Classical: TALLIS SCHOLARS/ PHILLIPS Symphony Hal BIRMINGHAM ***.(Features) From: The Independent (London, England) | Date: January 25, 2006| Author: | COPYRIGHT 2006 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

Byline: Paul Conway

A sense of tidying up loose ends infused the belated premiere of Sir John Taven-er's Tribute to Cavafy. Commissioned by Symphony Hall, Birmingham, it is a seven-movement setting of the words of the Greek poet Constantine Cavafy. Completed in 1999, it belongs to Tavener's earlier, stark "Greek Orthodox" phase.

Vanessa Redgrave brought a bewitching presence to the role of narrator, as in the central movement, "Voices", which required her to read out

two long lists of names: first, Cavafy's literary descendants and then Christ's genealogy.

In ...