Finzi: Dies Natalis / Farewell To Arms / 2 Sonnets James Gilchrist

• 1 I. Intrada 05:36
• 2 II. Rhapsody 07:32
• 3 III. The Rapture 04:01
• 4 IV. Wonder 04:28
• 5 V. The Salutation 04:39
• 6 Prelude in F Minor, Op. 25 04:35
• 7 The Fall of the Leaf, Op. 20 09:34
• 8 No. 1. When I consider 04:46
• 9 No. 2. How soon hath time 02:51
• 10 New Year Music, Op. 7 09:39
• 11 I. Introduction 03:56
• 12 II. Aria: His golden locks 05:05
• Total Runtime 01:06:42

Info for Finzi: Dies Natalis / Farewell To Arms / 2 Sonnets

Quintessentially Finzi, the tender yet radiant Dies natalis, a setting of texts by the 17th-century poet Thomas Traherne, depicts both the first sensations of a child as it enters the world, and life’s tarnishing experience of the innocence of childhood. In Farewell to Arms, a further example of Finzi’s enthusiasm for 17th-century poets, the steady but inevitable tramp of time, symbolized by the measured bass and the tenor’s sad, arching melody, becomes a poignant symbol for the brevity of life as expressed in lines such as ‘O time too swift, O swiftness never ceasing’. Finzi knew all too well that ‘Beauty, strength, youth are DDD flowers but fading seen’.

“As so often, Finzi's word-setting is wonderful - a gift to any singer with a feeling for words as well as notes. James Gilchrist plainly enjoys both aspects of this work. His phrasing is typically musical and he points key syllables with great care.” (BBC Music Magazine)

„With his clear, even tone, unaffected sensitivity to the text and eloquent phrasing of Finzi's long, floating melodies, James Gilchrist again proves an ideally sympathetic interpreter of the composer. David Hill draws supple, fine-textured playing from the Bournemouth orchestra and, crucially, never allows Finzi's music to meander.” (The Telegraph)

James Gilchrist, tenor
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
David Hill, conductor

James Gilchrist (Tenor)
James Gilchrist began his working life as a doctor, turning to a full-time career in music in 1996.

The English tenor, James Gilchrist, was a chorister at New College, Oxford, and choral scholar at King's College, Cambridge. He began his working life as a doctor, and whilst studying and practising medicine began working as a solo singer with many of Britain's leading choirs in Britain and abroad. In 1996 he turned to a full-time career in music and currently studies with Janice Chapman and Noelle Barker.

James Gilchrist has a large concert repertoire and, as well as singing with choral societies throughout Great Britain, has appeared with many of Britain's leading orchestras, including the English Chamber Orchestra, City of London Sinfonia and Northern Sinfonia. He has received critical acclaim in particular for his performances of J.S. Bach and Georg Frideric Handel. www.jamesgilchrist.co.uk

Anna Tilbrook (Piano)
Is a distinguished pianist and accompanist. She has collaborated with many leading singers and instrumentalists including James Gilchrist, Lucy Crowe, Sarah Tynan, Yvonne Howard, Janis Kelly, Willard White, Mark Padmore, Stephan Loges, Chris Maltman, Ian Bostridge, Christine Rice, Iestyn Davies, Gillian Keith, Nicholas Daniel, Natalie Clein, Priya Mitchell, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Gemma Rosefield, Adrian Brendel, Harriet Mackenzie and Eleanor Fagg.

Her recent performances have taken her to some of the leading festivals and concert halls in Britain and abroad, including King’s Place in London, the Oxford Lieder Festival, the Leicester International Music Festival, Dartington and the Anima Mundi Festival in Pisa. Her disc of Vaughan Williams’s On Wenlock Edge, with James Gilchrist and the Fitzwilliam String Quartet was nominated for the 2008 Gramophone Record of the Year, and her most recent disc, of Schubert’s Die Schone Mullerin, also with James Gilchrist, was Editor’s Choice in Gramophone, November 2009. /www.annatilbrook.co.uk

Alison Nicholls (Harp)
Alison Nicholls thrives on a busy performing schedule as soloist, chamber musician and frequent guest with major orchestras at home and abroad. Widely regarded as one of the finest players of her generation, she has won many national and international awards. These include First Prize at the 1994 World Harp Festival Competition, where she was unanimously awarded the Zabaleta Prize and Special Salvi Award. As a soloist, she has performed for the UK Harp Association, the American Harp Society, the World Harp Congress, at International Festivals throughout North America and Europe, and as far afield as India, Sri Lanka and the Far East.

Born in Britain, Alison studied at London University and the Juilliard School, New York where she won a prestigious Juilliard scholarship. Alison is committed to making music accessible, leading and participating in community outreach projects. Broadcasting credits include both television and radio appearances for the BBC, Classic fM, and American networks.

Alison has made several recordings, both solo and with her chamber ensemble “mobius” of which she is a founding member and co-artistic director. Other ongoing projects include duo collaborations with James Gilchrist (tenor) and Philippe Honoré (violin). www.alisonnicholls.com

Booklet for Finzi: Dies Natalis / Farewell To Arms / 2 Sonnets