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The centuries do indeed ‘roll away’ as the libretto addresses questions of empire—Roman and Victorian—and Britain’s place in the world. But that shouldn’t detract from the music; this is simply glorious and worthy of the mature Elgar.
BRITISH CAMP ON THE MALVERN HILLS—NIGHT
Caractacus Op 35[96'02]
CD1
1 Scene 1 No 1: Watchmen, alert! (Chorus) –[5'50]
2 Scene 1 No 2: Watchmen, alert! the King is here (Caractacus/Sentries) –[5'51]
3 Scene 1 No 3: Father! Sire and King (Eigen/Caractacus/Orbin/Sentries) –[2'32]
4 Scene 1 No 4: At eve to the greenwood (Eigen) –[2'35]
5 Scene 1 No 5: On the ocean and the river (Eigen/Orbin/Caractacus) –[2'45]
6 Scene 1 No 6: Rest, weary monarch (Spirits of the Hill)[2'56]
THE SACRED OAK GROVE BY THE TOMB OF THE KINGS
7 Scene 2 No 1: Tread the mystic circle round (Arch-Druid/Druids/Druid Maidens) –[4'27]
8 Scene 2 No 2: Invocation: Lord of dread, and lord of pow'r (Chorus/Arch-Druid) –[2'24]
9 Scene 2 No 3: Bard, what read ye? (Arch-Druid/Orbin/Caractacus/Druids/Druid Maidens) –[7'08]
10 Scene 2 No 4: Leap, leap to light (Caractacus/Soldiers/Orbin/Arch-Druid) –[4'45]
11 Scene 2 No 5: Hence, ere the Druid's wrath is woke (Druids/Druid Maidens/Orbin/Soldiers)[3'22]
THE FOREST NEAR THE SEVERN—MORNING
12 Scene 3 No 1: Introduction: The woodland interlude[1'50]
13 Scene 3 No 2: Come! beneath our woodland bow'rs (Youths/Maidens) –[1'08]
14 Scene 3 No 3: O'er-arch'd by leaves (Eigen/Orbin) –[3'32]
15 Scene 3 No 4: Last night beneath the sacred Oak (Orbin) –[1'32]
16 Scene 3 No 5: Come! beneath our woodland bow'rs – They gather the wreaths (Youths/Maidens/Orbin/Eigen)[5'18]
THE MALVERN HILLS
CD2
17 Scene 4 No 1: Wild rumours shake our calm retreat (Maidens) –[2'24]
18 Scene 4 No 2: When the glow of the evening (Eigen/Maidens) –[2'11]
19 Scene 4 No 3: We were gather'd by the river (Soldiers) –[2'09]
20 Scene 4 No 4: Lament: O my warriors (Caractacus/Chorus)[4'11]
THE SEVERN
21 Scene 5: Captive Britons, see them! (A Bard/Druid Maidens) –[3'51]
ROME
22 Scene 6 No 1: Processional music: The march triumphal thunders (Chorus)[7'03]
23 Scene 6 No 2: Unbind his hands (Claudius) –[1'11]
24 Scene 6 No 3: Heap torment upon torment (Caractacus/Eigen/Orbin) –[4'45]
Roland Wood (baritone), Elizabeth Llewellyn (soprano), Elgan Llŷr Thomas (tenor)
25 Scene 6 No 4: Slay, slay the Briton! (Roman Citizens/Claudius) –[0'35]
26 Scene 6 No 5: I plead not for myself (Caractacus/Orbin/Eigen/Roman Citizens/Claudius) –[2'32]
27 Scene 6 No 6: Grace from the Roman! (Eigen/Orbin/Caractacus/Claudius) –[2'25]
28 Scene 6 No 7: The clang of arms is over (Chorus)[4'50]
Elizabeth Llewellyn Eigen
Elgan Llŷr Thomas Orbin
Roland Wood Caractacus
Christopher Purves Arch-Druid, A Bard
Alastair Miles Claudius |
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