After having recorded Elgar's the Dream of Gerontius ('Recording of the Month' in BBC Music), Sir Andrew Davis turns to two of the composer's most popular early choral works: Scenes from the Saga of King Olaf and the Banner of Saint George. The recording, made soon after a successful performance, features the same 'excellent Bergen Philharmonic' and 'outstanding' vocal forces: The 'imposing' baritone Alan Opie, the 'high, incisive tenor' Barry Banks, singing 'fearlessly in some quite challenging passages', and the American soprano Emily Birsan, who sang 'with radiant delicacy' (The Daily Telegraph). These two works shaped Elgar's later reputation as a leading orchestrator and most popular British composer of his time.

Tracklist:

Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Introduction: There Is A Wondrous Book (Chorus, Bass, Soprano,
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Summon Now The God Of Thunder (Bass)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: The Challenge Of Thor (Chorus)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: King Olaf's Return (Tenor)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Recitative: Tell How Olaf Bore The Cross (Bass)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: The Conversion: King Olaf's Prows At Nidaros (Chorus)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: The Conversion: Behold Me, My People (Tenor, Bass, Chorus)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: The Conversion: As Leaps The Lights Of Winter (Chorus, Bass)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: The Conversion: Then O'er The Blood-Stained Hog-Stone (Cho
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Recitative: Now The Child Of Ironbeard Dead (Bass)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Gudrun (Soprano, Chorus, Tenor)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Recitative: How The Wraith Of Odin Old (Bass)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: The Wraith Of Odin (Chorus)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Recitative: Sisters, Sing Ye Now The Song (Bass)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Sigrid: Sigrid Sits In Her High Abode (Chorus)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Sigrid: Sigrid, Hail! With Royal Hand (Tenor, Soprano, Chorus)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Recitative: Hark! She Flies From Wendland Forth (Bass)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Thyri (Chorus)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Duet: The Gray Land Breaks To Lively Green (Soprano)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Duet: Thyri, My Beloved (Tenor, Soprano)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Recitative: After Queen Gunhild's Death (Chorus)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: The Death Of Olaf (Chorus)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Epilogue: In The Convent Of Drontheim (Chorus)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Epilogue: It Is Accepted (Soprano, Tenor, Bass, Chorus)
Scenes From The Saga Of King Olaf, Op. 30: As Torrents In Summer: Epilogue: Stronger Than Steel (Soprano, Tenor, Bass, Chorus)
The Banner Of St. George, Op. 33: Scene 1: Within Sylene's Walls No Sound Is Heard
The Banner Of St. George, Op. 33: Scene 1: The Women Of Sylene Rend Their Hair
The Banner Of St. George, Op. 33: Scene 1: Forth From The Palace, Beautiful As Day
The Banner Of St. George, Op. 33: Scene 1: O Calm Your Hearts
The Banner Of St. George, Op. 33: Scene 2: Without A Fear Beside The Dragon's Tarn
The Banner Of St. George, Op. 33: Scene 2: Hark! 'tis The Ringing Hoof Of Steed
The Banner Of St. George, Op. 33: Scene 2: Loud Cry The People
The Banner Of St. George, Op. 33: Epilogue: It Comes From The Misty Ages

UPC: 095115514924
Label: Chandos
Release Date: 2.24.15
Format: CD

Elgar / Birsan / Banks / Opie / Bergen Philharm - King Olaf (2 CD)