England Anthems 2002 is a collection of the by now familiar puff-your-chest-out-and-be-proud-you're-English mix of music to stir the blood--from "Land of Hope and Glory" to "Greensleeves", "Rule Britannia" to "Jerusalem", "You'll Never Walk Alone" to "Nessun dorma". All these come in recommendable performances from the back catalogue, featuring the likes of Pavarotti, Vera Lynn and Roger Norrington, the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and, yes, the Choir of King's College Cambridge ("Abide with Me"). Only a rather lacklustre arrangement of "I Vow to Thee my Country" (from Holst's Planets) and an eccentric "Nimrod" from Elgar's Enigma Variations (conducted by Solti) may jar with any purist tempted to buy. The tag, of course, is the 2002 World Cup. Ironically, the real tingle factor is provided by a Welshman (albeit one who supports Manchester United), Bryn Terfel. His passionate reading of the authentic "You'll Never Walk Alone" from Carousel runs even Gerry and the Pacemakers pretty close. --Andrew Green
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