Album

Previously released in 1993 and 1997, this double disc of late-late-late-Romantic works by neglected British composers Patrick Hadley and Philip Sainton may be the fairest presentation they have received: the generous, evenly balanced program represents their music well, and the fully engaged performances by Matthias Bamert and the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus almost persuade one that there is something worthwhile in these faded flowers of English gentility. Yet the mixture of serene, melancholy folk tunes and wafting Impressionistic scene-painting is an overly familiar blend, done better by the likes of Vaughan Williams, Holst, and Delius, but done to death by the time Hadley and Sainton rose to modest fame. Sainton's purely orchestral The Island, Nadir, and The Dream of the Marionette are expansively conceived and evocative in their luscious sonorities, but ultimately forgettable for their washes of sound and melodic vagueness. Hadley's works for voices and orchestra, The Trees So High, La Belle Dame sans merci, and Lenten Meditations, are easier to appreciate because the vocal parts provide a focal point and the text settings are competent. Yet even though these works are memorably sung by tenor Neill Archer, baritone David Wilson-Johnson, and bass Stephen Richardson, the gushing orchestral passages go on for long, tedious stretches, and striking themes are few and far between. The sound quality is good overall, but somewhat indistinct.

© Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 2
Philip Sainton Composer The Island, tone poem for orchestra Work Recorded 1992 Philharmonia Orchestra of London Orchestra, Matthias Bamert Conductor
1	The Island, tone poem for orchestra	16:58			$2.99
Patrick Hadley Composer The Trees So High, symphonic ballad for baritone, chorus & orchestra in A- Work Recorded 1992 34:33 Philharmonia Orchestra of London Orchestra, David Hill Chorus/Choir Director, David Wilson-Johnson Baritone, Philharmonia Chorus Chorus/Choir, Matthias Bamert Conductor
2	1.Adagio - (Molto) moderato -	11:15			$1.99
3	2.Andante tranquillo -	5:05			$0.99
4	3.Vivace -	5:08			$0.99
5	4.Adagio	13:05			$2.49
CD 2 of 2
Philip Sainton Composer Nadir, tone poem for orchestra Work Recorded 1996 Philharmonia Orchestra of London Orchestra, Matthias Bamert Conductor
1	Nadir, tone poem for orchestra	13:40			$2.49
Philip Sainton Composer The Dream of the Marionette, ballet Work Recorded 1996 18:27 Philharmonia Orchestra of London Orchestra, Matthias Bamert Conductor
2	1.The Sadness of the Marionette -	1:39			$0.99
3	2.The Sleep of the Marionette -	1:10			$0.99
4	3.The Dream of the Marionette -	7:48			$1.49
5	March -	3:30			$0.99
6	Epilogue	4:20			$0.99
Patrick Hadley Composer La Belle Dame sans merci, for tenor chorus & orchestra Work Recorded 1996 Philharmonia Orchestra of London Orchestra, Neill Archer Tenor, Stephen Layton Chorus/Choir Director, Philharmonia Chorus Chorus/Choir, Matthias Bamert Conductor
7	La Belle Dame sans merci, for tenor chorus & orchestra	10:00			$1.99
Patrick Hadley Composer One Morning in Spring, for orchestra Work Recorded 1996 Philharmonia Orchestra of London Orchestra, Matthias Bamert Conductor
8	One Morning in Spring, for orchestra	4:15			$0.99
Patrick Hadley Composer Lenten Meditations, cantata for soloists, choir & orchestra Work Recorded 1996 18:56 Leslie Pearson Organ, Philharmonia Orchestra of London Orchestra, Neill Archer Tenor, Stephen Richardson Bass, Stephen Layton Chorus/Choir Director, Philharmonia Chorus Chorus/Choir, Matthias Bamert Conductor
9	Part 1. 'I look for the Lord' -	4:39			$0.99
10	Part 1. 'A babe in Bethlem's manger laid'	2:43			$0.99
11	Part 2. 'Behold the time draweth nigh' -	5:50			$0.99
12	Part 2. 'My song is love unknown'	5:44			$0.99