Vaughan Williams: Merciless Beauty

“Classic 1970s recordings by the Partridge siblings, and such luminaries as Janet Craxton. On Wenlock Edge - chamber version - still sounds excellent, while the Warlock disc is distinctly special.” BBC Music Magazine, March 2010 *****

“The programme here has an identity of its own and as such is without competitors. Its 'theme' is to collect those of Vaughan Williams's songs which have something other than piano accompaniment.
On Wenlock Edge (1909) is for voice, piano and string quartet, Merciless Beauty (1921) with string trio, Along the Field (1927) and TwoEnglish Folksongs (published 1935 but of earlier date) voice and violin, and the Blake songs (1957) with oboe. Eligible for inclusion might have been Four Hymns (1914) with piano and viola, and perhaps The Willow Whistle (1939) for voice and pipe. The Three Vocalises of 1958, with clarinet, are specifically for soprano, but show the composer's continuing taste for such combinations right into the last year of his life. John Mark Ainsley sings with the sense of a civilised personal utterance, refined and restrained, yet capable of full-bodied tone and a ringing forte when needed: the cry 'O noisy bells, be dumb' is as emotional as an operatic climax and all the more effective for the exceptional frankness of its release. These are highly demanding pieces, the voice unremittingly exposed. He brings to them a fine poise, in breathing, phrasing, expression and the even emission of quite beautiful tone. He has also the considerable advantage of exceptional players to work with.
Individually admirable, they combine in OnWenlock Edge to give an unusually imaginative performance.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“Although this was a live performance [of the Tudor Portraits] slips are few and there is a real feeling of a live occasion. Nell Rankin sings with real commitment as do the choir...[Young's] diction is faultless and he manages to avoid sounding self-pitying or simply feeble as do some of his rivals on disc...All in all this is a very welcome and imaginatively chosen selection of recordings which very much deserve resurrection.” MusicWeb International, August 2012

“the performances win through: Young's delivery of On Wenlock Edge is tremendously moving, while pianist Gordon Watson and the Sebastian String Quartet capture the nuances of tonal colour resulting from RVW's studies under Ravel. The three Rondels of Merciless Beauty are similarly affecting” The Independent, 4th May 2012

“the members of the Horenstein give a performance [of the Cras] that would be thoroughly persuasive if the music itself were stronger...The Horenstein play [the Howells] beautifully, as they do Vaughan Williams's Merciless Beauty, with Fionnuala McCarthy as the sensitive soprano.” Gramophone Magazine, July 2012

“A convincing and deeply moving showcase… exceptional value… it’s scope breathtaking. This is the essential set, and if you're at all drawn to VW you might as well buy the whole damn show now - because sooner or later you're going to anyway.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2008 *****