Release date: Summer 2020
Label & Number:Â Signum SIGCD632
Total time:Â 61.35 mins
Armonico ConsortÂ
AC Academy Warwick and AC Academy Scholars
Toby Young | Keyboards
Christopher Monks | Musical Director
Timothy West | Narrator
Elin Manahan Thomas | Soloist
Anne Denholm | Harp
William Towers | Script
Jennifer Thorp | Libretto
Beowulf is one of the world’s greatest mythical tales. Discover a legendary time of heroes and warriors as Prince Beowulf battles demons and magical beasts, narrated by Special Guest Timothy West, stars of TV, Film and the West End. Alongside a gripping script from one of the authors of Have I Got News For You, this touching epic saga has been set to music by Armonico Consort’s composer-in-residence, Toby Young (former BBC Proms Young Composer of the Year).
Toby Young has a huge talent for captivating melodies and rhythms, put to excellent use in this wonderful re-telling of the ancient Beowulf story, complete with compelling narrative
4 stars, BBC Music magazine
a colourful modern realisation aimed especially at young audiences … a prominent role for narrator [is] brilliantly realised on this recording by actor Timothy West …Â the excellent Armonico Consort’s rich and delicately balanced sonorities shine through
Gramophone
TRACK LISTING
1. Prologue
2. Celebration
3. ‘Hwaet! Listen’
4. Great Hall
5. Refrain
6. Interlude: The Fight
7. Grendel’s Bad Deeds
8. Sweet Song
9. Unferth’s Row
10. Refrain
11. Grendel-Beowulf Battle
12. When I Was King
13. Interlude: Triumph
14. Rousing Song
15. Refrain
16. Presentation of Hrunting
17. Grendel’s Mother
18. Rise Up
19. Hrothgar’s Sermon
20. Interlude: Searching
21. Chorus of Soldiers
22. Refrain
23. My Lord has Gone
24. Final Chorus
