Search - Roderick Williams, George Dyson, Richard Hickox :: Dyson: Quo Vadis

Neglected masterpiece

Michael Gast | New York, New York United States | 05/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dyson's music was always out of step with his times (he died in 1964). In short, it's expressive, melodic and as beautifully crafted as music gets. This, well, "oratorio," set to poetry of a metaphysical and spiritual bent is as heartful and moving as anything in the choral literature. Everything about this recording is expert: the performances by chorus and the quartet of soloists are luminous, thoughtful and loving. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more sensitive orchestra or conductor. The sound is demonstration quality. Dyson's great melodic gift is in full flower here, covering a vast emotional range. Nothing is trite, second-hand or obvious. In fact, you wonder how the so-called "depleted tonal vocabulary" of the Romantics can convey such richness and variety. Treat yourself. This premiere recording is a true treasure you'll never regret buying. One listening and you'll wonder how such a masterpiece ever failed to capture the audience it has always deserved."

Music to Lift Up The Spirit

Kenneth Stephen | Elliot Lake, ON Canada | 10/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Even among many other fine works by George Dyson that have been recorded in recent years, Quo Vadis stands out as a major achievement. No description can do this music justice. You have to hear it for yourself.Right from the start, Dyson's harmonic language and skillful orchestration are completely at the service of his beautiful and carefully crafted libretto. Time and again he creates effects that cause you to catch your breath in awe and wonder at the beautiful world his music opens up. No passage illustrates this better than the conclusion of the seventh movement where the line "far beyond the stars" is illustrated by a series of cadences for the choir, the last of which suspends in space, leaving the orchestra to resolve with a quiet lift upwards into the heavens.Best of all, this music -- which makes such an impact on first hearing -- continues to grow and reveal more of its wonder and subtlety, the more you listen to it. I do not hesitate to use the word "masterpiece", and no one should hesitate to discover the heart-stirring beauties of this score for themselves.Of the performance, it need only be said that chorus, orchestra, soloists and conductor have given Dyson's greatest work the performance that it has always deserved."