℗ 2019 Hyperion Records Limited
| Released | July 28, 2023 |
| Originated | March 29, 2019 |
| Duration | 1h 36m 02s |
| Record Label | Hyperion |
| Genre | Classical |
Elgar: Caractacus, Op. 35
Huddersfield Choral Society, The Orchestra of Opera North, Martyn Brabbins
Available in 96 kHz / 24-bit AIFF, FLAC high resolution audio formats
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Caractacus, Op. 35, Scene 1
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1.1
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No. 1, Watchmen, Alert! (Chorus) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Huddersfield Choral Society; Martyn Brabbins; The Orchestra of Opera North |
5:50 | |||
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1.2
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No. 2, Watchmen, Alert! the King Is Here (Caractacus/Sentries) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; The Orchestra of Opera North; Roland Wood; Martyn Brabbins; Huddersfield Choral Society |
5:51 | |||
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1.3
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No. 3, Father! Sire and King (Eigen/Caractacus/Orbin/Sentries) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Elgan Llŷr Thomas; Elizabeth Llewellyn; Martyn Brabbins; Huddersfield Choral Society; The Orchestra of Opera North; Roland Wood |
2:32 | |||
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1.4
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No. 4, At Eve to the Greenwood (Eigen) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Elizabeth Llewellyn; The Orchestra of Opera North; Martyn Brabbins |
2:35 | |||
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1.5
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No. 5, On the Ocean and the River (Eigen/Orbin/Caractacus) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Roland Wood; Elgan Llŷr Thomas; Elizabeth Llewellyn; The Orchestra of Opera North; Martyn Brabbins |
2:45 | |||
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1.6
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No. 6, Rest, Weary Monarch (Spirits of the Hill)
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Martyn Brabbins; Huddersfield Choral Society; The Orchestra of Opera North |
2:56 | |||
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Caractacus, Op. 35, Scene 2
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1.7
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No. 1, Tread the Mystic Circle Round (Arch-Druid/Druids/Druid Maidens) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; The Orchestra of Opera North; Huddersfield Choral Society; Christopher Purves; Martyn Brabbins |
4:27 | |||
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1.8
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No. 2, Invocation. Lord of Dread, and Lord of Pow'r (Chorus/Arch-Druid) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Martyn Brabbins; Christopher Purves; Huddersfield Choral Society; The Orchestra of Opera North |
2:24 | |||
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1.9
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No. 3, Bard, What Read Ye? (Arch-Druid/Orbin/Caractacus/Druids/Druid Maidens) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Roland Wood; Martyn Brabbins; The Orchestra of Opera North; Christopher Purves; Elgan Llŷr Thomas; Huddersfield Choral Society |
7:08 | |||
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1.10
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No. 4, Leap, Leap to Light (Caractacus/Soldiers/Orbin/Arch-Druid) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Roland Wood; The Orchestra of Opera North; Martyn Brabbins; Huddersfield Choral Society; Elgan Llŷr Thomas; Christopher Purves |
4:45 | |||
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1.11
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No. 5, Hence, Ere the Druid's Wrath Is Woke (Druids/Druid Maidens/Orbin/Soldiers)
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Elgan Llŷr Thomas; Martyn Brabbins; The Orchestra of Opera North; Huddersfield Choral Society |
3:22 | |||
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Caractacus, Op. 35, Scene 3
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1.12
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No. 1, Introduction. The Woodland Interlude
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; The Orchestra of Opera North; Martyn Brabbins |
1:50 | |||
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1.13
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No. 2, Come! Beneath Our Woodland Bow'rs (Youths/Maidens) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; The Orchestra of Opera North; Huddersfield Choral Society; Martyn Brabbins |
1:08 | |||
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1.14
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No. 3, O'er-arch'd by Leaves (Eigen/Orbin) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Elgan Llŷr Thomas; Elizabeth Llewellyn; Martyn Brabbins; The Orchestra of Opera North |
3:32 | |||
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1.15
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No. 4, Last Night Beneath the Sacred Oak (Orbin) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Elgan Llŷr Thomas; Martyn Brabbins; The Orchestra of Opera North |
1:32 | |||
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1.16
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No. 5, Come! Beneath Our Woodland Bow'rs – They Gather the Wreaths (Youths/Maidens/Orbin/Eigen)
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Elgan Llŷr Thomas; Elizabeth Llewellyn; Huddersfield Choral Society; Martyn Brabbins; The Orchestra of Opera North |
5:18 | |||
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Caractacus, Op. 35, Scene 4
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2.1
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No. 1, Wild Rumours Shake Our Calm Retreat (Maidens) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Huddersfield Choral Society; The Orchestra of Opera North; Martyn Brabbins |
2:24 | |||
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2.2
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No. 2, When the Glow of the Evening (Eigen/Maidens) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Elizabeth Llewellyn; Huddersfield Choral Society; Martyn Brabbins; The Orchestra of Opera North |
2:11 | |||
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2.3
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No. 3, We Were Gather'd by the River (Soldiers) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Huddersfield Choral Society; Martyn Brabbins; The Orchestra of Opera North |
2:09 | |||
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2.4
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No. 4, Lament. O My Warriors (Caractacus/Chorus)
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Huddersfield Choral Society; The Orchestra of Opera North; Martyn Brabbins; Roland Wood |
4:11 | |||
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Caractacus, Op. 35, Scene 5
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2.5
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No. 5, Captive Britons, See Them! (A Bard/Druid Maidens) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Christopher Purves; The Orchestra of Opera North; Martyn Brabbins; Huddersfield Choral Society |
3:51 | |||
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Caractacus, Op. 35, Scene 6
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2.6
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No. 1, Processional Music. The March Triumphal Thunders (Chorus)
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Martyn Brabbins; Huddersfield Choral Society; The Orchestra of Opera North |
7:03 | |||
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2.7
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No. 2, Unbind His Hands (Claudius) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Alastair Miles; The Orchestra of Opera North; Martyn Brabbins |
1:11 | |||
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2.8
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No. 3, Heap Torment upon Torment (Caractacus/Eigen/Orbin) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Elgan Llŷr Thomas; Elizabeth Llewellyn; The Orchestra of Opera North; Martyn Brabbins; Roland Wood |
4:45 | |||
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2.9
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No. 4, Slay, Slay the Briton! (Roman Citizens/Claudius) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Alastair Miles; Huddersfield Choral Society; Martyn Brabbins; The Orchestra of Opera North |
0:35 | |||
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2.10
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No. 5, I Plead Not for Myself (Caractacus/Orbin/Eigen/Roman Citizens/Claudius) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Elgan Llŷr Thomas; Alastair Miles; Roland Wood; Huddersfield Choral Society; Elizabeth Llewellyn; The Orchestra of Opera North; Martyn Brabbins |
2:32 | |||
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2.11
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No. 6, Grace from the Roman! (Eigen/Orbin/Caractacus/Claudius) –
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Martyn Brabbins; Elizabeth Llewellyn; The Orchestra of Opera North; Elgan Llŷr Thomas; Roland Wood; Alastair Miles |
2:25 | |||
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2.12
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No. 7, The Clang of Arms Is Over (Chorus)
Harry Arbuthnot Acworth; Edward Elgar; Martyn Brabbins; The Orchestra of Opera North; Huddersfield Choral Society |
4:50 | |||
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Digital Booklet
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"Martyn Brabbins, a true specialist of late Victorian repertoire … brings an electricity and Straussian Schwung to the orchestral sound throughout this recording, whether in the vibrant marches of scene 1 (‘Watchmen, alert!’), the processional march of scene 4 (the best-known part of the cantata) or the delicious ‘woodland interlude’ … there are some fine performances here from the soloists … the well-prepared Huddersfield Choral Society, appropriately attuned to their role as turba, provide a range of sensitive light and shade, as well as muscular tone, to the varying dramatic contexts, and a crisp counterpoint to the orchestra."
- Gramophone
The centuries do indeed ‘roll away’ as the libretto addresses questions of empire—Roman and Victorian—and Britain’s place in the world. But that shouldn’t detract from the music; this is simply glorious and worthy of the mature Elgar.
96 kHz / 24-bit PCM – Hyperion Studio Masters
| Track title | Peak (dB FS) | RMS (dB FS) | LUFS (integrated) | DR | |
Album average Range of values | -4.65 -17.07 to -0.29 | -28.20 -36.93 to -20.12 | -24.26 -34.50 to -16.40 | 14 11 to 17 | |
| 1.1 | No. 1, Watchmen, Alert! (Chorus) – | -0.29 | -23.94 | -19.7 | 14 |
| 1.2 | No. 2, Watchmen, Alert! the King Is Here (Caractacus/Sentries) – | -3.91 | -30.18 | -25.5 | 15 |
| 1.3 | No. 3, Father! Sire and King (Eigen/Caractacus/Orbin/Sentries) – | -7.00 | -32.04 | -28.6 | 13 |
| 1.4 | No. 4, At Eve to the Greenwood (Eigen) – | -5.47 | -29.30 | -25.2 | 14 |
| 1.5 | No. 5, On the Ocean and the River (Eigen/Orbin/Caractacus) – | -4.25 | -24.70 | -21.1 | 12 |
| 1.6 | No. 6, Rest, Weary Monarch (Spirits of the Hill) | -3.50 | -32.21 | -26.6 | 17 |
| 1.7 | No. 1, Tread the Mystic Circle Round (Arch-Druid/Druids/Druid Maidens) – | -1.47 | -28.29 | -24.2 | 16 |
| 1.8 | No. 2, Invocation. Lord of Dread, and Lord of Pow'r (Chorus/Arch-Druid) – | -1.33 | -21.93 | -17.5 | 12 |
| 1.9 | No. 3, Bard, What Read Ye? (Arch-Druid/Orbin/Caractacus/Druids/Druid Maidens) – | -1.63 | -26.84 | -22.3 | 15 |
| 1.10 | No. 4, Leap, Leap to Light (Caractacus/Soldiers/Orbin/Arch-Druid) – | -3.04 | -28.39 | -24.9 | 16 |
| 1.11 | No. 5, Hence, Ere the Druid's Wrath Is Woke (Druids/Druid Maidens/Orbin/Soldiers) | -0.87 | -20.87 | -17.6 | 12 |
| 1.12 | No. 1, Introduction. The Woodland Interlude | -14.54 | -36.88 | -33.7 | 12 |
| 1.13 | No. 2, Come! Beneath Our Woodland Bow'rs (Youths/Maidens) – | -17.07 | -36.93 | -34.5 | 12 |
| 1.14 | No. 3, O'er-arch'd by Leaves (Eigen/Orbin) – | -4.48 | -29.11 | -25.2 | 14 |
| 1.15 | No. 4, Last Night Beneath the Sacred Oak (Orbin) – | -11.40 | -30.91 | -27.4 | 13 |
| 1.16 | No. 5, Come! Beneath Our Woodland Bow'rs – They Gather the Wreaths (Youths/Maidens/Orbin/Eigen) | -1.82 | -27.91 | -24.2 | 15 |
| 2.1 | No. 1, Wild Rumours Shake Our Calm Retreat (Maidens) – | -6.47 | -32.08 | -28.7 | 16 |
| 2.2 | No. 2, When the Glow of the Evening (Eigen/Maidens) – | -3.17 | -29.50 | -26.4 | 15 |
| 2.3 | No. 3, We Were Gather'd by the River (Soldiers) – | -0.55 | -23.35 | -19.5 | 13 |
| 2.4 | No. 4, Lament. O My Warriors (Caractacus/Chorus) | -2.73 | -26.70 | -22.8 | 15 |
| 2.5 | No. 5, Captive Britons, See Them! (A Bard/Druid Maidens) – | -6.21 | -28.74 | -25.1 | 14 |
| 2.6 | No. 1, Processional Music. The March Triumphal Thunders (Chorus) | -0.31 | -22.69 | -18.2 | 14 |
| 2.7 | No. 2, Unbind His Hands (Claudius) – | -11.16 | -33.35 | -27.9 | 13 |
| 2.8 | No. 3, Heap Torment upon Torment (Caractacus/Eigen/Orbin) – | -8.92 | -31.45 | -27.4 | 14 |
| 2.9 | No. 4, Slay, Slay the Briton! (Roman Citizens/Claudius) – | -3.46 | -25.50 | -22.0 | 11 |
| 2.10 | No. 5, I Plead Not for Myself (Caractacus/Orbin/Eigen/Roman Citizens/Claudius) – | -2.34 | -27.85 | -23.2 | 15 |
| 2.11 | No. 6, Grace from the Roman! (Eigen/Orbin/Caractacus/Claudius) – | -2.53 | -27.69 | -23.5 | 13 |
| 2.12 | No. 7, The Clang of Arms Is Over (Chorus) | -0.35 | -20.12 | -16.4 | 12 |