Church Times, August 2003
I much admired the Vasari Singers’ Gramophone Choice Guild recording of De Profundis (GMCD 7220), Marcel Dupré’s setting of Psalm 130, composed late in World War I and dedicated to France’s soldiers who died in that carnage.
La France au Calvaire (GMCD 7239) is Dupré’s even more powerful response to the Second World War, especially the devastation of Rouen, and was composed for the reopening of the city’s restored Norman cathedral. An oblique, poetic text begins at the foot of the cross; what follows is a fascinating, medieval-infused evocation of France’s patrons, St Denis, Ste Clotilde, the sainted King Louis, Ste Thérèse of Lisieux, and Joan of Arc.
It’s a deeply passionate work, richly chorded; and Jeremy Backhouse’s Vasari forces, abetted once more by the considerate organ texturing of Jeremy Filsell, deliver a deeply affecting performance in this first recording. The darkly glowing tenor narrations are exquisitely sung by Matthew Beale. Midway the work marginally loses momentum, regaining it in the finale, in the ringing solo evocations of a personified France and Christ himself. A fine discovery, tenderly sung and beautifully recorded.
Roderic Dunnett
Conductor: Jeremy Backhouse
Organists: Jeremy Filsell,
Soloists: Helen Neeves (Soprano)
Catherine Denley (Alto)
Matthew Beale (Tenor)
Colin Campbell (Bass)
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01. |
Jean Langlais - Festival Alleluia | |
|
02. |
Jehan Alain - O Salutaris | |
|
03. |
Olivier Messiaen - O Sacrum Convivium | |
| Marcel Dupré - La France au Calvaire Op.49 | ||
|
04. |
Prologue (Le Récitant/La France) | |
|
05. |
Saint-Denis (Le Récitant/Saint-Denis/Les Barbares/Les Chrétiennes) | |
|
06. |
Sainte-Clotilde (Sainte-Clotilde) | |
|
07. |
Sainte-Louis (Le Récitant/Chœur) | |
|
08. |
Jeanne d’Arc (La Récitante/Les Armées/Le Peuple de France) | |
|
09. |
Saint-Vincent de Paul (Les Misérables/Le Récitant/Chœur céleste) | |
|
10. |
Sainte-Thérèse (La Récitante/Chœur) | |
|
11. |
Final (La France/Chœur/La Voix du Christ) |
DDD Total Time = 78:25 / Recorded: Douai
Abbey, Upper Woolhampton, Nr. Reading,
Berkshire 22-24 February 2002
Recorded in 24-bit resolution
Monitored using PMC Loudspeakers
World Premiere recordings for all repertoire except tracks 3 and 11.
Compact Disc GMCD 7239