"Stylistic versatility, clarity and passionate singing" - Birmingham Post
/ Londinium"In the middle of the last century The George pub in London’s Oxford Street was nicknamed “The Bloody Gluepot” by the conductor Sir Henry Wood who said that too many of his orchestra’s players got stuck there. The bohemian boozer also attracted composers and it’s their vocal music which is performed here. Very varied it is too from card-carrying communist Alan Bush’s passionate threnody for the victims of Lidice (the little Czech town obliterated by the Nazis) to that knight of the Celtic twilight Arnold Bax’s lush setting of the medieval carol 'I sing of a Maiden that is makeless'. E.J. Moeran and Peter Warlock – renowned for drinking all comers under the table – are at their pastoral sweetest in Songs of Springtime and The Full Heart, and works by Ireland, Walton, Delius, Rawsthorne and Lutyens complete the disc. Under Andrew Griffiths the choir reveal stylistic versatility, clarity and passionate singing."
Norman Stinchcombe, Birmingham Post (May 2018)
“Londinium's Belgian debut will undoubtedly remain in the memories of those present. It was a magnificent tribute to the English choral tradition, full of emotion, technique and an exploration of that rich repertoire.” Werner De Smet (Classiek Centrale)
We are thrilled that our recording of ‘Every Living Creature’, the finale of Kenneth Leighton’s Laudes Animantium, was played on Andrew McGregor’s ‘Record Review of the Century’.
“[Laudes Animantium] is the first recording of what truly is a major piece of English choral music of the last century… this recording is a triumph for all involved…” (William Kempster, Fanfare)
“…music of uncommon grace, personable warmth, inventive flair and enthralling beauty, fervently performed and ideally recorded.” (Andrew Achenbach, Gramophone)
“Another of the year’s major discoveries… a model of programming and superb musicianship beautifully recorded.” (Nick Barnard, MusicWeb International)
“In all, a really fine disc with fantastic singing. The tuning is spot-on to my ear and I am thrilled that Griffiths and Londinium have achieved such an excellent aural advocacy for Kenneth Leighton with this innovative programme." (Tom Coxhead, Finzi Friends Journal)
"The performances here have been carefully prepared and sung with great devotion, with the chamber choir Londinium taking the bulk of the work... the whole is a valuable contribution to the Leighton discography." (Stephen Barber, MusicWeb International)
“The choral music of Kenneth Leighton (1929-88) deserves to be enjoyed well beyond its traditional ecclesiastical confines. Vigorously sung, spearheaded by the substantial Laudes Animantium… this is a highly recommendable way to get to know it.” ★★★★ (Jeremy Pound, BBC Music Magazine)
“One of the finest recordings I have yet heard on the SOMM imprint… Throughout, the choir is expressive and finely honed in its accuracy… Griffiths and company have set a high bar… a disc of great discoveries.” (Christian Carey, Sequenza 21)
“Andrew Griffiths secures a splendidly fervent, finely disciplined rendering… gloriously assured and superbly committed performances by everyone involved... a most rewarding issue that has already afforded me enormous pleasure.” (Andrew Achenbach, Gramophone)