Walton: Belshazzar's Feast

Christopher Purves (Performer), William [composer] Walton (Composer), Paul Daniel (Conductor), English Northern Philharmonia (Orchestra), Simon Lindley (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Christopher Purves, Simon Lindley
• Orchestra: English Northern Philharmonia
• Conductor: Paul Daniel
• Composer: William [composer] Walton
• Audio CD (May 18, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B0001N9ZCK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,896 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Walton’s searing oratorio, Belshazzar’s Feast, written for baritone, chorus and a huge orchestra with an augmented brass section, takes as its subject the scene from the Bible (Book of Daniel) in which, at King Belshazzar’s Feast, a hand appears and prophetically writes a doom laden message on the wall. Often compared on account of its pulsating drive and barbaric splendour with Orff’s Carmina Burana, Belshazzar’s Feast is now regarded as the finest British large-scale choral work since Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High quality recording, December 8, 2005

By 

David S. Pham (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Walton: Belshazzar's Feast (Audio CD)

I wasn't expecting much based on the inexpensive price, but this recording blew me away. The recording is phenomenol. The orchestra is outstanding and the brass section is wholesome (and even has a little edge, in a good way). The choir is powerful and full of emotion. Highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Feast for the ears, October 17, 2005

By 

T. Patterson (Virgin Islands) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Walton: Belshazzar's Feast (Audio CD)

The quality of the CD is excellent as are the voices and orchestra. The regal and majestic themes aqre brilliantly displayed and the pulse-pounding rhythms can really "rock the house" Hihgly recommended recording.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very fine but not the best, February 15, 2007

By 

LJM (Earth) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Walton: Belshazzar's Feast (Audio CD)

I heard Paul Daniel's interpretation of Belshazzar's Feast "live" in Leeds Town Hall on March 17, 2001 - actually the place where the piece once was premiered in 1931 on the Leeds festival. Daniel's interpretation that day was a great musical moment - I hoped it would have been recorded.

But the interpretation on the present disc, recorded later in 2001 in Leeds Town Hall but without audience, does not really make the same impression. Walton's wild, jazzy music is more controlled here than what I can recall from the live performance.

Nonetheless it is a very good recording with a lot of musical excitement, partly due to the excellent orchestral playing (the brass is glowingly outstanding, as always in Britain), even if the choral singing is not quite up to the distinguished standard in Previn's seminal account (EMI). Daniel's bass Christopher Purves, moreover, is no match for Previn's John Shirley Quirk - there is more "bite" in the archaic words here.

So, to sum up, a very fine recording that can be recommended, even if not without some minor reservations. For most people, Previn must still be the first "mainstream" choice.

But my first recommendation is actually Ormandy's thrillingly taut interpretation on SONY (a bargain twofer that includes Szell's magical interpretation of Walton's second symphony - available at amazon.co.uk), even if the recording quality is not the very best and the choir sounds less massive and alert than the one in Previn's hands (and even the one in Daniel's recording). The conductor, as always, makes the whole difference.