Berkeley, Lennox: A Dinner Engagement Opera Chandos

CHAN 10219

Berkeley, Lennox: A Dinner Engagement

Running Time: 59:23

Release Date: June 2004
Originally recorded in 2003

Composer (1903-1989)
Sir Lennox Berkeley

Solo baritone - The Earl of Dunmow
Roderick Williams

Solo soprano - The Countess of Dunmow
Yvonne Kenny

Solo soprano - Susan
Claire Rutter

Solo mezzo-soprano - Mrs Kneebone
Jean Rigby

Solo mezzo-soprano - HRH The Grand Duchess of Monteblanco
Anne Collins

Solo tenor - HRH Prince Philippe
Robin Leggate

Solo tenor - An Errand Boy
Blake Fischer

Orchestra
City of London Sinfonia

Conductor
Richard Hickox

Venue
Blackheath Halls, London

Producer
Brian Couzens

Engineer
Ralph Couzens

Engineer (Assistant)
Michael Common

Genre:
Opera

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Reviews

'This excellent first recording is based on performances at last year's Cheltenham Festival, when Hickox conducted the City of London Sinfonia, with a cast led by Anne Collins, Claire Rutter and Yvonne Kenny.'

Financial Times Magazine

'The opera is a total delight, and so is the recording.'

American Record Guide

Berkeleys transparent, French-inflected score is ideally suited to domestic listening, and the most sprightly singers - Roderick Williams, Yvonne Kenny and Claire Rutter - lead the way, rollicking and rolling through the social comedy.

The Times

'As a comedy it may be dated, but on disc Berkeley's score works well, with excellent singing all round''

The Guardian

'Altogether an admirable diversion!'

International Record Review

This is a scintillating comedy adroitly characterised and full of memorable tunes. Its finesse comes from Mozart, and the libretto works hand-in-glove with the music and admirably demonstrated by this superb recording.'

Gramophone Critic's Choice

This performance of Sir Lennox Berkeley’s one-act opera written for Aldeburgh in 1954 was a success during the composer’s centenary year in 2003 and it is good to have it preserved.

The Sunday Telegraph

'Anne Collins as the Duchess is magnificent; Claire Rutter as Susan is enchaning; Robin leggate makes a mellifluously charming Prince. But this is an all-star cast and the Mozartian ensembles are scintillating. Once again enormous credit to Richard Hickox whose total understanding of the Berkeley's music gives him unrivalled authority in this long-delayed debut. Well recorded, too'

Gramophone

With a nod to Lord Berner's 'Wedding Bouquet' and 'La Carosse du Saint-Sacrement' and also perhaps Elizabeth Maconchy's 'The Sofa', Sir Lennox Berkeley makes a splendid case for an English claim to have cornered the market for short pithy social comedy; 'A Dinner Engagement' is a sparkling delight. While it shows Berekeley's early indoctrination in all that is best in French 20th Century music, the subject is treated in the very English traditions of Waugh, Wodehouse, Mitfords, Powell and Coward. With Hickox as majo domo, only champagne is served at this dinner engagement!

M Lloyd-Williams

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Berkeley, Lennox: A Dinner Engagement

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SIR LENNOX BERKELEY

A Dinner Engagement, Op. 45

Why not buy the whole Album?

SIR LENNOX BERKELEY

A Dinner Engagement, Op. 45

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