Robert Quinney, James O'Donnell, The Choir Of Westminster Abbey - Elgar: Great is the Lord; Te Deum & Other Works (2023)

Elgar from the Abbeywhat could be more fitting? From the regal opulence of Great is the Lord, first performed in Westminster Abbey in 1912, to the quiet devotion of the opus 2 Ave verum and Ave Maria, this varied programme is the perfect guide through Elgars rich choral output. Performances on this new recording are astounding, as James ODonnell guides the men and boys of Westminster Abbey through the grandiloquence and tenderness of this seminal music. The full gamut of Elgars careerfrom son of provincial instrument dealer to composer laureateis represented and at every turn these performers offer new insights into the performing possibilities of these all-too-often-hackneyed works. There is also a rare performance of the long-forgotten Queen Alexandra Memorial Odea fitting tribute by Poet Laureate (John Masefield) and Master of the Kings Musick (Elgar) to Edward VIIs much-lamented consort. Performances by The Choir of Westminster Abbey, under the direction of James ODonnell and with the sympathetic organ accompaniment of Robert Quinney, are every bit as good as their previous Hyperion recordings would lead us to expect.