Immerse yourself in the serene and pastoral world of Lennox Berkeley's one-act opera "Ruth," a gentle and evocative exploration of the biblical story of Ruth and Naomi. This chamber music masterpiece, released in November 2010, is the sole recording of Berkeley's intimate and heartfelt opera, making it a unique addition to any classical music collection.
Composed by Lennox Berkeley, a British composer who drew inspiration from his connections with France, "Ruth" is a delicate and poignant work that showcases Berkeley's distinctive voice. The opera is divided into three scenes, each prefaced by insightful introductions from Lord Harewood, providing context and enhancing the listening experience.
The opera begins with a prelude that sets the stage for the journey of Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah, with the writing for strings instantly transporting the audience to the pastoral landscapes of Judah. The opera unfolds with a series of beautiful arias and ensembles, highlighting the deep bond between Ruth and Naomi, and the challenges they face as they navigate their new lives.
The performances on this album are led by the esteemed conductor Richard Hickox, with a cast of talented singers who bring the characters of "Ruth" to life. The album's duration of 1 hour and 29 minutes allows for a comprehensive exploration of Berkeley's score, from the gentle, pastoral scenes to the more dramatic moments of the opera.
"Berkeley: Ruth" is a testament to Lennox Berkeley's unique compositional style, blending British and French influences to create a work of profound beauty and depth. Whether you are a longtime fan of Berkeley's music or a newcomer to his work, this album offers a captivating journey through the world of this remarkable composer.
2010 Music Preserved2010 Music Preserved
Tracks
Ruth, Op. 50: AnnouncerLennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50: Introduction by Lord HarewoodLennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 1: PreludeLennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 1: "Once More I See Your Green and Golden Hills, O Judah"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 1: "Turn Back, My Daughters"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 1: "Almighty Father, Let My Cry Come Unto Thee"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 1: "Ah, Must I Leave Thee? Must We Part?"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 1: "Wither Thou Goest, I Will Go"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 1: "See! Is This Naomi?"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 1: "Now, Call Me Not Naomi, Call Me Mara"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 1: "Where, O Where Is Naomi?"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50: Introduction to Scene 2 by Lord HarewoodLennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 2: "Gold Grows the Barley on Hillside and Valley"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 2: "Greetings, Men of Judah"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 2: "The Scattered Ear of Corn"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 2: "Come, Let Us Go Forth Together"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 2: "Stay, Men of Judah"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 2: "I Had No Wish to Anger Them"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 2: "Ah, Let Not Anger Fill Your Eyes!"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 2: "Whence Cometh This to Me"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 2: "The Scatter'd Ear of Corn"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 2: "Introduction to Scene 3 by Lord Harewood"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "Opening...This Is the Place! Come Daughter"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "Fear Not, Beloved Ruth"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "Golden Ripe the Barley Grows"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "Lord of the Harvest, What Are Thy Commands?"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "Winter Time Is the Time to Plough"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "Across the Field the Long Slow Line of Reapers Goes A-Reaping"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "Dance, Come Dance, Dance Within the Bring"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "O Clap Your Hands, All Ye People!"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "Go Now, My Daughter"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "Master!"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "Thou Comest in the Stillness of the Night"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "Lo, My Beloved, My Soul's Delight, to Thee I Give My Hand"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "Behold This Maid"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "Rejoice, O Israel, Rejoice"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Ruth, Op. 50, Scene 3: "Announcer"Lennox Berkeley, Una Hale, April Cantelo, Anna Pollak, Sir Peter Pears, Thomas Hemsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The English Opera Group, Sir Charles Mackerras
Sir Lennox Berkeley, born into an aristocratic family in Oxford in 1903, stands as a distinguished figure in the realm of British music. His journey as a composer began at Oxford, where he studied foreign languages and crossed paths with the renowned Maurice Ravel. Ravel's encouragement led Berkeley to Paris, where he apprenticed under the esteemed Nadia Boulanger from 1927 to 1932. During this formative period, Berkeley befriended notable composers such as Francis Poulenc, Igor Stravinsky, and Darius Milhaud, influences that would shape his unique musical voice.
Berkeley's compositions, marked by light textures and piquant harmonies, span a wide range of genres, including operas, symphonies, chamber music, and songs. His neoclassical and serial styles reflect his deep connection to both British and French musical traditions. Among his notable works are "A Dinner Engagement," an opera that showcases his dramatic flair, and "Theme and Variations," a piece that has been performed at prestigious venues like the Wigmore Hall.
Beyond his musical achievements, Berkeley's personal life was equally intriguing. He converted to Roman Catholicism in 1929, a faith that would deeply influence his artistic output. His unconventional marriage and his connections with literary figures like W.H. Auden and musical luminaries such as Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears further enrich his legacy.
Berkeley's contributions to music were recognized with the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), and his works continue to be celebrated for their innovation and emotional depth. His diaries and writings offer a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a composer who bridged the gap between British and French musical traditions, leaving behind a rich tapestry of compositions that continue to inspire and captivate audiences.
845 Followers
Best vinyl LP prices!
Compare reliable providers and find the cheapest option. View the current prices below.
Price unknown - In most cases, this means the album isn't available on LP or is no longer offered on LP by our trusted sellers.