Beethoven: Der glorreiche Augenblick & Choral Fantasia

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Beethoven: Der glorreiche Augenblick & Choral Fantasia

Claire Rutter (soprano), Matilde Wallevik (mezzo-soprano), Peter Hoare (tenor) & Stephen Gadd (baritone), Marta Fontannais-Simmons (mezzo-soprano), Julian Davies (tenor) & Leon McCawley (piano)

City of London Choir & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Boys of Westminster Under School...

with the aid of a strong team of soloists, Hilary Davan Wetton makes as strong a case as possible for [Der glorreiche Augenblick]...The performance [of the Choral Fantasy] here benefits greatly... — BBC Music Magazine, July 2012, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 30th Apr 2012
Catalogue No: 8572783
Label: Naxos
Length: 57 minutes

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Beethoven: Der glorreiche Augenblick Op. 136

Work length37:39

$8.00

$10.40

$14.00

Claire Rutter, Matilde Wallevik, Peter Hoare, Stephen Gadd
Westminster Boys' Choir, City of London Choir, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Hilary Davan Wetton

Europa steht! (Chorus)

Track length4:04

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Recitative. O seht sie nah' und naher treten! (Fuhrer des Volkes, Genius, Chorus)

Track length4:26

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Aria with Chorus. O Himmel, welch' Entzucken! (Vienna, Chorus)

Track length9:50

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

Recitative. Das Auge schaut (Seherin, Chorus)

Track length6:57

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Recitative and Quartet: Der den Bund im Sturme fest gehalten (Seherin, Vienna, Fuhrer des Volkes, Genius)

Track length8:11

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

No. 6, Es treten hervor

Track length4:11

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Beethoven: Fantasia for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80

Work length19:41

$4.00

$5.15

$7.00

Leon McCawley, Claire Rutter, Matilde Wallevik, Marta Fontanals-Simmons, Peter Hoare, Julian Davies, Stephen Gadd
City of London Choir, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Hilary Davan Wetton

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About

Beethoven’s unusual cantata Der glorreiche Augenblick (The Glorious Moment) is filled with patriotic praise for Vienna and tributes to the kings and princes of Europe after the defeat of Napoleon. It was performed alongside his symphonic Wellington’s Victory at its première in 1814. The Fantasia in C minor for piano, chorus and orchestra opens with a virtuosic, improvisatory Adagio for the piano. The work’s main theme anticipates the famous Ode to Joy setting Beethoven later devised for his Choral Symphony.

Beethoven’s cantata Der glorreiche Augenblick is rarely performed and very seldom recorded, usually only appearing amidst vast sets of Beethoven’s complete works. This is in fact a remarkable and distinctive piece which deserves wider availability, and its appearance with the distinguished forces of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a very fine gathering of soloists will make it an easy and popular choice for seekers of fresh Beethoven material. The coupling with another occasional and relatively low-profile work, the Choral Fantasia, is entirely logical and eminently satisfying.

Artists

Claire Rutter (soprano), Matilde Wallevik (mezzo-soprano), Peter Hoare (tenor) & Stephen Gadd (baritone), Marta Fontannais-Simmons (mezzo-soprano), Julian Davies (tenor) & Leon McCawley (piano)

City of London Choir & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Boys of Westminster Under School Senior Choir, Hilary Davan Wetton

Reviews

July 2012

with the aid of a strong team of soloists, Hilary Davan Wetton makes as strong a case as possible for [Der glorreiche Augenblick]...The performance [of the Choral Fantasy] here benefits greatly from the contribution of Leon McCawley, whose account of the long opening piano solo has just the right degree of dramatic intensity and improvisatory freedom. With first-rate recorded sound, the disc is strongly recommended.

September 2012

[Wetton] has a comprehensive grasp of the score [of Der glorreiche Augenblick]. From grandeur to contemplation, the mix of many elements is persuasively interpreted...Leon McCawley plays the 26-bar solo introduction [to the Choral Fantasia] with a sense of ad-lib abandon, coruscating in the hailstorm of notes at its fortissimo climax.

May 2012

Davan Wetton rouses his forces to hymn the praises of Vienna and Emperor Franz of Austria, drawing from the City of London Choir the full-bodied outpouring that one expects at celebratory occasions. The Westminster Boys Choir adds pristine treble tones to the concluding chorus. The Royal Philharmonic plays with relish in both the cantata and the Fantasia

July 2012

The choirs are consistently excellent and they make light of Beethoven’s demanding vocal writing. The playing of the Royal Philharmonic is first-rate in every way, revealing an adoption of historically informed performance practice. Hilary Davan Wetton’s enthusiasm and love for both works is obvious

7th June 2012

thrill-a-minute stuff that draws you in and sweeps away any scruples you may have. The filler is the Choral Fantasia with Leon McCawley as piano soloist, done in a very grand manner, though also with great panache.

Beethoven: Der glorreiche Augenblick & Choral Fantasia

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