Customer Reviews

Bridge: Oration; Elgar: Cello Concerto; Holst: Invocation

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Even though I have the classic du Pre/Barbirolli recording of the Elgar cello concerto in my collection, I bought this cd because I wanted Bridge's "Oration" and Holst's "Invocation," neither of which I was familiar with. Both, as it turns out, are unusual works and make excellent discmates for the the Elgar concerto. Bridge's "Oration" consists of eight fairly brief movements and runs 32 minutes. The liner notes refer to Bridge's war-time experiences as the basis for this compostion, however, I rarely have any programatic aspect in mind when listening to music. Whatever was in the composer's mind ultimately becomes irrelevant as thoughts are given musical expression - it is music we are hearing, not words that we are reading. And what the composer may have felt or tried to express may not be at all what I hear. As for "Oration," it is haunting & imaginative and my appreciation of it increases with repeated listenings.

Gustav Holst's "Invocation" is very beautiful. It was written in 1911 and fell into obscurity until the 1980's when the composer's daughter, Imogen, supported its revival. Like many of Holst's works, it reflects his interest in eastern spirituality with apparently some relationship between the material and the Rig Veda.

The Elgar concerto, which is sandwiched between the Bridge and Holst pieces, receives a very atmospheric reading and buyers who already have this music will not be at all disappointed by having another version.

Raphael Wallifisch, a fine cellist who has recorded extensively in the British repertory, is well supported in all three works by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. The sound is also very good, although I found I had to fiddle with the volume controls as the recording level seemed to be on the low side.

Warmly recommended.