A Radio Play...

 

... about Angels

The best parts from Benjamin Britten's The Company of Heaven are the five or so choruses sprinkled throughout its runtime.

The rest is mostly spoken prose relaying how Angels interceded in The Bible, as well stories as to how Angels affect lives in the here and now. Some of these latter stories are quite interesting indeed.

The climactic point arrives in the central War in Heaven with Lucifer, as well as at the end, where Britten sets the hymn Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones into a grand finale.

Leading the English Chamber Orchestra and London Philharmonic Choir is US choral conductor Philip Brunelle. I love Brunelle's story!

He created the choir VocalEssence in Minnesota and established a base at Plymouth Congregational Church, where in his first year of programming he called up Aaron Copland to come and direct his own music - and with success! Cold-calling composers and musicians seems to be his claim to fame, all the while remaining a humble person, and an excellent choral leader. How he got this gig recording on Virgin, plus the first recording of Britten's Paul Bunyan, is beyond my knowledge. I will include a video of Brunelle below for more information for those interested.

As with any recording of incidental music, the relationship between storytelling and music are essential. Here, the speakers are sonically flung a little too far away from the listener, and the amount of narration is rampant enough to disturb the flow of the music. That said, the choral/orchestral contributions in The Company of Heaven is great; just occurring too far and few between for my tastes. Check out Brunelle's talk on Britten's music in the video below as well.

Since the main work here is but 50 minutes, some excerpts from Paul Bunyan are included. I hadn't known this comedic opera from Britten previously, but these ditties sure leave me wanting to hear more. The overture is busting out with orchestral color and good humor, and the two vocal numbers sound like they are teeming with wry humor and ribaldry. With the rapid play on words, Shostakovich's Cheryomushki comes immediately to mind.

Aside from the choral portions from The Company of Heaven, I can't say I am waiting with bated breath to return to this production. On the other hand, Paul Bunyan was an eye opener for this listener, and I will probably pursue that larger work for future listening.

 

 

 

 

Works
The Company of Heaven (50.00)
Welcome Ode, op. 95 (17.37)

Soloists
Cathryn Pope, soprano
Patricia Forbes, soprano
Bronwen Mills, soprano
Dan Dressen, tenor
Andrew Murgatroyd, tenor
Angus Smith, tenor

Sheila Allen, narrator
Peter Barkworth, narrator

Performers
Christopher Herrick, organ
London Philharmonic Choir
English Chamber Orchestra

Label: Virgin
Year: 1990
Total Timing: 67.37

 

 

 

 

I hate to be too hard on this recording, for putting together such a rare work probably required a lot of behind-the-scenes labor; one of love, I am sure.

Plus, all of the choral and orchestral efforts sound excellent here. If only the whole of Company of Heaven came together a little more cohesively amidst the narrations.

On the other hand, the sneak preview of Britten's Paul Bunyan was well worth the visit.

 

 

 

 

 

Philip Brunelle Biography