William Mathias: Ave Rex; Elegy for a Prince; This Worlde's Joie

What immediately impresses me about the music of William Mathias is its huge vigour and distinctively clear instrumental colouration. Later comes admiration for his ability to write grateful and instinctively for the human voice, and a growing appreciation for his distinctive intelligence and musical personality. Although he was content to write in conventional forms - the symphony, the concerto, the string quartet, the vocal cantata and so forth - he always brings something fresh to bear, and I can't think of a single work of his which has not proved well worth hearing and getting to know.This disc is no exception, and would make a good introduction to his solo and choral vocal style and achievement. The popular Carol Sequence 'Ave Rex' (13') is performed with precise energy by the Welsh National Opera Chorus and LSO under David Atherton. Sir Geraint Evans gives an ideally characterful, rich-voiced and musically precise bravura performance of the atmospheric, snow-bound and fiercely angry 'Elegy' (for the medieval Welsh Prince Gruffyd) - this is a powerful, chillingly impressive work despite its comparative (15') brevity.Last and not least comes one of Mathias's major choral cantatas: 'This World's Joie' (49') is a brilliantly planned and executed setting of medieval poetry, taking us through the natural cycle from Spring to Winter, and from Birth to Death, culminating in an optimistic vision of rebirth and transfigured return to Spring. It is written for a full choral panoply of three soloists, mixed choir and large orchestra, and will appeal to anyone easy with the musical style and scope of (say) Britten's 'Spring Symphony', its structural model - though Mathias's music has its own beauty and accent throughout. Sir David Willcocks conducts the Bach Choir, New Philharmonia Orchestra and three top-line vocal soloists in a performance unlikely to be bettered for musical understanding and rich recorded quality.The three performances are taken from various 1970's EMI and Decca issues, and by intelligently placing them together in this well-packed CD reissue, Lyrita have performed us - and Wales's greatest 20th century composer - a great service. Highly recommended.

Frankly, nowhere very close to the notes as far as Sir Geraint was concerned. But as it's the only available recording of Elegy for a Prince, it was this or nothing.