Album: Paul Agnew/Julius Drake

Gurney: Severn Meadows, Hyperion

Anna Picard
Sunday 05 August 2001 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Ivor Gurney, a composer and poet who survived the First World War and returned to his studies at the Royal College of Music only to degenerate into mental illness, died in 1937 leaving a legacy of 200 songs, one of which, Sleep, has become a classic of English song. Pianist Julius Drake and tenor Paul Agnew's recital of his clever, vulnerable songs is a masterpiece of sensitivity. Drake's touch is more defined than ever; a delicate cartography of Gurney's chromaticism. And Agnew has a warm buttery tone that embraces these songs' subtle lines. A perceptive reading.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in