[Cover graphic]

Compact Disc CDA67654

£13.99

Lionel Monckton was among the very finest British melodists, ranking as such with the likes of Arthur Sullivan, Eric Coates and Ivor Novello. His music encapsulates the gaiety of the Edwardian age, and it is our great loss that we hear so little of it these days. This new recording, with the New London Orchestra under Ronald Corp (a major authority on this music), is the perfect introduction to his charming songs and features soloists Catherine Bott and Richard Suart. Catherine Bott brings her sumptuous voice, cut-glass diction and delightful gifts of characterisation to the service of these songs. Formerly better-known as an early music specialist, her cabaret entertainment London Pride (Hyperion CDA67457) proved her to be an ideal performer of Monckton’s music. Richard Suart is the master of the patter song and simply one of the greatest G&S interpreters in the world.

Recorded in St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, on 2 and 3 July 2007
Recording Engineer
TONY FAULKNER
Recording Producer
ADRIAN PEACOCK
Front Picture Research
RICHARD HOWARD
Booklet Editor
TIM PARRY
Executive Producer
SIMON PERRY
© Hyperion Records Ltd, London, MMVIII

Duration: 77'31
DDD
Front illustration: Gaiety Girl, 1904

LIONEL MONCKTON (1861-1924)

Songs from the shows

CATHERINE BOTT soprano
RICHARD SUART baritone
NEW LONDON ORCHESTRA
NEW LONDON LIGHT OPERA CHORUS
RONALD CORP conductor

Contents:

  1. Charming weather from The Arcadians 1909    CB, RS [2'35]
  2. All down Piccadilly from The Arcadians 1909    RS, chorus [2'49]
  3. Under the deodar from A Country Girl 1902    CB [2'53]
  4. Yo ho, little girls, yo ho! from A Country Girl 1902    RS, chorus [3'37]
  5. Try again, Johnnie from A Country Girl 1902    CB, chorus [2'42]
  6. The sly cigarette from A Runaway Girl 1898    CB, chorus [3'42]
  7. The boy guessed right from A Runaway Girl 1898    CB, chorus [4'12]
  8. When I marry Amelia from The Toreador 1901    RS, chorus [4'14]
  9. Keep off the grass from The Toreador 1901    CB, chorus [3'44]
  10. Maisie from The Messenger Boy 1900    CB, chorus [6'05]
  11. Liza Ann from The Orchid 1903    CB, RS [3'43]
  12. My cinnamon tree from The Cingalee 1904    CB [3'31]
  13. Pearl of sweet Ceylon from The Cingalee 1904    RS, chorus [3'38]
  14. A simple little string from The Circus Girl 1896    CB, chorus [4'06]
  15. Beautiful bountiful Bertie from The Shop Girl 1894    RS, chorus [3'37]
  16. The Temple Bell from The Mousmé 1911    CB [3'16]
  17. A bad boy and a good girl from The Quaker Girl 1910    CB, RS [3'10]
  18. The little grey bonnet from The Quaker Girl 1910    CB [2'42]
  19. Tony, from America from The Quaker Girl 1910    CB [3'11]
  20. Two little sausages from The Girls of Gottenberg 1907    CB, RS [2'39]
  21. Mary from Our Miss Gibbs 1909    CB, chorus [3'19]
  22. Moonstruck from Our Miss Gibbs 1909    CB, chorus [3'22]
Sleeve Notes

GRAMOPHONE RECOMMENDS

'Both Bott and Suart demonstrate a natural aptitude for the material. Ronald Corp conducts the New London Orchestra and Light Opera Chorus with obvious affection. Listening to this CD made me feel ridiculously happy' (Gramophone)

'Lionel Monckton is almost forgotten now, but what a melodist he was … I guarantee you will be humming some of these tunes all day. Hyperion deserves a medal for cheering us up with this release' (Sunday Telegraph)

'Monckton's art is eminently entertaining. Numbers such as 'When I marry Amelia' from The Toreador (1901) set the toes tapping whether you want them to or not … The results are delectable. Conductor Ronald Corp knows exactly how this music should go and gives it plenty of verve and dash' (BBC Music Magazine)

'Here is an almost lost corner of popular English music rediscovered, our own native version of Viennese operetta' (International Record Review)

'This delightful compilation of songs from Lionel Monckton's shows is irresistible' (Birmingham Post)

'Monckton has been for a century one of this country's most engaging melodists … The tunes are enjoyably catchy and are beautifully performed here … Ronald Corp directs with infectious exuberance. Recording is excellent and the booklet prints the words of the 22 songs. I strongly recommend the disc, though it really recommends itself' (The Light Music Society Journal)

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