FINZI & WALTON: Chamber Works - Toby Spence, Scottish Ensemble

The British tenor Toby Spence joins the Scottish Ensemble in this live recording featuring works by two great 20th cenutry British composers - Gerald Finzi and William Walton . Spence sings Finzi’s five movement ‘Dies Natalis’ - a work which took Finzi nearly 15 years to complete, finally receiving its first performance at Wigmore Hall in 1940.

Toby Spence is one of the leading tenors of his generation. His close association with the Scottish Ensemble goes back to 2001 when he performed Britten’s St Nicolas cantata with the Ensemble. He has collaborated with the Ensemble on several projects since, both in London and Scotland.

The Scottish Ensemble are regular guests at Wigmore Hall. They are a unique 12-piece string ensemble which performs standing in a semi-circle without a conductor, led from the violin by Artistic Director Jonathan Morton.

GERALD FINZI
(1901-1956)
1.
Romance for String Orchestra, Op. 11 (1928)
8:09
Andante espressivo - Più mosso - Tempo I

Dies Natalis, Op. 8 (1925-39)
27:03
for high voice and string orchestra
2.Intrada 5:04
Andante con moto
3.Rhapsody (Recitativo stromentato) 7:20
Andante con moto
4.The Rapture (Danza) 3:52
Allegro vivace e giocoso
5.Wonder (Arioso) 4:56
Andante
6.The Salutation (Aria) 5:29
Tempo commodo

WILLIAM WALTON
Sonata for string orchestra (1972)
28:38
7.Allegro 8:29 

8.Presto 4:17

9.Lento  10:16

10.Allegro molto 5:15

Chamber: Scottish Ensemble
13 October 2007 (live recording)