Classical Music: Ernest Jones delightfully English music is like a draught of fresh spring water

Aug 21 2009 by Peter Spaull, Liverpool Daily Post

POOR Whitchurch. Once cursed by impatient drivers on the A41 as they tried to penetrate its clogged streets, now with by-pass in place it is forgotten.

But let us not forget its most famous son. Ernest Jones was born there in 1862 and could have become an apprentice at Lairds, in Birkenhead. But he was too old, and so went to the Royal Academy of Music to achieve his true vocation. He also changed his name to Edward German. Merrie England made him famous, but his true masterpiece is Tom Jones, based on Henry Fielding’s novel.

A fine new recording has been made at the royal Northern College of Music, and this delightfully English music really comes like a draught of fresh spring water. David Russell Hulme, director of Music at Aberystwyth University, conducts the National Festival Orchestra and Chorus who specialise in this kind of repertoire, and they support a hand-picked cast who include veterans Richard Stuart and Donald Maxwell.

A host of music trusts have supported this venture which has expert notes by John Prince, and this bears all the marks of a labour of love by all concerned. It is released by Naxos on two CDs with detailed plot; the excellent diction of the singers makes texts unnecessary.

Deems Taylor is a name which may stir memories. He was the narrator on the famous Walt Disney film Fantasia, and was also a critic and composer. His opera, Peter Ibbetson, was the most performed work at New York Met for more than 50 years, following its 1931 premiere. The punters loved it despite the howls of the critics who thought it over-romantic and leaning too heavily on Puccini and Massenet. I think if it was done today in this country it would be an equal success – and receive similar treatment from the critics. It’s the story of a love affair carried out through dreams and is based on a novel by Gerald du Maurier.

To say that it is romantic is an understatement, and Naxos deserves to have a big success with this two-disc set. It was recorded in live concert by Gerard Schwarz with his Seattle Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and a cast unknown on this side of the water. One is unaware of audience presence.

I am uneasy about Leonard Bernstein’s music outside the musical theatre. His Mass, recorded by Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Orchestra and Choirs, is described as zany in the notes, and as his masterpiece by others, and endeavours to embrace all kinds of music from the classical to rock and roll. Jubilant Sykes, from the musical theatre, is the Celebrant and I have to say I prefer to list en to West Side Story’s song America, rather than The Creation story performed in similar style. But this two-disc set from Naxos will give much pleasure and I believe that a live performance in Liverpool would be a (zany) wow.