- Sophie Bevan soprano
- Sebastian Wybrew piano
With each season soprano Sophie Bevan grows in artistic stature and when taking breaks from her distinguished operatic career, she has always felt supremely comfortable performing songs. Her enduring partnership with Sebastian Wybrew began as students at the Royal College of Music and this, their debut release on Wigmore Hall Live, captures her beguiling artistry and astonishing vocal gifts.
A recital to commemorate the anniversary of the beginning of the First World War, Songs of Vain Glory draws from a wider range of songs in English depicting the excitement, disillusionment and peace of those who must leave to fight and the love, fear and loss of those left behind. From the timeless, astral perspective of Finzi's 'At a lunar eclipse' to the oceanic depths of Elgar's 'Submarines' and the cosy evergreen 'We'll gather lilacs'.
Track Listing
Gerald Finzi (1901-1956)
Till Earth Outwears Op. 19a
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01. At a Lunar Eclipse
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
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02. O the sight entrancing
Arthur Somervell (1863-1937)
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03. To Lucasta, on going to the wars
Frank Bridge (1879-1941)
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04. Tis but a week
Charles Edward Ives (1874-1954)
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05. Tom Sails Away
Ivor Gurney (1890-1937)
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06. Most Holy Night
Charles Villiers Stanford (1852-1924)
A Sheaf of Songs from Leinster Op. 140
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07. A soft day
Benjamin Britten
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08. Sweet Polly Oliver
Haydn Wood (1882-1959)
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09. Roses of Picardy
R P Weston/Bert Lee
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10. Good bye-ee
Nat Ayer (1887-1952)
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11. If I were the only girl in the world
Ivor Novello (1893-1951)
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12. We'll gather lilacs
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
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13. Sailor's song HXXVIa:31
Edward Elgar (1857-1934)
The Fringes of the Fleet
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14. Submarines
Benjamin Britten
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15. Tom Bowling
Ivor Gurney
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16. The ship
Benjamin Britten
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17. Oft in the stilly night
John Ireland (1879-1962)
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18. Spring sorrow
Liza Lehmann (1862-1918)
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19. When I am Dead, My Dearest
Frank Bridge
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20. Come to me in my dreams
Peter Warlock (1894-1930)
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21. My Own Country
Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
12 Songs Op. 48
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22. No. 9 Journey's End
Charles Villiers Stanford
Songs of the Sea Op. 91
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23. Homeward Bound
Ivor Novello
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24. We'll gather lilacs (reprise)
