Frederick Delius Eine Messe des Lebens (A Mass of Life) by Sir Mark Elder

Frederick Delius

Sir Mark Elder | Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Frederick Delius Eine Messe des Lebens (A Mass of Life)

Format: CD
Label: Lawo Classics
UPC: 7090020182872
Catnr: LWC 1265
Release date: 24 November 2023
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Label
Lawo Classics

UPC
7090020182872

Catalogue number
LWC 1265

Release date
24 November 2023

"...only a single word fits the result: excellent!"

Opus Klassiek, 01-1-2024

Album

Artist(s)

Composer(s)

Press

About the album

A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF LIFE!

"For me, Delius’s music is particularly beautiful," says Sir Mark Elder. "Delius was concerned with man's relationship with the world around him. He explored and was inspired by the forces of nature, our dependence on it, and its function as a model for the good.” Sir Mark Elder began his tenure as Principal Guest Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra with a performance of Delius’s A Mass of Life, described by Elder as a rarely performed masterpiece and a celebration of the human spirit. It was while he was in the Norwegian mountains that Delius came across Nietzsche's Also sprach Zarathustra, which became a direct inspiration for A Mass of Life. The result is a wonderfully expressive and strikingly beautiful musical celebration of life.

Sir Mark Elder is one of the leading conductors of our time, and is Music Director at the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester as well as Principal Guest Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Roderick Williams is currently one of the most sought-after baritones, performing with leading orchestras and in renowned opera houses. Gemma Summerfield is considered one of the most exciting young singers today, and sings both opera and concerts with orchestras. Claudia Huckle is an in-demand contralto who sings with leading orchestras and has appeared on several critically acclaimed recordings. Tenor Bror Magnus Tødenes has sung with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra on several occasions and is considered one of Scandinavia’s most gifted singers. Three choirs participate in this recording, conducted by choirmaster Håkon Matti Skrede. These brilliant Bergen choirs have made a name for themselves with several major performances, not least Britten's Peter Grimes, Wagner's Parsifal, Brahms’s A German Requiem, and Mahler's Symphony No. 2.

Artist(s)

Roderick Williams (baritone)

Roderick Williams is one of the most sought-after baritones of his generation and enjoys relationships with all the major UK and European opera houses. He has sung world premieres of operas by, among others, David Sawer, Sally Beamish, Michael van der Aa, Robert Saxton and Alexander Knaifel as well as roles by Mozart, Britten and Strauss. He has performed concert repertoire with many of the leading orchestras and ensembles internationally including the Berlin and New York Philharmonic Orchestras, London Symphony Orchestra and all of the BBC Orchestras. In demand as a recitalist, he has performed at major venues worldwide and festival appearances have included BBC Proms (Last Night 2014), Edinburgh, Cheltenham, Aldeburgh and Melbourne. In 2016 he won the RPS...

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Gemma Summerfield (soprano)

First-Prize winner of the Concurso Tenor Viñas competition in Barcelona, Concorso Lirico Internazionale di Portofino, and the Kathleen Ferrier competition, rising star soprano Gemma Summerfield has created a name as one of the most exciting young artists of today. She previously graduated from the Royal College of Music International Opera Studio with the Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medal, and continues to work closely with Rosa Mannion. In concert she has worked with orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and The Hallé. Her work on the operatic stage includes roles such as Fiordiligi, Pamina, Gretel, Mimì, and Rodelinda; the European premiere of Paula Jordan in Dinner at Eight; and Ulana in a prizewinning...

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Claudia Huckle (contralto)

Anglo-German contralto Claudia Huckle has appeared with opera companies across Europe and the USA, including the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Opéra National de Paris, Festival d’Aix en Provence, Teatro alla Scala, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Teatro Real Madrid, Oper Zürich, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Semperoper Dresden, Oper Leipzig, Bregenzer Festspiele, Washington National Opera, and Santa Fe Opera. Her many roles have included Hänsel; Lucretia; Dalila; Erda, Flosshilde, Schwertleite and 1st Norn (The Ring); Dritte Dame (Die Zauberflöte); Suzuki (Madama Butterfly); and Marfa (Khovanshchina). She has sung in concert with many leading orchestras including the LSO, LPO, RPO, Hallé Orchestra, BBC NOW, BBC SSO, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Runkfunks, Boston Symphony Orchestra, NSO Washington, Freiburg Baroque Orchestra...

Anglo-German contralto Claudia Huckle has appeared with opera companies across Europe and the USA, including the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Opéra National de Paris, Festival d’Aix en Provence, Teatro alla Scala, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Teatro Real Madrid, Oper Zürich, Grand Théâtre de Genève, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Semperoper Dresden, Oper Leipzig, Bregenzer Festspiele, Washington National Opera, and Santa Fe Opera. Her many roles have included Hänsel; Lucretia; Dalila; Erda, Flosshilde, Schwertleite and 1st Norn (The Ring); Dritte Dame (Die Zauberflöte); Suzuki (Madama Butterfly); and Marfa (Khovanshchina). She has sung in concert with many leading orchestras including the LSO, LPO, RPO, Hallé Orchestra, BBC NOW, BBC SSO, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Runkfunks, Boston Symphony Orchestra, NSO Washington, Freiburg Baroque Orchestra and the Academy of Ancient Music, in repertoire ranging from Bach and Handel to Elgar and Mahler. She has recorded Die Zauberflöte for Deutsche Grammophon under Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and Das Lied von der Erde for Champs Hill Records.

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Bror Magnus Tødenes (tenor)

Norwegian tenor Bror Magnus Tødenes is one of the most gifted singers to emerge from Scandinavia in recent decades, having already participated on an album that was nominated for a Spellemann Award (Norwegian Grammy) and appeared at the Salzburg Easter and Summer Festivals. Leading roles include the title character in La clemenza di Tito with Bergen National Opera and Rodolfo in La bohème at the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet in Oslo. Other roles include Tamino in Die Zauberflöte at the Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse, Camille in The Merry Widow with Bergen National Opera, Alfredo in La traviata with the Royal Swedish Opera, and the Apparition of a Youth in an acclaimed concert version of Die Frau ohne Schatten with the Rotterdam Philharmonic, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Tødenes was awarded the First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Renata Tebaldi International Voice Competition in 2015 and is also the youngest ever recipient of the Norwegian National Opera’s Erling Krogh’s grant for talented singers.

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Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, a Norwegian national orchestra, dates back to 1765. Edvard Grieg served as its artistic director from 1880 to 1882. Edward Gardner is Chief Conductor and Sir Mark Elder is the orchestra’s Principal Guest Conductor.
The orchestra was nominated 'Orchestra of the Year' 2020 by Gramophone and won two Gramophone Classical Music Awards in 2021: Recording of the Year and Opera Award Winner for Britten’s Peter Grimes. In recent years, the orchestra has played in the Concertgebouw, at the BBC Proms, Wiener Musikverein and Konzerthaus, Carnegie Hall, New York, Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and the Philharmonie, Berlin.
The orchestra and Edward Gardner appeared at the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) (2017) and Royal Festival Hall (2019) with their critically acclaimed production of Peter Grimes. In 2022 the orchestra was invited back to the Edinburgh International Festival and received rave reviews for their performance of Strauss’ Salome.
Edward Gardner and the Orchestra has released a series of recordings, including a Grammy-nominated recording of Janáčeks Glagolitic Mass, Schönberg’s Gurre-Lieder, songs by Sibelius, Grieg’s Piano Concerto and Incidental music to Peer Gynt, Schoenberg’s Erwartung and Pelleas und Melisande, Britten’s Peter Grimes with Stuart Skelton and Erin Wall, songs by Britten and Canteloube with soprano Mari Eriksmoen and a CD with saxophonist Marius Neset. In 2023 they released Nordheim’s Tempest (LWC1250).

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Bergen Philharmonic Choir

Founded in 1919, the Bergen Philharmonic Choir has roots going back to 1765 when the Music Society Harmonien (now the Bergen Philharmonic) was established for the purpose of organising orchestral concerts. The Choir flourished during the tenure of Edvard Grieg as Music Director, his choral works still holding a special place in its repertoire. The choir thrives under Håkon Matti Skrede, its director since 2004, appearing regularly with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in standard symphonic repertoire, from Mozart to Britten, while also championing more unusual repertoire and contemporary works. Highlights include performances of Britten’s Peter Grimes and War Requiem, Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass, Arne Nordheim’s Wirklicher Wald, Schoenberg’s Gurre-Lieder, Wagner’s Parsifal, some of these in collaboration...

Founded in 1919, the Bergen Philharmonic Choir has roots going back to 1765 when the Music Society Harmonien (now the Bergen Philharmonic) was established for the purpose of organising orchestral concerts. The Choir flourished during the tenure of Edvard Grieg as Music Director, his choral works still holding a special place in its repertoire. The choir thrives under Håkon Matti Skrede, its director since 2004, appearing regularly with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in standard symphonic repertoire, from Mozart to Britten, while also championing more unusual repertoire and contemporary works. Highlights include performances of Britten’s Peter Grimes and War Requiem, Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass, Arne Nordheim’s Wirklicher Wald, Schoenberg’s Gurre-Lieder, Wagner’s Parsifal, some of these in collaboration with other local choirs. Many discs have received excellent reviews both near and afar, the recording of the Glagolitic Mass earning a Grammy nomination for Best Choral Performance, and the recording of Peter Grimes won the Gramophone Classical Award for Best Opera performance and Gramophone Recording of the Year.

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Edvard Grieg Kor

Edvard Grieg Kor (EGK) under Chief Conductor, Edward Gardner, is Western Norway’s leading professional choir and is composed of the eight permanent singers in Edvard Grieg Vokalensemble together with 8-24 regular guest singers. In addition to EGK’s busy performing schedule, EGK is also the professional core of the opera chorus for Bergen National Opera and the symphonic choir of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. In recent years, the Edvard Grieg Kor has achieved recognition both nationally and internationally through their performances with Bergen National Opera and Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. The choir has won prestigious Gramophone awards, including 'Recording of the year' with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 2023 made their debut at the BBC proms with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Collegium Musicum Choir

Collegium Musicum is one of the leading musical ensembles in Bergen and a central meeting ground for professional and amateur musicians. Established by Professor Jan Christensen in 1978, the ensemble consists of a choir and orchestra totalling 80 members. Collegium Musicum’s repertoire primarily features the major classical choral works but extends to romantic, modern, and contemporary music. The ensemble is devoted to renewing the tradition by promoting and commissioning new works and enjoys the musical partnership with a number of internationally high-profiled conductors and soloists. In cooperation with Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (BFO), Collegium Musicum has participated on acclaimed CD releases of the music of Janáček (Grammy nomination), Berlioz, Elgar, and Britten. Collegium Musicum Choir performed Britten’s Peter Grimes with the...

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Sir Mark Elder (conductor)

Sir Mark Elder has been Music Director of the Hallé since September 2000. He was previously Music Director of English National Opera (1979–1993) and Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. From 2022/23 he has taken up the post of Principal Guest Conductor of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. He has enjoyed long relationships with the London Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestras as well as working with leading symphony orchestras throughout the world. He is a Principal Artist of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and has appeared annually at the Proms for many years, including—in 1987 and 2006—the internationally televised Last Night. He has enjoyed a long association with the Royal Opera House and has appeared in many other prominent theatres including the Metropolitan Opera, Opéra de Paris, Bavarian State Opera, Zürich, Dutch National Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, San Francisco and Glyndebourne Festival Opera. He was the first English conductor to conduct a new production at the Bayreuth Festival. From 2011 to 2019 he was Artistic Director of Opera Rara, and he has made many award-winning recordings in a wide repertoire with the Hallé, including a complete Ring cycle, Parsifal and the three great Elgar oratorios. Sir Mark Elder was appointed a Companion of Honour in 2017, knighted in 2008 and awarded the CBE in 1989. In May 2006 he was named Conductor of the Year by the Royal Philharmonic Society and he was awarded Honorary Membership of the Royal Philharmonic Society in 2011. He is International Chair in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music and Barbirolli Chair at the Royal Academy of Music.

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Composer(s)

Frederick Delius

Frederick Delius was an English composer. Born in the north of England to a prosperous mercantile family. He was sent to Florida in the United States in 1884 to manage an orange plantation. There he soon neglected his managerial duties, and in 1886 returned to Europe. Having been influenced by African-American music during his short stay in Florida, he began composing. After a brief period of formal musical study in Germany beginning in 1886, he embarked on a full-time career as a composer in Paris and then in nearby Grez-sur-Loing, where he and his wife Jelka lived for the rest of their lives, except during the First World War.
Delius's first successes came in Germany, where Hans Haym and other conductors promoted his music from the late 1890s. In Delius's native Britain, it was 1907 before his music made regular appearances in concert programmes, after Thomas Beecham took it up. After 1918 Delius began to suffer the effects of syphilis, contracted during his earlier years in Paris. He became paralysed and blind, but completed some late compositions between 1928 and 1932 with the aid of an amanuensis, Eric Fenby.
The lyricism in Delius's early compositions reflected the music he had heard in America and the influences of European composers such as Edvard Grieg and Richard Wagner. As his skills matured, he developed a style uniquely his own, characterised by his individual orchestration and his uses of chromatic harmony. Delius's music has been only intermittently popular, and often subject to critical attacks. The Delius Society, formed in 1962 by his more dedicated followers, continues to promote knowledge of the composer's life and works, and sponsors the annual Delius Prize competition for young musicians.

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