Sword in the Soul London Choral Sinfonia & Michael Waldron

• Francis Grier (b. 1955): Sword in the Soul:
• 1 Grier: Sword in the Soul; We venerate the wood of thy Cross 06:03
• 2 Grier: Sword in the Soul; Narration 1 03:17
• 3 Grier: Sword in the Soul; Nunc Dimittis 02:14
• 4 Grier: Sword in the Soul; Narration 2 03:40
• 5 Grier: Sword in the Soul: O Lord, thou hast duped me 01:22
• 6 Grier: Sword in the Soul; Narration 3 03:37
• 7 Grier: Sword in the Soul: Lovely tears of lovely eyes 04:14
• 8 Grier: Sword in the Soul: Narration 4 03:10
• 9 Grier: Sword in the Soul; Dialogue for cello & organ 03:28
• 10 Grier: Sword in the Soul; Narration 5 06:25
• 11 Grier: Sword in the Soul; O Cross of Christ 02:47
• 12 Grier: Sword in the Soul; Narration 6 05:13
• 13 Grier: Sword in the Soul; Today he who hung the earth upon the waters 05:37
• Owain Park (b. 1993): Hail, gladdening light:
• 14 Park: Hail, gladdening light 02:04
• Edward Elgar (1857 - 1934): We will remember them:
• 15 Elgar: We will remember them 02:46
• Enigma Variations. Nimrod:
• 16 Elgar: Enigma Variations. Nimrod: Lux Aeterna 04:11
• David Bednall (b. 1979): Nunc Dimittis (after Finzi):
• 17 Bednall: Nunc Dimittis (after Finzi) 09:39
• Edgar Bainton (1880 - 1956): And I saw a new heaven:
• 18 Bainton: And I saw a new heaven 05:44
• Total Runtime 01:15:31

Info for Sword in the Soul

"In an album that includes world-premiere recordings, Michael Waldron and the London Choral Sinfonia perform Francis Grier’s modern-day Passion, Sword in the Soul, to texts by Rowan Williams narrated by Simon Callow, Samantha Bond and Adrian Peacock. Alongside Grier’s Sword in the Soul, we hear Lux Eterna, the profoundly moving choral setting of Elgar’s famous ‘Nimrod’ from his Enigma Variations, as well as a rarely-heard piece by Elgar recorded only once before: the intensely poignant We Will Remember Them, a beautiful and simple a cappella arrangement of a famous text. The album also features music by contemporary composer David Bednall, and LCS’s Composer in Residence Owain Park."

Brian O’Kane, cello
James Orford, organ
Samantha Bond, narrator
Simon Callow, narrator
The London Choral Sinfonia
Michael Waldron, conductor

London Choral Sinfonia
was formed for a concert in the chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge, in 2008. Since then, the LCS has secured a reputation as one of the highest-regarded and critically acclaimed chamber choir and orchestral ensembles, performing a broad repertoire throughout the season. A busy performance schedule throughout the year sees the group appearing at venues including Cadogan Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral, Kings Place and St John’s Smith Square.

Aside from championing many of the major cornerstones of the repertoire, the LCS seeks to champion new music, having premiered new works and recordings with numerous composers including Tarik O’Regan, Owain Park, Richard Pantcheff and Ian Assersohn. Recent premieres include former Composer-in-Residence Oliver Rudland’s Christmas Truce, with a libretto by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy.

Performance highlights include Bach Jauchzet Gott with Katherine Watson (soprano) and Crispian Steele-Perkins (trumpet), Bach Motets and Cello Suites with Guy Johnston (cello), Mozart Requiem with Duncan Rock (bass), Mozart Exsultate Jubilate with Mary Bevan (soprano), Britten St Nicolas with Nick Pritchard (tenor), and Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem with Matthew Brook (baritone).

Michael Waldron
began his musical training as a chorister at St Ambrose College, Hale Barns. After a gap year Organ Scholarship at Worcester Cathedral, he held the Organ Scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge, for four years. Here he studied under Stephen Layton, during which time he was involved with the Choir’s numerous international tours, concerts, broadcasts and recordings. Since graduating, Michael has quickly established himself as one of the most dynamic and versatile conductors of his generation, enjoying a busy concert career. He has worked with the Philharmonia Orchestra, Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Academy of Ancient Music, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Polyphony, London Mozart Players and Tonbridge Philharmonic, including appearances at the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Cadogan Hall, Wigmore Hall and BBC Proms.

Michael enjoys an extensive operatic career, including shows and projects for the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, Buxton International Festival, Iford Opera, Opera Della Luna and West Green Opera.

He is currently Artistic Director of the London Choral Sinfonia, London Lyric Opera, Islington Choral Society, Epworth Choir, and has also held posts with Guildford Choral Society and University of West London Chamber Choir.

Booklet for Sword in the Soul