Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

William Walton's searing oratorio is based upon the book of Daniel in which, at the King of Babylon's feast, a hand appears and writes a message of doom on the wall. The words that Walton set to music are all taken from the Bible and were selected by his friend the poet Osbert Sitwell. The setting is superb with chorus and huge orchestra and an augmented brass section to make an awesome impact. This was a hit from its first performance at the 1931 Leeds Festival and was soon agreed to be the most important large-scale choral work since Elgar's 'Dream'. On this budget CD the lead baritone is Christopher Purves, Simon Lindley plays the organ and Paul Daniel somehow brings together the combined might of the Huddersfield Choral Society, Leeds Philharmonic Chorus, the chamber choir Laudibus and the English Northern Philharmonia. The rest of the album is made up of two of Walton's best known pieces: "Crown Imperial" that was used in the coronation of George VI in 1937 and "Orb And Sceptre" from 1953. Even if you have both of these pieces - and they are often featured on compilations - the 'Feast' is still worth having.

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