
Andrew Palmer, Group Editor
Classical Music: William Walton Complete Song Collection
William Walton: The Complete Songs
A Song for the Lord Mayor's Table; Anon in Love; Four Early Songs*; Tritons; Under the greenwood tree; Beatriz's Song (from Christopher Columbus); Three 'Façade' Settings
*premiere recording of the complete set
Siân Dicker (soprano), Krystal Tunnicliffe (piano)
Saki Kato (guitar)
Delphian Records DCD34328
Recorded at St Mary's Haddington
www.delphianrecords.com
"Why the devil doesn't he write more songs?" legendary accompanist Gerald Moore once lamented of William Walton. This splendid new release from Delphian Records not only echoes Moore's sentiment but demonstrates precisely what we've been missing.
Here, rising soprano Siân Dicker and pianist Krystal Tunnicliffe present a compelling case for Walton's overlooked contribution to the English art song repertoire.
The recording begins with
A Song for the Lord Mayor's Table, a cycle of six songs commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths for Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Gerald Moore. Dicker approaches these pieces with remarkable technical assurance and crystalline diction, qualities that serve Walton's often intricate text setting admirably. The fifth song,
Rhyme, stands out as a particular triumph, where Dicker's masterful control meets Tunnicliffe's sensitive accompaniment to create moments of rare musical chemistry.
The album's programming takes an intriguing turn with
Anon in Love, a cycle that trades piano for guitar. As David Wadsworth's illuminating liner notes reveal, this venture into guitar writing required some guidance – Julian Bream furnished the composer with a document dubbed "Sir William's Dot Chart for the Box" (Bream's affectionate term for his instrument). Despite the technical challenges of writing idiomatically for guitar, Walton emerged victorious, crafting works of genuine character and charm.
What distinguishes this recording is the palpable rapport between the performers. Dicker's voice combines authority with an engaging warmth that never sacrifices precision for effect. Tunnicliffe proves an ideal partner, matching the soprano's interpretative insights with playing of both power and delicacy. Together, these young artists bring a fresh perspective to Walton's songs while honouring their inherent sophistication.
This release not only serves as an excellent introduction to Walton's song output but also announces the arrival of significant talents in the world of art song interpretation. The Dicker/Tunnicliffe partnership yields performances that are both intellectually engaging and emotionally satisfying – precisely what this repertoire demands.