Search - John Carol Case, John [British Composer] Ireland, Adrian Boult :: Boult conducts John Ireland

Boult conducts John Ireland
John Carol Case, John [British Composer] Ireland, Adrian Boult
Boult conducts John Ireland
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #1

John Ireland (1879-1962), despite his name, was born and lived all his life in England, and is considered a thoroughly British composer. His personal outlook was inclined to be pessimistic, and he often seemed to have a...  more »

     
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John Ireland (1879-1962), despite his name, was born and lived all his life in England, and is considered a thoroughly British composer. His personal outlook was inclined to be pessimistic, and he often seemed to have a sense of foreboding. Yet such an apparent contradiction is by no means unknown in other composers and writers. Moreover, beneath Ireland's reserved and rather skeptical manner there lay strong, warm feelings, as much of his music shows. Once again Sir Adrian Boult, one of the greatest British conductors of the twentieth century, leads historic and authoritative performances of a great English composer.
 

CD Reviews

Essential for British music lovers
jsa | San Diego, CA United States | 06/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of two outstanding Lyrita discs of John Ireland's orchestral music, both of which are called "Boult Conducts Ireland." If you aren't familiar with Ireland's music I would start with this disc which includes extended works for piano ("Legend" for piano & orchestra, and the Piano Concerto) as well as a big choral work, "These Things Shall Be." The "Legend" is not a virtuoso showpiece, but rather an atmospheric orchestral work that prominently features piano. The concerto, on the other hand, reflects John Ireland's background as an accomplished pianist - it's an immensely likable work with a modern feel, full of color & with plenty of opportunities for the soloist to shine (Rubinstein, Curzon, & Bachauer among others played it).



The other extended work here is "These Things Shall Be," a three movement choral work that premiered in 1937 under the baton of Adrian Boult. I am not typically fond of big choral pieces, however, "These Things Shall Be" contains some of Ireland's most dynamic writing; you would swear that Vaughan Williams had a hand in it. The short pieces on the disc are also substantial: the "Satyricon" overture & "Symphonic Studies."



With the exception of "These Things Hall Be," I've owned these recordings on vinyl for more than 30 years & am thrilled that Lyrita has finally reissued them on cd. There are other fine recordings of most of this music (I own the Bryden Thomson & Hickox recordings on Chandos, also featuring Eric Parkin on piano), but these earlier performances by Adrian Boult with Eric Parkin & the LPO are really definitive. The stereo sound is also excellent.



Most highly recommended!"