Edward Higginbottom and his Choir of New College Oxford present the second of three CDs exploring 20th-century choral music, this one concentrating on many of the contemporary British compositions that have figured in their popular New College chapel programmes and delighted many diverse audiences of students, Fellows and visitors alike. The track list reads like a veritable who’s who of contemporary British composers, with two sacred works by James MacMillan leading the way. Julian Anderson, Jonathan Dove, Tarik O’Regan, Robin Holloway and Judith Weir are among the others who contribute to a glorious disc that displays the Choir’s distinguishing versatility.
Also available are Poulenc and his French Contemporaries (AV 2084), and Copland and his American Contemporaries (AV 2086).
“There are few boy choristers who can phrase as expressively as Edward Higginbottom’s firm rich-toned altos ... a dignified, darkly eloquent performance.”
October 2006
“…a rich, well chosen selection of works that confirm just how vigorous and robust the British tradition remains, and what safe hands that tradition is in when composers of this calibre are willing to continue it with such understanding and respect for the strengths and needs of the church choir.”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
