tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post1439077896147353005..comments2024-03-26T15:57:13.443+00:00Comments on On An Overgrown Path: Lux ChristiUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-63353839746833741972008-12-20T09:25:00.000+00:002008-12-20T09:25:00.000+00:00Re. Richard Hickox's recording of the Holst Choral...Re. Richard Hickox's recording of the Holst Choral Symphony.<BR/><BR/>Sadly, I understand that the sessions were only at an early stage at the time of the conductor's untimely death, and there is no possibility of a commercial release being made of them. <BR/><BR/>It is a sign of the times at EMI that the classic Boult recording of the Choral Symphony (which was coupled with Imogen Holst conducting the Choral Fantasia) is currently deleted.<BR/><BR/>Richard Hickox's cycle of the Vaughan Williams symphonies is also uncompleted, although there is a possibility that the gaps may be filled with off-air recordings.Pliablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616598845886342325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-10328501744797646262008-12-20T09:17:00.000+00:002008-12-20T09:17:00.000+00:00Email received:Dear Mr. Shingleton: Begging your p...<I>Email received:</I><BR/><BR/>Dear Mr. Shingleton:<BR/> <BR/>Begging your pardon, and if you do not mind, the quotation of the "Light Of Life" theme of which you wrote occurs in the opening chorus of _The_ _Apostles_, at the words "and recovering of sight to the blind," not in _The_ _Kingdom_. I think that this first of Elgar's oratorios was the first of his pre-_Gerontius_ choral works with orchestra I heard, and, strange to tell, probably remains my favourite among them, though those who claim _Caractacus_ as the finest of these might possibly be right. I have the late Maestro Hickox's recording of this latter, though I know of his recording of the oratorio and its soloists, it having one of these in common with the version I have, the older Groves, Mr. Shirley-Quirk. I am considering adding Maestro Hickox's recording of _The_ _Apostles_ to Sir Adrian's which I also have since it includes a favourite singer of mine and many, Mr. Terfel, though it _MIGHT_ not be as fine overall as that earlier effort. As you might know, the late Maestro Handley was at least available for Sir Adrian's _Apostles_ in the event he might take ill during the sessions, though I do not recall any references to him having had to do anything during said sessions. <BR/> <BR/>Hoping, as usual, that this finds you well, and with many best wishes for the upcoming Season and New Year of 2009, I remain<BR/> <BR/>Gratefully, respectfully and sincerely,<BR/> <BR/>J. Vaughan<BR/> <BR/>p.s. One wonders if the sessions on which Maestro Hickox was engaged at the time of his death, of Holst's _Choral_ _Symphony_, were somehow completed by someone else. I personally think we could do with a modern-day recording of that work so that we might re-assess it.Pliablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616598845886342325noreply@blogger.com