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Emmanuelle Haïm, Le Concert d'Astrée, European Voices - Henry Purcell: Dido and Aeneas (2004)

Posted By: ArlegZ
Emmanuelle Haïm, Le Concert d'Astrée, European Voices - Henry Purcell: Dido and Aeneas (2004)

Emmanuelle Haïm, Le Concert d'Astrée, European Voices - Henry Purcell: Dido and Aeneas (2003)
EAC | APE | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 265 Mb | Total time: 52:54 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Virgin Veritas | # 5 45604 2 | Recorded: 2003

Despite its brevity, Purcell's Dido and Aeneas holds many charms for audience and performers alike, so it's no wonder that there has recently been something of a boomlet in recordings and reissues (certainly, it doesn't hurt that this mini-sized opera fits easily on one disc). This particular traversal is helmed by the rising young French conductor and harpsichordist Emmanuelle Haïm, whose snap and vigor in this repertoire is immensely appealing. Another real pleasure is getting to know the stylish Concert d'Astrée, whose poise and elegance is a welcome addition to the roster of Baroque ensembles.

Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre - George Frideric Handel: Hercules (2002)

Posted By: ArlegZ
Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre - George Frideric Handel: Hercules (2002)

Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre - George Frideric Handel: Hercules (2002)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 847 Mb | Total time: 64:10+65:19+46:40 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Archiv Production | # 469 532-2 | Recorded: 2000

This is an untouchably great performance of one of Handel's most interesting oratorios: its examination of jealousy is on a par with what can be found in Otello and Pelléas. There's drama galore–in fact, during its first run it was referred to as a "musical drama" (rather than an oratorio), and Handel and his librettist, Thomas Broughton, always referred to its "acts" rather than "parts", as sections of oratorios were commonly known.

The Art of Cecilia Bartoli (2002)

Posted By: ArlegZ
The Art of Cecilia Bartoli (2002)

The Art of Cecilia Bartoli (2002)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 353 Mb | Total time: 73:39 | Scans included
Classical | Label: DECCA | # 473 380-2 | Recorded: 1992-2002

Ein Rückblick auf zehn Jahre Cecilia Bartoli: Die Arie "Non piú mesto" aus der 1992 entstandenen Gesamtaufnahme von Rossinis La Cenerentola ist das älteste Tondokument dieser Anthologie, und mancher, der wie der Rezensent diese Cenerentola damals erworben hat, wird sich gut erinnern an die unbeschreiblich elektrisierende Wirkung, die die junge Italienerin mit ihrem vollblütigen Stimmmaterial, ihrem Temperament und ihrer faszinierenden Virtuosität auf ihn ausübte. Das Besondere: Die Geschwindigkeit der rasend schnellen Koloraturen geht niemals zu Lasten des Ausdrucks oder der Intensität.

William Christie, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet - The Enchanted Island (2012)

Posted By: Vilboa
William Christie, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet - The Enchanted Island  (2012)

William Christie, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet - The Enchanted Island (2012)
NTSC 16:9 (720x480) | English | LinearPCM, 2 ch | DTS, 6 ch | 6.24+6.09 Gb (2xDVD9) | 180 min
Classical | Virgin Classics | Sub: Deutsch, English, Francais, Italiano, Espanol

"A Showcase for and a love letter to a century of amazing music" is how the creator of The Enchanted Island, Jeremy Sams, described this spectacular operatic pasticcio of music by Handel, Vivaldi, Rameau, Purcell and others. Premiered at the Metropolitan in New York on New Year's Eve 2011, it stars Joyce DiDonato, David Daniels, Danielle de Niese and Placido Domingo, and is conducted by William Christie.

William Christie, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The Glyndebourne Chorus - George Frideric Handel: Theodora (2012)

Posted By: ArlegZ
William Christie, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The Glyndebourne Chorus - George Frideric Handel: Theodora (2012)

William Christie, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The Glyndebourne Chorus - George Frideric Handel: Theodora (2012)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 916 Mb | Total time: 71:47+71:25+57:27 | Scans included
Classical | Label: GLYNDEBOURNE | # GFOCD 014-96 | Recorded: 1996

Here for the first time on CD is Glyndebourne's acclaimed 1996 production of Handel's oratorio Theodora. Although Theodora is a story of a virtuous woman and sexual persecution, this has not proved to be an obstacle to its enduring success, the subject a deeply touching one, resonating from the age of antiquity to the present day. The recording is the debut on the Glyndebourne label for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, one of Glyndebourne's two resident orchestras. This audio release, in no way detracting from the extraordinary Peter Sellar's production, allows the focus to be on the soloists, conductor and orchestra. This recording confirms Lorraine Hunt as a true Handelian, capturing the spirit of Irene as few others could. In counter-tenor David Daniels as Didymus, there is a breadth of range drawing the listener away from the oft strained and forced falsetto sound.

David Daniels, Roger Norrington, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment - George Frideric Handel: Operatic Arias (1998)

Posted By: ArlegZ
David Daniels, Roger Norrington, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment - George Frideric Handel: Operatic Arias (1998)

David Daniels, Roger Norrington, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment - George Frideric Handel: Operatic Arias (1998)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 318 Mb | Total time: 69:26 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Virgin Veritas | # 45326 2 | Recorded: 1998

The ever-increasing popularity of Handel and his contemporaries, and their employment of alto castratos, has encouraged the development of countertenors capable of similar vocal feats to the original interpreters of the heroic roles in these works. Among these the distinguished American, David Daniels, who burst on to the scene here a couple of years ago at Glyndebourne in Theodora, is a leading contender. If I would place Scholl in the category of Deller and Esswood, with their luminous, soft-grained tone, Daniels is closer to the more earthy sound of Bowman, his voice — like Bowman's — astonishingly large in volume.

David Daniels, Martin Katz - Serenade (2000)

Posted By: ArlegZ
David Daniels, Martin Katz - Serenade (2000)

David Daniels, Martin Katz - Serenade: Beethoven, Schubert, Caldara, Gluck, Cesti, Lotti, Gounod, Williams, Poulenc, Purcell (2000)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 273 Mb | Total time: 70:43 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Virgin | # 5 45400 2 8 | Recorded: 1999

It's a truism by now that countertenors have made a notable comeback in our time, but David Daniels isn't about to rest on his laurels. As if his recent successes weren't enough to set him apart, on this recital album Daniels forays beyond the countertenor's stereotypical domain of the baroque to interpret lieder of Beethoven and Schubert, as well as French mélodies and Vaughan Williams. A stunningly beautiful disc.

David Daniels, Harry Bicket, The English Concert - Johann Sebastian Bach: Sacred Arias and Cantatas (2008)

Posted By: ArlegZ
David Daniels, Harry Bicket, The English Concert - Johann Sebastian Bach: Sacred Arias and Cantatas (2008)

David Daniels, Harry Bicket, The English Concert - Johann Sebastian Bach: Sacred Arias and Cantatas (2008)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 319 Mb | Total time: 66:48 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Virgin Classics | # 50999 519037 2 | Recorded: 2007

It has been a several years since David Daniels’ last recital for Virgin Classics – in 2004 the renowned countertenor explored Berlioz’ Les Nuits d’Eté - and his most recent recital of Baroque works, the critically acclaimed Oratorio Arias by Handel, dates back to 2002. For this new release, Daniels returns to sacred works of the Baroque era with this programme of sacred arias and cantatas by Bach. He lends his beautiful countertenor voice and immense musicianship to this programme of famous cantatas, namely “Ich habe genug”, and arias from Bach’s Mass in B minor and the Saint Matthew’s and Saint John’s Passions. The programme was recorded in London in September 2007.

John Nelson, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Bach Choir - George Frideric Handel: L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed Il Moderato (2000)

Posted By: ArlegZ
John Nelson, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Bach Choir - George Frideric Handel: L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed Il Moderato (2000)

John Nelson, Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Bach Choir - George Frideric Handel: L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed Il Moderato (2000)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 636 Mb | Total time: 55:00+63:14 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Virgin Classics | # 5 45417 2 8 2 | Recorded: 1999

One of the best ideas Handel and his colleagues ever had was to make an oratorio out of John Milton's verse–specifically, of Milton's "L'Allegro" and "Il Penseroso" ("The Happy Man" and "The Pensive Man"), with the libretto cutting back and forth between the two poems to make a sort of dialogue, and with an added conclusion titled "Il Moderato" ("The Moderate Man"). The resulting work has never been as famous as Messiah, but it has always been a special favorite of Handel lovers. The King's Consort made a fine recording of L'Allegro in 1999; the selling point of the present version (which appeared almost exactly one year later) is the cast of soloists, which includes soprano Lynne Dawson and countertenor David Daniels, both genuine Baroque superstars, and tenor Ian Bostridge, current king of the art song.

Christian Curnyn, Early Opera Company - George Frideric Handel: Serse (2013)

Posted By: ArlegZ
Christian Curnyn, Early Opera Company - George Frideric Handel: Serse (2013)

Christian Curnyn, Early Opera Company - George Frideric Handel: Serse (2013)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 736 Mb | Total time: 66:46+60:16+39:27 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Chandos | # CHAN 0797(3) | Recorded: 2012

The opera is based on a libretto adapted by the poet Silvio Stampiglia for Giovanni Bononcini, whose setting was staged at Rome’s Teatro di Torre Nona in 1694. Handel completed his opera in 1738 in little more than a month. However, his typically swift pace and resourceful treatment of musical themes and models should not be misconstrued as complacency, carelessness, or low imaginative powers. The autograph manuscript reveals that Handel invested considerable skill in arias that are perfectly tailored to the dramatic storyline, many of which were meticulously crafted and then redrafted.

Nicholas McGegan, Arcadian Academy, David Daniels - Alessandro Scarlatti: Cantatas, Volume II (2002)

Posted By: ArlegZ
Nicholas McGegan, Arcadian Academy, David Daniels - Alessandro Scarlatti: Cantatas, Volume II (2002)

Nicholas McGegan, Arcadian Academy, David Daniels - Alessandro Scarlatti: Cantatas, Volume II (2002)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 387 Mb | Total time: 73:51 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Deutsche Harmonia Mundi | # 74321 935812 | Recorded: 1998

By the eighteenth century, Palermo-born Alessandro Scarlatti was the most widely performed Italian composer of vocal music having written more than sixty operas and well over a hundred cantatas. The cantata, more concentrated than opera, was considered at that time as the higher artistic form. Scarlatti was extremely prolific and many of his works including cantatas still remain unrecorded.

Harry Bicket, Bavarian State Orchestra, David Daniels, Deborah York - Handel: Rinaldo (2001)

Posted By: ArlegZ
Harry Bicket, Bavarian State Orchestra, David Daniels, Deborah York - Handel: Rinaldo (2001)

Harry Bicket, Bavarian State Orchestra, David Daniels, Deborah York - Handel: Rinaldo (2001)
PAL 16:9 (720x576) | Italiano (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | (Dolby AC3, 5 ch) | (DTS, 5 ch) | 163 min | 7,68+4,05 Gb (DVD9+DVD5)
Classical | Label: Arthaus Musik | Sub: Italiano, English, Deutsch, Francais, Espanol | Recorded: 2001

David Daniels' Rinaldo is surely the equal of his illustrious 18th -century predeccessors. His countertenor is one of the most accomplished voices I have heard… As Arimda, Noemi Nadelmann's voices started where her legs ended, and shet hrew coloratura at us as though it was going out of fashion (astride her pet Hydra being a particularly fabulous show-stopper). David Walker as Goffredo is no vocal sluch either; his voice is brighter edged than Daniels', and almostb as fluent.

Christopher Hogwood, The Academy of Ancient Music - Handel: Rinaldo (2000)

Posted By: ArlegZ
Christopher Hogwood, The Academy of Ancient Music - Handel: Rinaldo (2000)

Christopher Hogwood, The Academy of Ancient Music - Handel: Rinaldo (2000)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 870 Mb | Total time: 76:52+51:38+45:09 | Scans included
Classical | Label: DECCA | # 467 088 2 | Recorded: 1999

On February 24 1711, the curtain at the Haymarket theater went up for 'Rinaldo,' the first opera George Frideric Handel produced for London. It had a libretto by Giacomo Rossi, based on a somewhat mangled outline of Tasso's epic poem of the Crusades, 'Gerusalemme Liberata,' which had been prepared by impresario Aaron Hill with the aim of allowing for as many special machinery effects as possible. Handel clearly wanted to impress London, for his sparkling music contained liberal borrowings from some of his best recent scores. While many changes and cuts were made up to the time of Handel1s final revision in 1731, this recording attempts as much as possible to return to the version that would have been heard in the first London production.

Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante - Vivaldi: Bajazet (2005)

Posted By: ArlegZ
Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante - Vivaldi: Bajazet (2005)

Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante - Vivaldi: Bajazet (2005)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 1.43 Gb | Total time: 73:37+72:49+29:00 (dvd) | Scans included
Classical | Label: Virgin Classics | 724354567629 | Recorded: 2004

Composed for the Carnival season in Verona in 1735, Bajazet is a ‘pasticcio’ opera based on the familiar story of the eponymous Turkish sultan’s imprisonment at the hands of the Tartar tyrant Tamerlane. As such, it openly uses arias by other composers, including Hasse, Broschi and Giacomelli, as well as re-cycled pieces from Vivaldi’s own operas (L’Olimpiade, Giustino, Farnace, Semiramide and Montezuma among them). But this is no mere patchwork of recycled numbers. All the ‘borrowed’ arias are expertly placed within the dramatic fabric of the work and are held together with richly composed recitatives. What we end up with is the best of the best in terms of Neapolitan-style opera – tuneful, virtuosic and passionate. Virtually every number in this recording is a highlight. What really lifts the recording is the quality of the performances. There are no holes or flaws among the experienced cast.

Nicholas McGegan, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra - Thomas Arne: The Masque of Alfred (2000)

Posted By: ArlegZ
Nicholas McGegan, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra - Thomas Arne: The Masque of Alfred (2000)

Nicholas McGegan, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra - Thomas Arne: The Masque of Alfred (2000)
EAC | FLAC | Image (Cue & Log) ~ 361 Mb | Total time: 76:11 | Scans included
Classical | Label: Deutsche Harmonia Mundi | # 05472 77529 2 | Recorded: 1999

The Masque of Alfred - apart of course from its finale "Rule Britannia" - has in the 1990s reached CD. Just two years ago a version was issued with the BBC Music Magazine and now we have this more complete account (though there were several variants in Arne's own day) from Nicholas McGegan, an experienced exponent of 18th Century music, recorded in America and using mainly American performers. And very welcome is it. If offers 76 minutes of music, 25 minutes more than the BBC CD and if the OAE's playing on the latter under Nicholas Kraemer often seems rather superior, the Philharmonic Baroque Orchestra are fully equal to Arne's demands which include often atmospheric parts for oboes, horns and flute as well as the basic strings. McGegan uses only four solo singers against the BBC's six.