Iain Burnside, the pianist on this recording, has a unique reputation as a pianist and broadcaster, known for his commitment to the song repertoire and collaborations with leading international singers.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Vaughan Williams aimed to create an opera with "real English words, with a certain amount of real English music and also a real English subject," drawing heavily on English folk song.
Performer Biography
Roderick Williams, a baritone on this recording, is described as an artist who "lends distinction to all he undertakes and is now in the front rank of British baritones."
Composer Biography
John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" held a lifelong fascination for Vaughan Williams, influencing his operatic masterpiece of the same name.
Composer Biography
Ralph Vaughan Williams's operatic journey began in 1909 with an idea for an opera featuring a 'prize fight', which later became "Hugh the Drover."
Recording & Production
This album, "The Sky Shall Be Our Roof," is the first release from Albion Records, a new label launched by The Ralph Vaughan Williams Society, and contains eleven world premiere recordings.
Composition History
The songs on this album were arranged by Vaughan Williams to provide a performing option shorter than a full operatic staging, demonstrating his practical approach to wider accessibility.
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