Songs of Farewell – Cathedral Music

The Guild label has an ever-growing reputation for excellent recordings of imaginative programmes, and these recent releases present both a high standard of performance and production.

The Songs of Farewell disc comprises Parry’s exquisite settings of the same name, together with Vaughan Williams’ haunting Mass in G minor and the, for some, unfamiliar A Prayer, by Bridge. The Vasari Singers under the direction of their conductor, Jeremy Backhouse, were winners of the 1988 Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year competition and judging from the very first sounds that emerge from this disc, the reasons for their success are immediately apparent.

This choir sings with enviable blend and balance, handling all the complexities of the music with great ease. The Vasari Singers are admirably joined by Jeremy Filsell, whose accompaniment in the Bridge piece is a delight. This disc should be a best seller and has rarely been out of my CD player!

Cathedral Music