Utwory na płycie:

• Track 1
• Track 2
• Track 3
• Track 4
• Track 5
• Track 6
• Track 7
• Track 8
• Track 9
• Track 10
• Track 11
• Track 12
• Track 13
• Track 14
• Track 15
• Track 16
• Track 17
• Track 18
• Track 19
• Track 20
• Track 21

2002 marks the year of three great occasions: Firstly, the music world celebrates the centenary of the birth of Sir William Walton. Secondly our Commonwealth celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Coronation of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. In January of this year to mark these events, Stephen Layton directed Polyphony and The Wallace Collection through three days of what can only be described (from personal experience) as spellbinding recording sessions of a disc of Walton choral music. The third great occasion of this year is its release. In 2001 Polyphony won the Gramophone Award for Best Choral Recording for which Gramophone remarked ‘This has to be one of the strongest winners of the choral award in recent years’. And yet Stephen Layton has followed that accolade with a disc that comprises such breathtaking singing, the listener will be left staggered by such a mighty force of combined musicianship and talent. Patrons will have heard the repertoire, and now they have the opportunity to purchase the definitive version, complete with brass, the wonderfully sonorous organ of Hereford Cathedral, and the acoustics that such a majestic building has to offer. This disc, quite simply, is British choral music at its best, and Stephen Layton and Polyphony at theirs.

'Every generation delivers an outstanding talent with the vision and commitment necessary to produce refreshingly individual, totally convincing interpretations. Stephen Layton's readings of Walton's choral music on this tremendous disc are without equal, supported by the high-octane, stylish singing of Polyphony and one of the finest recorded sounds I've heard for years. Layton sets a stately speed for the Coronation Te Deum, although the crisp brass fanfares of the Wallace Collection and articulate work from the choir convey a rare energy and exuberance. Buy it!’ (Classic FM Magazine)

'An outstanding collection' (Gramophone)

'Performances are vibrant and energetic, and attack the scrunchy harmonies with complete accuracy' (BBC Music Magazine)

'What a splendid work it is, especially when sung with the verve brought to it by Stephen Layton’s choir Polyphony' (Sunday Telegraph)

'From fanfare to finale this is a very fine and fitting centenary compilation indeed' (Organists' Review)

'a wonderfully refreshing interpretation' (The Observer)

'A great collection and an absolute winner' (Cathedral Music)

'On trouve chez Layton, avec des chours d’une beauté et d’une précision étonnantes, un surcroît de chaleur et d’investissement, ce qui place ce disque en tete de la discographie' (Répertoire, France)

'This sterling collection should win Walton’s choral music many new fans' (American Record Guide)

'For Waltonians, this is a compulsory purchase' (HMV Choice)

---

Recording details: Various dates; Various recording venues; Produced by Mark Brown; Engineered by Julian Millard; Release date: June 2002;