CD Reviews

We’ve had more reviews of the Songs of renewal CD. Here are some excerpts:

Radio:

[About Will Todd’s Songs of Renewal] “Cleverly written for maximum impact, with challenges well within this fine choral group’s means” – Andrew McGregor, BBC Radio 3’s Record Review

Written Reviews:

“Will Todd’s thrilling title work is a real showstopper for the versatile and virtuoslc Bath choir; it’s just one of two commissions recorded for the first time for this delightful disc. * * * * ” – Michael Beek, BBC Music Magazine

“They [Bath Camerata soloists] give quality performances, something reflected in the choral sound as a whole.” – Alan Cooper, British Music Society

“The young conductor Benjamin Goodson continues the tradition of his choir to perform contemporary British music. He does that with devotion and empathy. Every note, every sound melts on the tongue, is interpreted, invites you to notice. As a listener you are enveloped in the action, experience silence as part of music, and sometimes forget that you are listening to a chorus at all. Devotion to music: here the term really applies…

…The listeners are left to silence and to the feeling of having experienced something extraordinarily beautiful. Choir sound * * * *, Interpretation * * * * ” – Haino Rindler, Chorzeit Vokalmagazin (translation by Benjamin Goodson) 

“I’m thinking of the opening ‘Invocation’, which has a pulsating piano accompaniment, and also of the third song, ‘Answer July’ where the music has light-footed energy, something which is accentuated by the crisp singing of Bath Camerata…

…The music is mesmerizingly slow and focussed and Bath Camerata display exemplary control in singing it…

…These are very good songs and Bath Camerata do them extremely well…

…Bath Camerata sing all the music expertly and two things are evident from the conducting of Benjamin Goodson: firstly, that he’s prepared the choir with great thoroughness and, secondly, that he is fully committed to all this music – and has instilled similar commitment in the choir…

…If, like me, you enjoy twenty-first-century choral music then I think you’ll find this excellent disc very rewarding.”  – John Quinn, Musicweb International

“For listeners wishing to sample the choral output of Britain’s brightest’, this CD will prove ideal.” – S.H. Smith, Amazon 5* review