Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius - The Music Makers / Gedda, Watts, Lloyd, Baker; Boult at Music Hills.com

Music CD 1

The Music Makers: (Moderato e nobilmente)
The Music Makers: We Are The Music Makers
The Music Makers: With Wonderful Deathless Ditties
The Music Makers: We, In The Ages Lying
The Music Makers: A Breath Of Our Inspiration
The Music Makers: They Had No Vision Amazing
The Music Makers: And Therefore To-day Is Thrilling
The Music Makers: But We, With Our Dreaming And Singing
The Music Makers: For We Are Afar With The Dawning
The Music Makers: Great Hail! We Cry To The Comers
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Prelude (Lento, mistico--Moderato--Andantino--Come prima)
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Jesu, Maria - I Am Near To Death
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Kyrie eleison...Holy Mary, Pray For Him
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Rouse Thee, My Fainting Soul
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Be Merciful, Be Gracious
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Sanctis fortis, Sanctus Deus
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: I Can No More
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Rescue Him, O Lord
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Novissima hora est
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Proficiscere, anima Christiana
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part I: Go In The Name Of Angels

Music CD 2

The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: (Andantino) - I went To Sleep
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: My Work Is Done
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: All Hail! My Child
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Low-Born Clods Of Brute Earth
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: It Is The Restless Panting Of Their Being
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: The Mind Bold And Independent
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: I See Not Those False Spirits
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Praise To The Holiest
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: The Sound Is Like The Rushing Of The Wind
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Glory To Him
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: They Sing Of Thy Approaching Agony
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: But Hark! A Grand Mysterious Harmony
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: And Now The Threshold
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Praise To The Holiest
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Thy Judgment Now Is Near
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Jesu! By That Shuddering Dread
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Be Merciful, Be Gracious
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Praise To His Name!
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Take Me Away
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge
The Dream Of Gerontius, Op. 38: Part II: Softly And Gently

So overall I would say this is the best recording for the soloists, as I do not like listening to either Lewis or Pears. The interpretation is a matter of taste. My only problem with Boult is that occasionally (as in the end of the first bass solo with the priest and attendants) he tries to draw out the phrases so much that the singers find it hard to sustain, whereas Britten keeps the line sustained to the end of every phrase and beyond, making for more continuity. Also there is a point near the end of the piece where some of the players seem to lose sight of the beat and there is a lack of ensemble. However, I would still go for this one above the others for the overall performance.

Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius - The Music Makers / Gedda, Watts, Lloyd, Baker; Boult