Sir Edward Elgar: The Crown of India

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The music… is from start to finish authentic middling Elgar, highly enjoyable and well worth revival. Gerald Finley shines as St George in 'The Rule of England', however embarrassing the words.... — BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2009, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 26th Oct 2009
Catalogue No: CHAN10570(2)
Label: Chandos
Length: 2 hours 32 minutes

Presto Recording of the Week

9th November 2009
Gramophone Magazine

January 2010

Editor's Choice

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Elgar: The Crown of India, Op. 66, Tableau I, The Cities of Ind

Work length49:15

$19.95

$24.70

$30.40

Sir Andrew Davis, BBC Philharmonic, Barbara Marten, Clare Shearer, Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, Deborah McAndrew, Gerald Finley, Darius Battiwalla, Joanne Mitchell

Ia. Introduction

Track length1:27

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Ib. Sacred Measure

Track length2:09

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II. Dance of Nautch Girls

Track length3:08

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IIa. India greets her Cities

Track length5:20

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III. Hail, Immemorial Ind! (Agra)

Track length6:55

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III. Well dost thou say that East and West upbear (India)

Track length0:46

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IIIa. Entrance to Calcutta

Track length0:57

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India. 'Welcome Calcutta!'

Track length1:30

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IIIb. Entrance of Delhi

Track length1:26

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IIIb. Stop! That place is mine (Delhi)

Track length2:21

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IVa. Introduction

Track length1:38

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IVb. March of the Mogul Emperors

Track length4:59

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IVb. Illustrious Emperors! (India)

Track length2:10

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V. Entrance of John Company

Track length2:00

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V. Good John Company, reply (Calcutta)

Track length1:12

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V. Entrance of St George

Track length2:06

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V. Calcutta, Delhi, give your quarrel pause (India)

Track length1:45

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VI. The Rule of England (St George)

Track length3:44

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VII. Interlude

Track length3:42

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Elgar: The Crown of India, Op. 66, Tableau II, Ave Imperator!

Work length25:38

$9.45

$11.70

$14.40

Sir Andrew Davis, BBC Philharmonic, Barbara Marten, Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, Darius Battiwalla, Clare Shearer

VIIIa. Introduction

Track length1:09

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VIIIb. Warriors' Dance

Track length2:00

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IX. The Cities of Ind

Track length2:28

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IX. Hail Festal Hour from out the Ages drawn (India)

Track length0:32

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X. The Crown of India

Track length5:08

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X. Incessu patuit Imperator (India)

Track length0:48

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Xa. The Homage of Ind

Track length6:08

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XI. The Crowning of Delhi

Track length3:59

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XII. Ave Imperator!

Track length3:26

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Elgar: The Crown of India, Op. 66, Tableau I, The Cities of Ind

Work length33:34

$12.60

$15.60

$19.20

Sir Andrew Davis, BBC Philharmonic, Barbara Marten, Clare Shearer, Gerald Finley, Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, Joanne Mitchell, Darius Battiwalla

Ia. Introduction

Track length1:27

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

Ib. Sacred Measure

Track length2:09

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

II. Dance of Nautch Girls

Track length3:08

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IIa. India greets her Cities

Track length1:18

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$1.60

III. Hail, Immemorial Ind! (Agra)

Track length6:57

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IIIa. Entrance to Calcutta

Track length1:01

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IIIb. Entrance of Delhi

Track length1:31

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IVa. Introduction

Track length1:31

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IVb. March of the Mogul Emperors

Track length4:59

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V. Entrance of John Company

Track length2:06

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VI. The Rule of England (St George)

Track length3:45

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VII. Interlude

Track length3:42

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Elgar: The Crown of India, Op. 66, Tableau II, Ave Imperator!

Work length24:00

$7.35

$9.10

$11.20

Sir Andrew Davis, BBC Philharmonic, Barbara Marten, Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, Clare Shearer, Darius Battiwalla

VIIIa. Introduction

Track length1:10

$1.05

$1.30

$1.60

VIIIb. Warriors' Dance

Track length2:02

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IX. The Cities of Ind

Track length2:13

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X. The Crown of India

Track length5:10

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Xa. The Homage of Ind

Track length6:08

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XI. The Crowning of Delhi

Track length3:45

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XII. Ave Imperator!

Track length3:32

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Elgar: Imperial March, Op. 32

Work length4:35

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Sir Andrew Davis, BBC Philharmonic

Elgar: The Coronation March, Op. 65

Work length10:17

$1.60

$1.95

$2.40

Sir Andrew Davis, BBC Philharmonic

Elgar: The Empire March

Work length4:44

$1.05

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Sir Andrew Davis, BBC Philharmonic

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Recording of the Week, Two important Elgar rarities

9th November 2009

Sir Andrew Davis conducts The Crown of India with the BBC Philharmonic, and Roderick Williams and others explore The Fringes of the Fleet, a patriotic song-cycle setting texts by Rudyard Kipling.

2 CDs for the price of 1

Chandos are delighted to present the first complete recording of the masque The Crown of India, performed here by Clare Shearer and Gerald Finley, with the BBC Philharmonic and Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. Completed by Anthony Payne in 2008 the work conveys all the pomp and pageantry with which Elgar is associated. The work is presented on 2 CDs. Disc 1 includes the entire masque with narration, whilst Disc 2 contains only the music and Marches. The set is sold at the price of one full price CD.

This recording is also the first with Sir Andrew Davis, now signed exclusively to Chandos. Sir Andrew’s fascination with Elgar goes deep, including taking the symphonies all over the world. He says of The Crown of India, ‘He’s [Payne] done a terrific job. This is from Elgar’s mature period, the time of the Violin Concerto and Sospiri. There’s a ‘March of the Moguls’ which is the only march I know in three time and an exquisite interlude with solo violin.’

The elaborate pageant and theatrical presentation, The Crown of India was first staged in 1912 to celebrate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Delhi for their coronation as Emperor and Empress of India. Elgar wrote the music as his Op.66, with a libretto by Henry Hamilton. Sadly the score was only published in a piano-vocal version and the remaining orchestral parts were destroyed in the 1960s. In 2007 the Elgar Society set about a commission for Anthony Payne to complete the orchestration of the music, with the orchestral suite and marches.

Sir Andrew Davis continues to be resident in Chicago, where he has been Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Lyric Opera Chicago since 2000. His association with Chandos will see him conduct the principal BBC orchestras as well as orchestras around the world.

Orchestrations by Anthony Payne

Reviews

Christmas 2009

The music… is from start to finish authentic middling Elgar, highly enjoyable and well worth revival. Gerald Finley shines as St George in 'The Rule of England', however embarrassing the words. …the remarkable 1911 Coronation March, perhaps the least joyous coronation march ever written, confirms itself in this performance as a masterpiece that is on a par with any movement from the symphonies.

January 2010

Sir Andrew directs with contagious relish, no little charisma (witness the glinting spectacle of the "March of the Mogul Emperors") and instinctive ebb and flow, the BBC PO and Sheffield Philharmonic Choir acquitting themselves in kind with admirable skill and commitment. Both vocal soloists are excellent (Gerald Finley projects marvellously in "The Rule of England)... With its gloriously ample sonics and attractive artwork, this set should find favour with every Elgar devotee.

Offer,Sir Edward Elgar: The Crown of India

2 CDs

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Recording of the Week, Two important Elgar rarities

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