Description:
Since the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, John Tavener's simple and powerful Song for Athene has been recorded umpteen times and has thus become an excellent standard by which to judge all the choirs who have attempted it. The version by the Choir of Kings College Cambridge is hyper-sophisticated with plenty of vibrato from the boys; the Choir of New College Oxford recording is smoothly buttery and breathy; and the version here from the Choir of St John's College Cambridge (while slightly less accurate than the other two) is urgent and driven. The acoustic of the St John's Chapel is a tad less resonant than some of the othe
Since the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, John Tavener's simple and powerful Song for Athene has been recorded umpteen times and has thus become an excellent standard by which to judge all the choirs who have attempted it. The version by the Choir of Kings College Cambridge is hyper-sophisticated with plenty of vibrato from the boys; the Choir of New College Oxford recording is smoothly buttery and breathy; and the version here from the Choir of St John's College Cambridge (while slightly less accurate than the other two) is urgent and driven. The acoustic of the St John's Chapel is a tad less resonant than some of the other collegiate chapels, and contributes to the harder edge of the choir's sound, but it also focuses attention on the choir as a collection of individual voices in a way which is thrillingly unique. Here they are on excellent form, and approach Tavener's blend of cathedral mysticism and Eastern chant with an English sense of drama. The mix is alluring and makes for an attractive Tavener compilation. --Warwick Thompson
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Manufacturer: Naxos
Release date: 20 February 2001
EAN: 0747313525621 UPC: 747313525621
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