<<  -- 2 --  David Wilkins    SONICALLY BRILLIANT

John Nelson evokes extraordinarily Wagnerian sounds from his forces in the second section where Parsifal-like filigree meets a choral climax of great bell-like outpouring of devotion in the Sanctus. He has, here and throughout, a tremendously sure hand with carefully graded dynamics from tender restraint to uninhibited praise. There are times, though, when he seems unable to elicit the kind of spring-in-the-step rhythmic exuberance which the music demands. To my ears, his control of the 'Christe Rex Gloriae' is somewhat earthbound [listen -- track 5, 2:45-3:38].

Many might be drawn to this issue by the presence of Roberto Alagna in the 'Te Ergo' and he gives no cause to disappoint his various justified fans. The music suits his voice perfectly, he is blessedly free of point-making histrionics and spins a fine lyrical line [listen -- track 6, 5:12-6:09].

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