Lossless is available in FLAC and ALAC (For Mac). You select on the download page.
When you purchase a lossless format, we include the MP3 free of charge
Please note: On Mp3 format an unavoidable click may be heard on segue track breaks, to avoid this issue please select lossless
This item is temporarily unavailable.
Why not buy the whole Album?
Your selections total more than the whole disc price.
SIR LENNOX BERKELEY
(1903-1989)
premiere recording
Ruth, Op. 50
78:54
An Opera in Three Scenes
Libretto by Eric Crozier
Scene 1
1.
A mountainous place near Bethlehem
1:57
2.
'Once more I see your green and golden hills, O Judah!'
3:05
Naomi, Ruth, Orpah
3.
'Turn back, my daughters'
1:38
Naomi, Ruth, Orpah
4.
'Almighty Father, let my cry come unto thee!'
3:13
Naomi, Orpah, Ruth
5.
'Ah, must I leave thee? Must we part?'
3:23
Orpah, Naomi, Ruth
6.
'Whither thou goest, I will go'
3:02
Ruth, Naomi
7.
'See! Is this Naomi!?'
2:14
Women, Naomi
8.
'Ah, call me not Naomi, let Mara be my name'
2:32
Naomi
9.
'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
Notes
Please login to post a review
Reviews
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
Media Downloads
Whenever possible we provide a high resolution CD cover image and a PDF version of the CD booklet for you to download and keep