English Choral Music: Leighton

English Choral Music: Leighton

English Choral Music: Leighton
Director of Music: 
Christopher Robinson
Organ Scholar: 
Christopher Whitton
Release date: 
February 2004
Featuring: 
  • James Oxley (Tenor)
  • Crispian Steele-Perkins (Trumpet)
  • Gareth Jones (Baritone)
  • Benjamin Durrant (Treble)
Record label: 
Naxos
Catalogue number: 
8.555795
Awards: 
Editor's Choice
Gramophone
March 2004

Track list

  1. Magnificat 'Collegium Magdalenae Oxoniense'
  2. Nunc dimittis 'Collegium Magdalenae Oxoniense'
  3. Give me the wings of faith
  4. An Easter Sequence
  5. Veni creator spiritus
  6. What love is this of thine?
  7. Crucifixus pro nobis
  8. Rockingham: Chorale Prelude on 'When I survey the wondrous Cross'
  9. Magnificat 'The Second Service'
  10. Nunc dimittis 'The Second Service'

Reviews

James Oxley is a plangent soloist in this piece and Christopher Robinson's choir (2002 vintage) is on excellent form throughout, with especially clear diction. An atmospheric recording helps make this an outstanding contribution to Naxos's valuable series from St John's

Anthony Burton, BBC Music Magazine (April 2004)

Another of those star-filled CDs from St John’s recorded around 2002 with Davies, Clayton and Co. blending seamlessly into the ensemble

Michael White, Gramophone (January 2015)

Robinson obtains very good singing from St John’s College Choir and the acoustic of St John’s College Chapel is splendidly captured in this fine Naxos recording

Penguin Guide (January 2009)

This is part of the outstanding series "English Choral Music" from Naxos.... As we have come to expect, this latest issue consists of first-rate performances, nearly flawless in technique and eloquent in interpretation

American Record Guide

An outstanding release on all fronts; and the one to have, even if you already own any of the other Leighton releases

Hubert Culot, MusicWeb International

The Choir of St. John’s College and its director Christopher Robinson are totally at home in this music, powerfully conveying the drama of the Magdalen Magnificat in the huge tutti passages and then perfectly rendering the evocative opening of the anthem 'Give me the wings of faith' with just the right prayerful sensitivity

David Vernier, Classics Today

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Recorded on
9 March 2024

 

A Meditation on the Passion of Christ is a service of music and readings reflecting on the Passion of Christ. This year the service features music by Byrd, Purcell, Weelkes and MacMillan, as well as the final piece of a triptych of works written for the choir by Joanna Marsh.

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Friday, July 12, marks the release of Magnificat 4, the final installment in Andrew Nethsingha's extraordinary legacy of recordings with The Choir of St John's College, Cambridge. This release not only includes new commissions and pieces written for the Choir of St John's College, but also signifies the end of a monumental chapter in its history.

The commitment, projection and natural energy of this choir have never failed to inspire me

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