Walton: Coronation Te Deum (CD Review - ABC Classic FM Magazine, 2002)

William Walton made his reputation in the first instance with his film scores, of which he wrote very many, especially for films made by the War Office. The suite “The First of the Few” is one of the best known. But he's also famous for his choral music, which is unique in its splendid style. This is a superbly performed and recorded disc from Polyphony, one of Britain's leading choral groups, with the oustanding young conductor Stephen Layton. They have teamed up with The Wallace Collection, a group of excellent brass players assembled by John Wallace, and now regarded as one of the finest brass groups in existence. Together they perform a wide range of Walton's choral music, from the Coronation Te Deum, written for Queen Elizabeth II, to the Missa Brevis, and shorter pieces and traditional songs.