Finzi, finally

A great composer is slowly receiving the credit he deserves

As many of his collegues of the War-generation, life was never easy for Gerald Finzi. Just when he was about to break through, his song cycle "Dies Natalis" had to be cancelled at the "Three Choirs Festival" and his composing activities basically came to a halt. On the other hand, a certain amount of stop-and-go was always part of Finzi's life, who moved to London in 1926, quickly became friends with Vaughan Williams and Holst, was awarded a teaching appointment at the Royal Academy of Music - and then gave everything up again to enjoy life in the countryside with his wife Joyce Black. He continued to work after the War ended, dying of Hodgkin's disease (a form of leukemia, uncurable at that time) in 1956.

Quite a few record companies have featured Finzi's music on CD, among them Chandos, Hyperion and EMI. Naxos, too, had already released albums with his Choral Works and the Clarinet Concerto and is now further assisting in finally giving the British composer the credit he deserves. "Songs for Baritone and Piano" is out now and sees some of his finest pieces sung by Roderick Williams and played by Iain Burnside. As always with Naxos, you will not have to refuse this offer because of its price, which currently stands at 6.99€. It's a most welcome introduction to a name that should be as popular as Barber at least. The ongoing fascination for Finzi in a small circle of admirers is documented by the superb Web-home that has been given to him by the Finzi Trust.

Homepage: Finzi Trust / Gerald Finzi
Homepage: Roderick Williams
Homepage: Iain Burnside
Homepage: Naxos