Customer Reviews

Outstanding performance of Hodie - By: Jeffrey Davis, 29 Nov 2007
This is a great CD. I had always thought that Hodie, despite great moments of inspiration (such as the marvellously inspiriting conclusion)was a rather inferior score to earlier choral scores like Sancta Civitas & Dona Nobis Pacem, but Hilary Davan Wetton's new Naxos (super-budget) version has forced me to revise my earlier view. I still believe that the beautiful Sancta Civitas is Vaughan Williams's choral masterpiece ( although Dona Nobis Pacem & the late, neglected Epithalamion are, respectively, works of great power & beauty) but Hodie comes across as a much greater scorein this recording. The main reason for this, I think, is because the conductor takes many crucial sections at a considerably slower tempo than David Willcocksin his fine EMI recording (although the overall timings are very similar) or Richard Hickoxin his disappointing later recording (also EMI). Wetton thus invests the score with greater power & dignity. The whole work hangs together much more effectively here thanin either earlier recording (although I would not want to be without the Willcocks version, especially for the unsurpassed conclusion "Ring out, ye crystal spheres": one of the best momentsin all Vaughan Williams).

Another advantage here is the recording (made at Cadogan Hall, London). It is much clearer than the Willcocks or Hickox versions, with the organ making a much more audible contribution. Janice Watson, Peter Hoare & Stephen Gadd are outstanding soloists & all credit to the Guildford Choral Society & RPO & their conductor. Paradoxically, the performance of Fantasia on Christmas Carols is, perhaps, not as effective as the Barry Rose version coupled with the Willcocks recording of Hodie & Naxos don't provide any texts (unlike EMI with the Willcocks recording), which is a drawback, although they are available online.

In conclusion, this is a great CD, especially as it is so inexpensive. In this performance, my attention was gripped throughout & any longeurs were much less apparent. Hodie contains some great music (the setting of Hardy's "The Oxen" for example) & is a remarkably inspiriting & life-affirming celebration of Christmas from the octogenarian composer.

Don't hesitate!