Intimations of Immortality (Finzi)
Intimations of Immortality, Op. 29, an ode for tenor, chorus, and orchestra, is one of the best-known works by English composer Gerald Finzi. It is a setting of nine of the eleven stanzas of William Wordsworth's "Ode: Intimations of Immortality", cast as a single continuous movement of 45 minutes duration. Finzi began composing the work in the late 1930s, but did not complete it until 1950, just before it was performed on 5 September at the Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester Cathedral, with Eric Greene as soloist and Herbert Sumsion conducting.
Music critics and historians have pointed out there are obvious stylistic similarities between portions of Intimations and William Walton's 1931 cantata Belshazzar's Feast:
Recordings
- Ian Partridge, Guildford Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra, Vernon Handley. Lyrita SRCD.238. 1975, reissued 2007
- Philip Langridge, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Choir, Richard Hickox. EMI CDC 7 49913 2. 1989, reissued 2001
- James Gilchrist, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, David Hill. Naxos 8.557863