In a recent review, Guardian critic David Vickers wrote about the orchestra's performance:
quote:
Every bar oozed with classy vitality, while each section of the orchestra was first-rate yet keeping its profile within an irresistible blend.
[...]
The Hallé worked together intuitively in one single, perfect voice.
The single, perfect voice; the sectional separation; the irresistible blend... all characteristics to be enjoyed from the Hallé CDs. I still marvel at how perfect the interaction between the players is. This isn't about a bunch of people gathered in a room playing their parts to a common beat. It is as if they all shared the same heart and the same brain... So much so, that I begin to wonder if studio editing has anything to do with it.
In any case, the Hallé Orchestra can now be enjoyed on two more CDs.
PASSIONATEHALLÉ: English Rhapsody - Delius, Butterworth and Grainger
George Butterworth: A Shropshire Lad | Two English Idylls | The Banks of Green Willow
Frederick Delius: Irmelin: Prelude | The Walk to the Paradise Garden | Brigg Fair: An English Rhapsody
Percy Grainger: Brigg Fair
Traditional: Brigg Fair
Most of these compositions are based on folk tunes, or were inspired by the folk repertoire.
Buttwerworth (1885-1916) died too young. The Shropshire Lad rhapsody is a lovely pastoral piece. It is peaceful, relaxing... perfect for a summer stroll in a quiet countryside. The English Idylls are more joyful and upbeat. The Banks of the Green Willow is here given a more interesting performance than Hickox and the LSO. Again, it is a warm, tranquil piece where the softer orchestral colours predominate, and any harshness is avoided.
The Delius pieces have their moments, though they require repeated listens. Irmelin is based on Scandinavian tales, but sounds more Brit than anything else. It is a slow, reflective piece dominated by winds and strings. The Walk is generally in the same mood as the rest: winds, strings, pastoral images, a musical painting of a calm landscape.
Grainger transcribed a traditional piece called Brigg Fair. Delius loved it and asked permission to use it. He wrote a 17-minute rhapsody. Mostly strings and winds again, though the brass make a more forceful appearance towards the end. Beware the big percussion hits in the finale.
The Grainger transcription is for tenor and chorus. Good, if a little on the pompous side.
As with all Hallé CDs, this one has an EnhancedCD portion. The interactive content includes links to special pages on the Hallé website. There one finds a note on the recording sessions from the producer, Andrew Keener, as well as reproductions of the original concert programmes from past Hallé performances of these works.
There is also an extended history of how Brigg Fair came to the attention of Grainger, then Delius, and the reaction of the farmer who sang the song to Grainger upon hearing his tune translated to an orchestral setting.
Though most of the disc has been engineered by Phil Rowlands (as opposed to Simon Eadon who engineered all the other Hallé discs), the sound is very similar to the other albums in this series. There is a lush, open feeling about the sonics. Excellent orchestral separation, and often exemplary dynamic range, allowing for big climaxes.
SPARKLINGHALLÉ
Sleigh Ride, Angels from the Realms of Glory, Nativity Carol, Silver Bells, The World You're Coming Into, The First Nowell, Joy to the World, Carol of the Bells, O Holy Night, Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, The Most Wonderful Birthday of All, Jingle Bells, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Waltz of the Snowflakes from The Nutcracker, White Christmas.
Carl Davis conducts Christmas classics. He and the Hallé are joined by the Hallé Choir (choral director: James Burton) and soprano Claire Rutter. There are traditional songs, a good number of 19th century carols and anthems, as well as more recent pieces (by McCartney, Berlin, others).
Sleigh Ride is given a more pastoral feel than the Williams/Boston Pops version. This Davis/Hallé reading is less about Christmastime celebration, as it is about a joyful wintery setting. Silver Bells has a poetic classical feel to it. Morton Gould's arrangement of The First Nowell starts off calmly with a dramatic string tone before gaining additional orchestral layers and a more festive mood.
Joy to the World is the best classical arrangement I've heard so far. Orchestra and chorus truly sound as if they feel the music and mean the lyrics. This uplifting version could easily fit alongside the best recordings of the finale from Beethoven's Ninth.
Carol of the bells incorporates bits and pieces from other Christmas tunes (We three kinds, Joy to the World, others) in between the bell's carol. O Holy Night is on the serene side with Rutter joined by the choir. I prefer it more soulful, with more emotion. But this version is growing on me.
A Carl Davis tune, The Most Wonderful Birthday of All, is also included. It's in his usual style, slow and touching.
Jingle Bells is more of an orchestra showcase than it is a Christmas jingle. The winds open the piece, brass take over, and plucked strings continue before a more triumphant brass fanfare, and soaring strings finish off the piece. Through it all, the Hallé musicians show splendid timing.
Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas is a little gloomy. Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Snowflakes from The Nutcracker could use a few more strings (all sections), but it's given a happy and tender reading, which fits more with Christmas than Tchaikovsky. Finally White Christmas closes the show.
56 minutes have gone by too soon. Perhaps it's better this way - the album does not overstay its welcome.
In his notes, producer Andrew Keener states that the choir was placed behind Carl Davis, both conductor and chorus facing the orchestra. This being partly the result of a smaller studio. Whatever the case, the choir is perfectly recorded. It is perfectly balanced within itself. All parts of the chorus can be heard, with none louder than they should be. If only all choirs were recorded this way... 
So far, I find that the Hallé CDs are superior to the other orchestra-run record labels. Presentation is good (if not as luxurious as the San Francisco booklets). The EnhancedCD portion is good value added. The studio sound is excellent. The price is right (iclassics is selling the discs for 13.99$, Amazon for about 12$)
Good price, good quality.
More please!
