Sir Andrew Davis continues to champion the lesser-known works of Sir Arthur Bliss with this coupling of The Enchantress, Mary of Magdala and Meditations on a theme by John Blow. Dame Sarah Connolly and James Platt are the soloists, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The three distinctive works by Sir Arthur Bliss (1891 - 1975) on this recording span his sixties and early seventies, from 1951 onwards, the year of his sixtieth birthday, during which he composed The Enchantress for Kathleen Ferrier. The BBC Symphony Chorus was founded in 1928 and it's early appearances included the UK premieres of BartÃ³k's Cantata profana, Stravinsky's PersÃ©phone, and Mahler's Eighth Symphony. Each year it appears regularly with the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre, as well as performing at the BBC Proms, frequently at the iconic First and Last Nights. It maintains an undiminished commitment to new music, performing a wide range of challenging repertoire, often with the BBC SO, most of which is broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Tracklist:

The Enchantress, F. 157: No. 1, Bring Me The Laurel Leaves
The Enchantress, F. 157: No. 2, Oh Moon, Shine Fair
The Enchantress, F. 157: No. 3, Silent The Sea
The Enchantress, F. 157: No. 4, How I Saw Him In The Street
The Enchantress, F. 157: No. 5, And Now In The Fire I Fling You
Meditations On A Theme By John Blow, F. 118: Introduction. The Lord Is My Shepherd
Meditations On A Theme By John Blow, F. 118: No.1, He Leadeth Me Beside The Still Waters
Meditations On A Theme By John Blow, F. 118: No. 2, Thy Rod And Staff They Comfort Me
Meditations On A Theme By John Blow, F. 118: No. 3, The Lambs
Meditations On A Theme By John Blow, F. 118: No. 4, He Restoreth My Soul
Meditations On A Theme By John Blow, F. 118: No. 5, In Green Pastures
Meditations On A Theme By John Blow, F. 118: Interlude. Through The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death
Meditations On A Theme By John Blow, F. 118: Finale. In The House Of The Lord
Mary Of Magdala, F. 31: I. Ashen The Sky
Mary Of Magdala, F. 31: II. At Last, At Last
Mary Of Magdala, F. 31: III. Look There, Look There
Mary Of Magdala, F. 31: IV. Why Trouble Ye Her?
Mary Of Magdala, F. 31: V. The Proud Aegyptian Queen
Mary Of Magdala, F. 31: VI. Surely This Was The Place
Mary Of Magdala, F. 31: VII. But What Are Those Two Strangers
Mary Of Magdala, F. 31: VIII. But Who Is That Yonder
Mary Of Magdala, F. 31: IX. Mary, Mother Was The Pleasant Blower

UPC: 095115524220
Label: Chandos
Release Date: 11.1.19
Format: CD

Bliss / Connolly / Davis - Mary of Magdala (CD)