Judith Weir's opera, commission by Glasgow District Council for the 1990 City of Culture celebrations, takes three Scottish folktales, all concerned with disappearance: The Inheritance features a runaway bride, a singing forest and a lost sum of gold; The Disappearance tells of a man abducted by supernatural forces; and The Stranger is the story of an independent-minded girl wooed by a sinister stranger.

Weir's writing combines lush descriptive soundscapes with ethereal choruses and Gaelic folk melodies; the romanticism of the three tales is offset by the sardonic humour and down-to-earth attitude of their protagonists, and of the composer herself.

Ailish Tynan soprano
Anna Stéphany soprano
Andrew Tortise tenor
Owen Gilhooly baritone
Jonathan Lemalu bass baritone

BBC Singers
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins conductor

AUDIO

REVIEWS

‘Refreshingly unique[…]. Why The Vanishing Bridegroom is not in the repertories of the world’s important opera houses – especially those in which English is the primary language – is a question only made more confounding by this performance, preserved in studio-quality acoustics and given the first-class presentation that it deserves by NMC Recordings.’ Voix des Arts

‘On CD it emerges with real vitality and it is hard to imagine this performance being bettered. Not a bad way of introducing yourself to the new Master of the Queen's Music'  BBC Radio 3 Record Review

‘The narrative line in each panel is crystal clear, and there is also more than sufficient action to hold our attention: a wedding breakfast, a robbery complete with policeman on the trail, a hellfire preacher with an apocalyptic vision, magic moments (sheep droppings turn to gold at one point), even, in The Disappearance, fairies. […] Given that the recording emanates from a single live public concert performance, at the Barbican Hall in 2008, it is a heroic achievement to have captured this multifaceted opera so well: the challenges must have been many.’ International Record Reviewer

‘Weir’s dramatic use of the chorus is particularly impressive. […] Brabbins leads a well-paced reading that follows every twist and turn of Weir’s colourful score.’ Opera Now

‘Magical […] an important omission in Weir’s recorded catalogue very decently filled.’ Gramophone

‘A serious tour de force in technical and dramatic terms, The Vanishing Bridegroom brims with moments where the level of atmospheric storytelling is mesmerising.’ BBC Music Magazine

'A composer of integrity, [Weir] communicates intelligently with different audiences and ages. This timely release of The Vanishing Bridegroom (1990), her most successful opera, underscores her gift for concision, ambiguity and sound-pictures of sophisticated lyricism' Financial Times

‘Ms Weir’s brash, impetuous, spiky music is at once unabashedly modern and continually entertaining. A terrific performance’ The New York Times

‘Weir weaves a fascinating music tale … [and the] performance, led ably by Martyn Brabbins, does true justice to this varied and evocative score’ Limelight Magazine Recording of the Month

‘Soprano Ailish Tynan leads a strong cast; the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Martyn Brabbins brings out every bit of the score’s potent atmosphere’ The Big Issue

‘Weir’s music capably conveys both urgent foreboding and pastoral calm’ Opera News

Cat no: NMCD196
Release date: 21 July 2014