From Byrd to Tippett, with recommended recordings of each work
No 1
Byrd Masses
The Tallis Scholars / Peter Philips
(Gimmell)
‘The sort of musical bliss which should never stop’
No 2
Tallis Spem in Alium
Magnificat / Philip Cave
(Linn)
‘This is quite the best performance of Spem in aliumthat I have heard’
No 3
Handel Messiah
Dunedin Consort & Players / John Butt
(Linn)
‘The playing is unerringly spontaneous’
No 4
Stainer Crucifixion
Sols; BBC Singers; Leith Hill Festival Singers / Brian Kay
(Chandos)
‘An unselfregarding and genuine performance’
No 5
Elgar The Dream of Gerontius
Sols; Hallé Choir and Orchestra / Mark Elder
(Hallé)
‘The best-sounding Gerontiuswe have had’
No 6
Howells Hymnus paradisi
Sols; RLPO and Choir / Vernon Handley
(Hyperion)
‘A feeling for the dramatic quality in the score’
No 7
Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony
Sols; LPO and Choir / Bernard Haitink
(Warner)
‘Haitink’s performance is outstanding’
No 8
Walton Belshazzar’s Feast
Sols; Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Andrew Litton
(Decca)
‘A powerful account’
No 9
Britten War Requiem
Sols; LSO and Chorus / Richard Hickox
(Chandos)
‘Perhaps the most successful performance of all’
No 10
Tippett A Child of Our Time
Sols; LSO and Chorus / Sir Colin Davis
(LSO Live)
‘Very special’
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