V1718. HORACE STEVENS, Vol. I, incl. Songs by Henschel, Nelson, Sullivan, Sharpe, Hatton & Elgar; Arias from Messiah, Die Schöpfung, St Paul, Elijah, Die Heimkehr aus der Fremde, La Prigione d’Edimburgo, Hiawatha’s Departure, Maud, Merry Sherwood & Pagliacci. (Germany) Truesound Transfers 3002, recorded 1923-26, Vocalion. Transfers by Christian Zwarg. Now out-of-print, final copy!

CRITIC REVIEW:

“Sir Edward Elgar dubbed Stevens the greatest Elijah of his age. It was an edifying rôle, suited to his grave demeanour—and to English taste. With meticulously reverent preparation he performed it 500 times. Encouraged by Sir Henry Wood, Stevens made his London début in Mendelssohn' s ELIJAH just after World War One. Over fifteen years he sang at major oratorio festivals in Britain and the United States, including in his repertoire Brahms' REQUIEM and Bantock's OMAR KHAYYAM, as well as standard Bach and Handel. Moving to opera, Stevens' massive voice and torso 'created' Samuel Coleridge Taylor's HIAWATHA at its lavish London première in 1924. He thundered as Wagner's 'best British' Wotan and rollicked as Verdi's Falstaff and Gounod's Mephistopheles. He began his operatic careers in 1924, and given his severe looks, massive voice, and powerful dramatic sense, he was particularly successful in Wagnerian rôles. He returned to Australia in 1934, and from 1938 until his death in 1950 gave lessons at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium.”