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Track(s) taken from CDA67374

Roses of Picardy

First line:
She is watching by the poplars
composer
Haydn Wood (1882-1959)
1916
author of text
Frederic Edward Weatherly (1848-1929)

Sir Thomas Allen (baritone), Malcolm Martineau (piano)
Recording details: January 2002
Champs Hill, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Produced by Mark Brown
Engineered by Julian Millard
Release date: June 2003
Total duration: 3 minutes 43 seconds

Cover artwork: At the Piano. Robert Beyschlag (1838-1903)
Anthony Mitchell Paintings, Nottingham / Fine Art Photographic Library, London
 

Other recordings available for download

Robert White (tenor), Stephen Hough (piano)
Dame Felicity Lott (soprano), Graham Johnson (piano)

Reviews

‘Other singers over recent decades have given the songs an airing from time to time, but Thomas Allen is the very man to do it’ (Gramophone)

‘With piano-playing by that most sensitive of accompanists, Malcolm Martineau, Sir Thomas Allen brings high art to these songs … with an affectionate regard to mood and feeling, and with a touching lyrical sincerity’ (The Daily Telegraph)

‘A fitting tribute to this repertory that one of the finest operatic voices of our day has chosen to record it’ (Classic FM Magazine)

‘I must confess that, what with the beauty of Thomas Allen’s voice and the lovely accompaniment of Malcolm Martineau at the piano, a tear welled in my eye more than once. Another distinguished release from Hyperion’ (Liverpool Daily Post)

‘Hyperion here brings us Sir Thomas Allen caressing 29 well-loved parlour songs with his warm, expressive baritone … Malcolm Martineau provides his usual sympathetic and well-etched pianistic support’ (Birmingham Post)

‘Wwhat quality of nostalgia, and what depth of conviction … superb performances … Martineau’s carefully moulded accompaniments enhance a glorious enterprise’ (Yorkshire Post)
Written in 1916 by Haydn Wood in conjunction with the famous lyricist Fred E Weatherly, ‘Picardy’ is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful songs of the First World War. I learned it from my father who sang it first in France and Belgium when he served in that war with the American Army. Incidentally, Fred E Weatherly collaborated with many other composers to produce such hits as The Holy City and Danny Boy.

from notes by Robert White © 1995

Other albums featuring this work

Bird Songs at Eventide
Robert White (tenor), Stephen Hough (piano)
CDH55156
My Garden
Dame Felicity Lott (soprano), Graham Johnson (piano)
CDA66937Download only

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