pictures
RecommendedStuart Skelton (tenor), Sarah Connolly (mezzo) & David Soar (bass), Sarah Connolly (mezzo)
BBC Symphony Chorus & BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis
among the best Gerontius performances on record. Davis resists the temptation to make the work sound like a flabby, imitation Parsifal and the results are outstandingly convincing...[Skelton]... — More…
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine, Disc of the month
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2015, Choral Award Winner
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2014
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Gramophone Awards, 2015, Winner - Choral
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Special offer. Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius
RecommendedNicky Spence (Gerontius), Anna Stéphany (The Angel), Andrew Foster-Williams (The Priest/Angel of the Agony), Polish National Youth Choir, Gabrieli, Paul McCreesh
This is unquestionably a great recording of Gerontius, one that every Elgarian should have, and ranks high among the many important projects Gabrieli has so far undertaken in its four decades... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, May 2024, Editor's Choice
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Presto Recording of the Week, 26th April 2024
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BBC Music Magazine, July 2024, Recording of the Month
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Gramophone Awards, 2024 Winners, Choral
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winners 2024
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International Classical Music Awards, 2025, Nominated - Choral
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2025, Winner - Choral
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Special offer. An English Coronation, 1902-1953
RecommendedEdward VII, George V, George VI, Elizabeth II
Gabrieli, Paul McCreesh
Some may find the extensive spoken liturgy excessive but such is Simon Russell Beale’s compelling delivery that the sheer beauty of the words offers a musical diversion of a different kind.... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, June 2019, Editor's Choice
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Presto Editor's Choice, May 2019
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Diapason d’Or, September 2019, Nouveauté
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2019
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2019
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Limelight Magazine Recordings of the Year, 2019, Nominated - Vocal
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International Classical Music Awards, 2019, Nominee - Choral
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Gramophone Magazine, December 2019, Critics' Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2020, Finalist - Choral
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Elgar: Falstaff, Orchestral Songs; Grania and Diarmid
Roderick Williams (baritone)
BBC Philharmonic, Sir Andrew Davis
The performances of the songs are ardent, warm and full of conviction. As ever Roderick Williams sounds completely on the composer’s side. But after Falstaff it’s all too clear that they really... — More…
Awards:
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Presto Editor's Choice, October 2017
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Gramophone Magazine, January 2018, Editor's Choice
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Diapason d’Or de l’Année, 2018, Winner - Symphonique
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Diapason d’Or, April 2018, Nouveauté
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New. Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius
Allan Clayton (Gerontius), Jamie Barton (Angel), James Platt (Priest/Angel of the Agony), London Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir, Hallé Choir, Edward Gardner
[Clayton's] heroic tone thrills in the great prayer, Sanctus Fortis, while an expressive use of text illuminates the philosophical question and answer session in Part Two...Gardner is intensely... — More…
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Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38
RecommendedPaul Groves (Gerontius), Alice Coote (Angel), Bryn Terfel (Priest/Angel of the Agony)
Halle, Hallé Choir, Hallé Youth Choir, Sir Mark Elder
Paul Groves's sophisticated, elegant tenor is not ideally the sort that should be essaying this role. With Bryn Terfel… sounding a little frayed, Alice Coote makes the biggest impact. It's... — More…
Awards:
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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Gramophone Awards, 2009, Winner - Choral
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Building a Library, December 2017, Also Recommended
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Elgar: Violin Concerto
RecommendedThomas Zehetmair (violin), Alice Coote (mezzo-soprano)
Hallé, Sir Mark Elder
Zehetmair...is able to marry impassioned purpose with appreciation of Elgar's complexity...Mark Elder's direction is stunning...there's a warm glow about the Hallé sound that adds an extra strand... — More…
Awards:
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Building a Library, January 2012, First Choice
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Sunday Times, 2010, Albums of the Year
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Gramophone Awards, 2010, Winner - Concerto
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Elgar: The Apostles, Op. 49
RecommendedRebecca Evans (The Angel Gabriel/The Blessed Virgin Mary), Alice Coote (Mary Magdalene/Narrator 2), Paul Groves (Narrator 1/John), Jacques Imbrailo (Jesus), David Kempster (Peter) & Brindley Sherratt (Judas)
Hallé & Hallé Youth Choir & Hallé Choir, Sir Mark Elder
It has all the tension and excitement of live performance, rising to incandescence in the closing pages, and Mark Elder has perfect control of the large forces and dramatic pacing. Brindley... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, November 2012, Editor's Choice
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BBC Music Magazine, November 2012, Choral & Song Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2013, Winner - Choral
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2013, Recording of the Year & Choral Award Winner
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Elgar: Caractacus
Elizabeth Llewellyn (Eigen), Elgan Llŷr Thomas (Orbin), Roland Wood (Caractacus), Christopher Purves (Arch-Druid, A Bard) & Alastair Miles (Claudius)
Huddersfield Choral Society, Orchestra of Opera North, Martyn Brabbins
Elgan Llŷr Thomas and Elizabeth Llewellyn are especially touching, while in the title role, baritone Roland Wood is on terrific form. — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, April 2019, Editor's Choice
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