Elgar: As torrents in summer

“The strength and major appeal of this disc will surely be the opportunity it presents to discover just how much Elgar could be an explorer … Elgarians and others tempted by the works assembled in this new collection can be assured that it is on a par with the best of them” International Record Review, March 2013

“The Rodolfus Choir shine strongly in these well-loved Elgar part-songs choral works.” MusicWeb International, April 2013

“The delicacy (and occasional fragility) of the Rodolfus's young voices make the effect [in 'Owls'] even more poignant...[Give unto the Lord] rounds off this hugely enjoyable disc with aplomb.” Gramophone Magazine, April 2013

“The combination of Ralph Allwood and the Rodolfus Choir usually means quality. It does again here in this excellently sung recital of Elgar choral pieces. It's hard, in fact, to imagine 'Go, song of mine', the opening item, done better...When simplicity of utterance is necessary, the Rodolfus deliver it unfussily.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2013 ****

“admirable performances and recording. Louis Halsey's choir, with its almost boy-like sopranos, is just right for these motets, while the recording sets them resonantly, as if in a cathedral. The choir sings its magnificently singable lines with evident appreciation of their moving beauty, obviously inspired by Halsey, whose heart is in the music” Gramophone Magazine (Parry, Stanford)

“Louis Halsey is obviously much in sympathy with both composers and gets most responsive singing from his choir, with excellent diction” Gramophone Magazine (Elgar, Delius)

“Halsey has helped to set a new standard in such choral singing, one of the splendid bonuses of the King's tradition, from which Halsey stems. Recording first-rate as one would expect from Argo” Gramophone Magazine (Folk songs)

“These commendably disciplined and infectiously spirited performances are sure to give pleasure. A tempting price, too! ” Gramophone Magazine, June 2008

“Under the experienced Christopher Robinson, the young singers of the Cambridge University Chamber Choir make the most of this treasure-trove, with secure pitching, clear enunciation, and a bright well-balanced sound.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2008 ****

“Christopher Robinson's survey of English choral music for Naxos…has been hailed as perhaps the finest ever conducted on disc” The Observer

“Plaudits to Christopher Robinson and the Cambridge University Chamber Choir for their keenly prepared and fervent exploration of this still under-appreciated repertoire. And what an absorbing creative portrait of the composer they give us, stretching from 1889 and 'My love dwelt in a northern land' to 1925 and the delectably assured setting of Walter de la Mare's 'The Prince of Sleep'. Other bewitching gems along the journey include 'As torrents in summer'(from the epilogue of the 1896 cantata King Olaf), 'Evening Scene' (1905) and 'Go, song of mine' (1909). In the five items (Opp 71-73) from 1914 Elgar's treatment of the a cappella medium acquires an extra confidence (the writing at once dark, rich and penetrating), though perhaps the most sheerly gripping and diverse inspiration on this well filled anthology is to be found within the four Op 53 songs of 1907: sample the eartickling bitonality of 'There is sweet music' or ghostly gloom of 'Owls' (Elgar at his most daring and inscrutable).
One might hope for a fractionally tighter focus to what is an otherwise tonally true sound-picture (the words are not always ideally clear – Naxos does, thankfully, supply full texts). Otherwise, these commendably disciplined and infectiously spirited performances are sure to give pleasure. A tempting price, too!” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

‘It’s a delightful disc … if there was a ‘Critics’ Fancy’ it would be there sure enough’ (Gramophone)