The Dream of Gerontius (6/7): Ben Heppner as the soul of Gerontius sings: "Take me away"

[carlolamberti1]

l'inizio, per la sua potenza sonora, ci ricorda lo stacco finale della sesta sinfonia mahleriana trasportandoci in un mondo sonoro al pieno della sua esposizione orchestrale...

carlo lamberti

[musodavid]

I suggest you try to listen to The CBSO under Oramo. Justin Lavender is a wondeful Gerontius with amazing breath control. He has to be the best I've on any recording since Nash.

[musodavid]

The role of Gerontius has to be the most challenging music written for tenor beating even Siegfried. No modern singer has ever really mastered it since Heddle Nash. Langridge is excellent and I think Heppner does a stirling job here.

[yamaho5]

Thanks for posting this. Listening to this through the years had helped to bring me out of the doldrums many times. I like Ben's rendition.

[Eurofrank1]

Ben sounds rather uncomfortable in places, particularly the "attack" on some of the high notes wasn´t quite there. The jury is certainly out on whether the same singer can do justice to Siegfried AND Gerontius.

[melodiaavis]

I agree. I found Sarah Connolly and Gerald Finley far stronger than Heppner in this performance. I particularly liked her rendition of "Softly and Gently ...", see my related upload "The Dream of Gerontius (7/7)"

[Eurofrank1]

You´re right; it´s fantastic, particularly at this slow tempo. Her line and control are second to none! Arguably the best rendition of "Softly and gently...." here on the "Tube"!! I also saw her on TV at the Proms in summer 2009, which was also excellent. I look forward to any new postings of her in future. Best wishes and thanks melodiaavis!

[melodiaavis]

Sarah Connolly's singing of the Mahler lieder: "Songs of a Wayfarer" at the Last Night of the Proms was the highlight for me. It is on YouTube too, as well as a growing number of other interesting clips of her.