Choral Music
St John's English Choral Music series for Naxos (this Walton disc is No. 4) has won golden opinions (and an award or two), but there has been nothing better than this. With Christopher Robinson nearing the end of his reign in charge of this world-renowned choir, there could hardly be a better testament to his work. The likes of "Drop, drop slow tears" and "Set me as a seal" are standards for choirs up and down the land, but pieces such as the remarkable "The Twelve" and "Where does the uttered music go?" require a particular virtuosity, which is more than evident here. Space doesn't permit an extolling of all the virtues--in brief, a sound fresh, rich, and natural; ensemble and balance of voices immaculate; solo contributions impressive. Christopher Whitton's organ playing also impresses, not least in arrangements of the two ubiquitous movements from Walton's film music forHenry V. The acoustics of St John's is caught just right--neither too dry nor too swimmy. As a chorister himself, Walton knew the musical traditions of the Anglican church inside out. St John's et al. show here they know his music just as thoroughly. Rush out and buy.--Andrew Green