LINJAMA The Birth of the Baptist
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Jykri Linjama
Genre:
Opera
Label: Alba
Magazine Review Date: 11/2014
Media Format: Super Audio CD
Media Runtime: 77
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: ABCD370
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
The Birth of the Baptist |
Jykri Linjama, Composer
Esa Tuuttunen, Zacharias, Baritone Juhani Lamminmäki, Conductor Jykri Linjama, Composer Niall Chorell, Gabriel, Tenor Soli Deo Gloria Chamber Orchestra Tuula Paavola, Elisabeth, Alto Ursula Langmayr, Maria, Soprano |
Author: Guy Rickards
The scenario is based on the biblical story of the conception and birth of John the Baptist, set from autumn to summer. After the brief, introductory and philosophical Prologue, the long first act deals with Elisabeth and Zacharias’s anguish at their childlessness, Gabriel’s annunciation and striking Zacharias dumb, and Elisabeth’s joy at conceiving. In the briefer second act, Gabriel annunciates to the Virgin Mary, who then visits Elisabeth. In Act 3 the third John is named and Gabriel promises to Mary he will appear to Joseph. The opera ends in a unison rendition of Psalm 23.
The opera is beautifully sung by the four principals, Ursula Langmayr radiant as Mary, and Juhani Lamminmäki elicits some fine playing from the accompanying Soli Deo Gloria Chamber Orchestra. The atmosphere has fleeting reminiscences of the Britten church parables but, sadly, the music does not have sufficient potential to sustain the work’s length; matters are not helped by its rhythmic turgidity. On stage in a simple, sympathetic setting, I doubt not that it would make a satisfying impression but heard solely as music – despite Alba’s fine sound – it is not a work I feel inclined to return to.
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