Review and More

Our Review

The Washington Chorus is at it again! Glorious Splendor is their second holiday CD review on this site (see (Sing Noel!). Once again, this nationally-acclaimed, 200-voice chorale has pulled out all the stops to provide a masterful masterpiece for the holiday season.

Glorious Splendor presents 15 classical cuts on this ample album (well over an hour of music). The substantial liner notes provide all the lyrics with English translations, where appropriate. In contrast with the Washington Chorus' earlier holiday fare, this album is a bit more serious (only one popular carol here--the closing "Joy to the World") and has three organ solos (performed superbly by organist Paul Skevington). The mechanics here are outstanding; in terms of recording quality, this CD is virtually flawless, and the musical performances are also incredible. Several tracks are performed a cappella; others have the fine support of Skevington's organ and/or the excellent assistance of the National Capital Brass and Percussion.

From my perspective, the album opens brilliantly. Its syncopated "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day" is one of the finest versions I have ever heard. And the second track, "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming," is one of my all-time favorites, and the Washington Chorus' tender a cappella treatment brought tears to my eyes. Splendid! The CD closes with stirring fanfare as "Joy to the World" unfolds, and the Washington Chorus lifts the listeners to the very heavens. Truly magnificent!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

More

From the liner notes:

Robert Shafer, Music Director
Paul Skevington, Organ
National Capital Brass and Percussion
Laura Lewis, Soprano

Dianne Peterson, Executive Director
Producer: Blanton Alspaugh
Recorded May 2003 at Saint Luke Catholic Church in McLean, Virginia.

From the Web site:

A GRAMMY® Award Winner, The Washington Chorus is considered one of the foremost choruses in the nation and a cultural leader in the Washington metropolitan area. Each year, the 200-member Chorus presents its own subscription series at the Kennedy Center and frequently appears at the invitation of the National Symphony Orchestra, having appeared with them in more than 280 performances.

Founded in 1961, the Chorus has sung under the direction of many of the world's greatest conductors, including Mstislav Rostropovich, Raphael Frühbeck de Burgos, Seiji Ozawa, Charles Dutoit, Karl Richter, Zdenek Macal, and Sir Neville Marriner. In addition to its regular Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap performances, the Chorus has sung throughout the metropolitan area and has been acclaimed for numerous world premieres, including the American premiere of Krzysztof Penderecki's Te Deum with the National Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. The Washington Chorus has recorded GRAMMY® nominated and winning CDs, been nationally broadcast and internationally televised, and has performed as part of a motion picture soundtrack. The Chorus has also performed for inaugurations and to honor world leaders, and has been touring internationally every other year since 1994.

The Washington Chorus

Glorious Splendor

Artist link

Track List