Adrian Partington Singers, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, David Lloyd-Jones - Sullivan: Ivanhoe (2010)

Tracklist

CD1
01. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 1: Introduction
02. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 1: Each Day This Realm of England Faints and Fails (Cedric, Men)
03. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 1: Good Thane, Most Noble Thane, I Pray … (Isaac, Men, Cedric, Squire)
04. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 1: Welcome, Sir Knights! (Cedric, de Bracy, Brian, Isaac, Women, Men, Rowena)
05. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 1: Drink, Drink Ye All … (Cedric, Men, de Bracy, Brian, Rowena, Ivanoe, All)
06. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 1: The Palmer! the Holy Palmer! (Men, Ivanhoe, Cedric, Brian, Rowena, de Bracy)
07. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 1: Is She Not Fair? and She Is Rich Withal (de Bracy, Brian, Men)
08. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 2: O Moon, Art Thou Clad In Silver Mail … (Rowena)
09. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 2: Good Palmer, Thou Didst Speak of One I Knew … (Rowena, Ivanhoe)
10. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 2: Like Mountain Lark My Sprit Upward Springs (Ivanhoe, Isaac)
11. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 3: Will There Be No More Fighting? (Sopranos, Chorus, Friar, King, All)
12. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 3: Chorus: Plantagenesta! (All)
13. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 3: Isaac, My Jew, My Purse of Gold (Prince John, Cedric, de Bracy, Rebecca)
14. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 3: Tis from Our Royal Brother, Louis of France (Prince John, Heralds, Crowd)
15. Ivanhoe: Act I Scene 3: What Means His Motto? (Sopranos, Crowd, Friar, Locksley, Prince John, Rowena, Cedric, All)

CD2
01. Ivanhoe: Act II Scene 1: Strange Lodging This for England's King (King, Friar)
02. Ivanhoe: Act II Scene 1: There Is a Custom In the East (King, Friar)
03. Ivanhoe: Act II Scene 1: I Ask Nor Wealth Nor Courtier's Praise (King)
04. Ivanhoe: Act II Scene 1: Not Bad, Say I, Nor Badly Sung! (Friar, King)
05. Ivanhoe: Act II Scene 1: The Wind Blows Cold Across the Moor (Friar, Outlaws)
06. Ivanhoe: Act II Scene 1: And Now for Combat! Where's This Friend of Mine? (Friar, King, Locksley, Chorus)
07. Ivanhoe: Act II Scene 2: Will Not Our Captor Dare to Show His Face? (Cedric, de Bracy, Rowena)
08. Ivanhoe: Act II Scene 2: Welcome, Sir Templar! But I May Not Stay (de Bracy, Brian)
09. Ivanhoe: Act II Scene 2: Her Southern Splendour, Like the Syrian Moon (Brian)
10. Ivanhoe: Act II Scene 3: Whet the Keen Axes (Ulrica, Rebecca)
11. Ivanhoe: Act II Scene 3: O Awful Depth Below the Castle Wall! (Rebecca)
12. Ivanhoe: Act II Scene 3: Lord of Our Chosen Race (Rebecca)
13. Ivanhoe: Act II Scene 3: Take Thou These Jewels; Here Is Wealth Enow … (Rebecca, Brian)
14. Ivanhoe: Act II Scene 3: What Sound Is That? (Rebecca, Brian)

CD3
01. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 1: Happy With Winged Feet (Ivanhoe)
02. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 1: Tend Thou the Knight Thou Lovest (Ulrica, Rebecca)
03. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 1: Ah, Would That Thou and I Might Lead Our Sheep … (Rebecca, Ivanhoe)
04. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 1: But Hark! What Sound Is In Mine Ear? (Ivanhoe, Rebecca)
05. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 1: I See Them Now; the Dark Wood Moves With Bows (Rebecca, Tenors, Basses, Ivanhoe)
06. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 1: How Canst Thou Know What Pain It Is to Lie … (Ivanhoe, Rebecca, Soldiers, Brian, Outlaws, Ulrica, All)
07. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 2: Light Foot Upon the Dancing Green (Outlaws, King, Ivanhoe)
08. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 2: Maurice de Bracy, Faithless Knight (King, de Bracy)
09. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 2: Look, Where Thy Moody Father Walks Apart (King, Ivanhoe, Cedric, Rowena)
10. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 2: How Oft Beneath the Far-off Syrian Skies … (Ivanhoe, Rowena)
11. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 2: Knight, Knight, of Ivanhoe, I Come for Thee! (Isaac, Ivanhoe, Rowena)
12. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 3 Fremeure Principes (Templars)
13. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 3: Thou Jewish Girl, Who Art Condemned to Die … (Grand Master, Rebecca)
14. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 3: It Shall Not Be (Brian, Grand Master, Rebecca)
15. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 3: A Champion! a Champion! a Champion! (Voices, Ivanhoe, Chorus, Rebecca, Brian)
16. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 3: Chorus: A Judgement! a Judgment! (King, Grand Master, Templars)
17. Ivanhoe: Act III Scene 3: See Where the Banner of England Floats Afar … (King, Templars, Rebecca, Rowena, Ivanhoe, Cedric, All)



‘It will be an historical work, and it is the dream of my life. I do not believe in operas based on gods and myths. What we want are plots which give rise to characters of flesh and blood, with human emotions and human passions. Music should speak to the heart and not to the head…’ Sullivan back in 1885 with his ideas for Ivanhoe.

Ivanhoe, perhaps Sir Walter Scott’s most popular novel, was the perfect choice for historical opera and launched D’Oyly Carte’s ambitious English Royal Opera (now home to the Palace Theatre), where this romantic opera of three hours – ran with a double cast in one of London’s largest and most expensive theatre, on consecutive nights, for 155 performances, one of the most extraordinary runs ever achieved by any opera. In 1891, anyone in London wishing to experience some music would have had a remarkable choice. Ivanhoe was playing at the Royal English Opera, The Gondoliers was still drawing the crowds at the Savoy, and there was a performance of The Golden Legend at Covent Garden. It is hard to think of another musical personality in the history of British music, other than Handel, who had dominated London in this way

The sheer breath and variety of Scott’s invention in Ivanhoe is astonishing, and it is one of the most significant operatic works to have originated in Britain. It was written when Sullivan was at the height of his powers, with his typical fluency in word-setting and mastery of orchestration, and it breathes his natural empathy and humanity. Sullivan’s career was, by any standards, an extraordinary one, and this was its zenith.

This is the first professional commercial recording of Ivanhoe and features a cast, including Janice Watson, Toby Spence, Catherine Wyn-Rogers and Geraldine McGreevy. Conductor David Lloyd-Jones who has previously conducted Sullivan works makes his debut with Chandos. The work is dedicated to Richard Hickox who was instrumental in making this recording.

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