Berkeley, Lennox: Ruth Opera Chandos

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SIR LENNOX BERKELEY

(1903-1989)

premiere recording

Ruth, Op. 50

78:54

An Opera in Three Scenes

Libretto by Eric Crozier

Scene 1

A mountainous place near Bethlehem

1:57

'Once more I see your green and golden hills, O Judah!'

3:05

Naomi, Ruth, Orpah

'Turn back, my daughters'

1:38

Naomi, Ruth, Orpah

'Almighty Father, let my cry come unto thee!'

3:13

Naomi, Orpah, Ruth

'Ah, must I leave thee? Must we part?'

3:23

Orpah, Naomi, Ruth

'Whither thou goest, I will go'

3:02

Ruth, Naomi

'See! Is this Naomi!?'

2:14

Women, Naomi

'Ah, call me not Naomi, let Mara be my name'

2:32

Naomi

'Where, ah, where is Naomi?'

2:21

Women, Naomi, Ruth

Scene 2

10.

A harvest field belonging to Boaz -

1:45

'Gold grows the barley on hillside and valley'

Men

11.

'Greetings, men of Judah!'

1:05

Women, Head Reaper

12.

'The scatter'd ear of corn'

1:55

Women, Men

13.

'Come, let us go forth together'

3:23

Head Reaper, Women, Men, Ruth

14.

'Stay, men of Judah!'

2:17

Boaz, Men, Women, Head Reaper, Ruth

15.

'I had no wish to anger them'

3:19

Ruth, Boaz, Head Reaper

16.

'Ah, let not anger fill your eyes!'

3:05

Ruth, Boaz

17.

'Whence cometh this to me, that thou should'st deign to notice me?'

3:47

Ruth, Boaz

18.

'The scatter'd ear of corn'

2:25

Women, Men, Boaz

Scene 3

19.

A threshing-floor, at night -

2:11

'This is the place! Come, daughter'

Naomi, Ruth

20.

'Fear not, beloved Ruth!'

2:42

Naomi, Ruth

21.

'Golden ripe the barley grows'

1:11

Women, Men, Naomi, Ruth, Head Reaper, Boaz

22.

'Lord of the Harvest, what are thy commands?'

1:47

Men, Head Reaper, Women, Boaz

23.

'Winter time is time to plough, aie, the wind does bite!'

1:14

Men, Women

24.

'Across the field the long slow line of reapers goes a-reaping'

1:33

Women

25.

'Dance, come dance, dance within the ring'

1:39

Women, Men, Head Reaper

26.

'O clap your hands, all ye people!'

2:22

Boaz, Women, Men

27.

'Go now, my daughter'

1:50

Naomi, Ruth

28.

'Master!'

1:42

Ruth, Boaz

29.

'Thou comest in the stillness of the night'

4:22

Boaz, Ruth

30.

'Lo, my beloved, my soul's delight, to thee I give my hand'

1:53

Boaz, Ruth

31.

'Ho there, my people!'

1:39

Boaz, Ruth, Naomi, Women, Men

32.

'Behold this maid'

3:25

Boaz, Ruth, Naomi, Head Reaper, Women, Men

33.

'Rejoice, O Israel, rejoice'

2:41

Head Reaper, Women, Men, Ruth, Naomi, Boaz

: 78:54

Solo: Jean Rigby mezzo-soprano - Ruth

Solo: Mark Tucker tenor - Boaz

Solo: Yvonne Kenny soprano - Naomi

Solo: Claire Rutter soprano - Orpah

Solo: Roderick Williams baritone - Head Reaper

Choral: Joyful Company of Singers

Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia

Conductor: Richard Hickox

23 & 25-27 September 2003

Fully paid-up Berkeley fans need not hesitate, however. We are unlikely to get a finer version in the near future.

International Record Review

A long-neglected British opera at last makes its sparkling debut on record.

Gramophone ‘Disc of the Month’ and ‘Critics’ Choic

Hickox’s pacing is consistently right, making the most of the slow-moving plot. Jean Rigby as Ruth is charming but firm in resolve when needed and Yvonne Kenny is a dignified and vocally imposing Naomi. Much of the drama is carried by these two women but all the roles are well cast and effective. There are plenty of lively choruses fro the reapers, projected with panache. There’s a full libretto in three languages and informative notes from Anthony Burton…

Gramophone

…excellent performances…

Classic FM Magazine

Richard Hickox’s effective rep company of operatic singers brings its usual devotion and skill to the task in hand, with Jean Rigby a moving Ruth, Yvonne Kenny on fine form as her mother Naomi and Mark Tucker an ardent Boaz.

BBC Music Magazine

…all praise to Hickox and Chandos for putting this delight into the recording catalogue at last.

The Times

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