Atalanta (Acts of God) [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Peter Watrous, Musician Magazine
"Atalanta is part avant-garde, part Fellini soundtrack, a cultural car crash between old world decadence and new world laconicism."

Steven A. Kvaal, City Pages, Minneapolis
"This is art that doesn't focus like a telescope, but shatters and showers like a refractory kaleidoscope in reverse, twisting the hand and rearranging the eye."

Album Description
Ashley makes use of the story of "Atalanta"--a royal princess, discarded by her family, who was raised by the animals to become the fastest-running human, and who was later reclaimed by her father to marry her off for dynastic purposes--to present the character aspects of the "successful suitor." These three aspects of character are presented in the opera as anecdotes about three extraordinary men of our times: Max Ernst (surrealist painter), Willard Reynolds (shaman storyteller) and Bud Powell (composer pianist). The genius of these three men can be taken to represent three aspects of the opera itself: image, narrative and music. In the imaginary setting of Atalanta (Acts of God), one companion (singer) reminds her of her excellence (the "Odalisque" arias); another recommends to her the characteristics of excellence in men (the "Character Reference" arias); and a third amuses her with anecdotes, as if told to her by each of the three men (the "Anecdotes").

Atalanta (Acts of God) [Live]

Atalanta (Acts of God), Music, Robert Ashley, Carla Tato, David Van Tieghem, Jacqueline Humbert, Rebecca Armstrong, Robert Ashley, Thomas Buckner, American 20th/21st Century Opera, Classical, Classical Artists, Classical Music, Modern Composition, Opera, Opera / Operetta / Oratorio

Handel Operatic Duets ~ Amor e gelosia / Ciofi · Di Donato · Il Complesso Barocco · Curtis
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Stellar Singing

From still waters to fireworks in baroque singing - Duets sung exquisitely

Supreme Handel Duets Lack Dramatic Context But Still Lovely

A feast

A sumptuous feast of Handel

Handel Operatic Duets ~ Amor e gelosia / Ciofi · Di Donato · Il Complesso Barocco · Curtis
George Frideric Handel , Patricia Ciofi , Joyce Di Donato , Alan Curtis , and Il Complesso Barocco
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0001CTKD0
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Tracks:

Caro Amico Amplesso!
Scherzano Sul Tuo Volto
Non Ti Basto, Consorte/Io T'abbraccio
Mio Diletto, Che Pensi?/Sol Per Te, Bell'idol Mio
Per Le Porte Del Tormento
Del Destin Non MI Lagno/Caro, Tu M'accendi
Amarilli?/Amarilli? Oh Dei! Che Vuoi?
Vivo Senz'alma, O Bella
Finche Prendi
Perfidi! Ite Di Poro/Se Mai Piu Saro Geloso
Macedoni Guerrieri/Se Mai Turbo Il Tuo Riposo
Sinfonia To Act 3
Gran Pena E Gelosia!
Lode Agli Dei/Se Mai Turbo Il Tuo Riposo
Alma Mia, Dolce Ristoro
Ricordati, Mio Ben
Addio, Mio Caro Bene

Amazon.com

In baroque opera, the spotlight was usually reserved for the bravura arias, designed to show off the singers' brilliant coloratura and skill in improvising ornamentation. The ensembles, on the other hand, were left to languish in the shadows. This record aims to right that wrong in a program of 17 duets drawn from 13 mostly unfamiliar Handel operas. In an attempt to create some cohesion, these primarily short selections are arranged under the heading "Love and Jealousy," with love predominating and usually prevailing. If the title sounds a bit gimmicky, never mind: the music's the thing and it is wonderful. Expressed with Handel's inimitable dramatic intensity and deeply felt inwardness, it encompasses every amorous emotion from tenderness, ardent protestation and rapturous joy to fear of loss, anguish and mournful farewell, using an infinite variety of form, texture and character. Some duets begin with a recitative; the voices separate and unite, conversing, interweaving, joining in imitation or harmony. The orchestra, a period-instrument group of soloists, provides introductions, interludes and postludes which set mood and atmosphere and contribute greatly to contrast and diversity. The performances are splendid. The two singers prove that the duet is as fertile a vehicle for virtuosic display as any aria, and they find plenty of opportunities for ornamentation in the da capos. Their voices can blend and merge as well as remain distinctly individual in timbre and color, and they succeed in creating, or at least suggesting, situations and personalities even in the shortest selections. The playing is impeccable: rhythmically crisp and pungent, texturally transparent, and very expressive. The only cavil is that the selections often follow each other without a pause, making it difficult to be sure where one ends and the next begins. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Stellar Singing.......2007-01-04

I must admit that, before becoming a dedicated Joyce DiDonato fan, I probably wouldn't have purchased a CD of Handel duets, or any Baroque duets for that matter. Like other reviewers have observed, the duets are performed out of dramatic context. I also prefer the full opera, particularly when it comes to Handel.

In the case of this CD, who cares? This is literally some of the loveliest Baroque ensemble singing I have ever heard. The pairing of Joyce DiDonato with Patrizia Ciofi was a stroke of brilliance. Their voices match perfectly. Their intonation is spot on, all the time. Their ornamentations, particularly the da capo ornamentations, are intelligently selected and brilliantly executed. The balance is just right between the singers and the chamber musicians.

I have a big thanks to give to Virgin Veritas and these two wonderful artists for this CD. It will get lots of play in my home.

Highly recommended.

From still waters to fireworks in baroque singing - Duets sung exquisitely.......2005-11-28

Handel was a master of his medium - his music paints with elegance and soul-stirring emotion upon the canvas of the human heart. His duets often exhibit particular indebtedness to Steffani (truly a genius of duet writing), and they are gorgeous duets indeed!

I note that some other reviewers quibble with a) duets only on this recording; and b) a sense of disjointedness.

Addressing both of those issues, let's admit that any recital disc is going to give some disjointedness in the absolute and literal sense. To take a portion of an opera out of its setting and perform it separately is a sort of amputation, be it an album of arias OR an album of duets. Should singers then avoid putting out solo recordings of Handel arias? I find no reason to come to THAT conclusion - and for the same reason, I have no quarrel at all with the recording of an album of Handel duets.

Of course, to enjoy Handel to the fullest degree, do get full recordings as well... but even in Handel's time, singers would pull specific bits of their roles out of context, perform them separately... so it's a time-honoured practice! Let us simply enjoy the high standard of the music without worrying about context in any recording of arias, duets, trios, or operatic scenes.

Handel's duets vary so much in their shape, melodies, harmonies, rhythms - there's plenty of variety. It comes down to a question of the singers involved having suitable voices, singing appropriately for the style, the playing of the orchestra, and the particular variety of duets chosen.

On all points, this album scores highly! Both Ms Ciofi and Ms Di Donato have beautiful voices, clearly trained in baroque singing, and they have equally clearly put in a lot of work to achieve a lovely blend and similar approach within these duets. What a joy to hear gifted singers perform these duets with such intelligence, emotional involvement and lovely, lovely tone!

This recording is a favourite of mine - not just because I perform many of the duets on this CD with another soprano, but because I am genuinely delighted to hear appropriately performed Handel singing in a duet album. I've found fault with some other duet albums because I consider them under-rehearsed, insufficiently blended, and inappropriately embellished - but this album shows none of those faults, and I am very happy to recommend it highly and without reservation. Beautiful singing, beautiful works - you can scarcely wish for more!

Supreme Handel Duets Lack Dramatic Context But Still Lovely.......2005-01-08

I was fortunate to see and hear Renée Fleming and the astounding David Daniels sing "Io t'abbraccio" together in the magnificent Stephen Wadsworth production of Handel's "Rodelinda" at the Metropolitan Opera last week. There is nothing here that can match the ethereal quality and overwhelming melancholy of that duet performance, but sometimes this recording comes pretty close under the masterful baton of Alan Curtis. Soprano Patrizia Ciofi and mezzo-soprano Joyce Di Donato blend quite well together with Ciofi's often fiery coloratura floating easily over the verses and Di Donato's contrasting darker, fuller tone.

It's a nice idea to make a disc of just Handel duets but also a bit risky since they usually represent the major dramatic highpoints of his operas, mostly coming at the end of an act or of the entire opera. Given that fact, one would think there would be plenty of exhausting dramatic fireworks by providing one duet after another. In fact, the higher profile duets, such as the aforementioned "Io t'abbraccio" and the equally famous "Scherzano sul tup volto" from "Rinaldo", feel a bit lackluster probably because their gorgeous music crowns the end of scenes full of tension and drama. The joy in hearing two characters sing together, especially after hearing each of them express their individual sentiments, acts as a catharsis. But here the duets become lovely moments partially robbed of their dramatic impact because the organic synthesis of character and music is lost. Certainly it's not easy to deliver a recital containing only music that Handel devised for key dramatic moments. Yet, it more often does work here perhaps because there are a treasure trove of little-known gems such as "Caro, tu m'accendi" from "Faramondo", "Se mai turbo il tuo riposo" from "Poro" and "Alma mia, dolce ristoro" from "Admeto". The performances really become more like chamber music pieces, almost understated and always tasteful. Toward that end, the singing is expressive and stylish as Ciofi and Di Donato play lovers who quarrel and console in these duets. Together they bring this recording to a consistently high level regardless of the dramatic shortcomings, and their emotional availability makes their unified voices all the more resonant as they get lost in each other.

A feast .......2004-09-28

The programme maybe disjointed, but it doesn't matter, because the singing is some of the most glorious I have EVER heard. A shining feast of articulation, phrasings and harmonies, heavenly executed by Ms Ciofi and Ms Di Donato.

Just buy it for an unparalleled vocal chord experience; marvel at the singing. Any other considerations are entirely oblivious.

A sumptuous feast of Handel.......2004-08-04

Alan Curtis has here chosen to bring to life some of the more memorable duets of Handel's many operas. Quite apart from chewing over some of the more well-known operas he has chosen some duets from Silla, Sosarme (Per le porte del tormento), Faramondo, Atalanta, Poro and Muzio Scevola, few of which have had decent recordings in the last number of years.

His band is small, one player per part, withe the resultant effect rather to make the duets seems like chamber music. There is a danger in that with duets such as Io t'abbraccio (end of Act 2 Rodelinda) taken out of context that the dramatic moment of the music would be lost. However, by arranging the duets in a sequence (as Curtis writes in the notes) from love's joy through self-doubt and jealousy, back to undying love, the duets out of context sound superb.

Both singers, Patrizia Ciofi (Soprano) and Joyce di Donato (Mezzo) sound thoroughly at home in the idiom of baroque opera, and in fact their cadenzas and ornamentation are delightfully understated, rather than the sort of shrieking 'I can go higher still' of some more lauded performers. I look forward to Curtis' forthcoming recordings of Lotario, Rodelinda and Radamisto, if these performers are to be retained.

In short this is a delightful enterprise showing the genious of Handel in dealing with the most basic of human emotions - love and jealousy. Well done Alan Curtis!

Philips and Decca Recordings, 1961-1979 (Limited Edition)

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Essential Performances from a Great & Beloved Singer

Philips and Decca Recordings, 1961-1979 (Limited Edition)
Janet Baker , John Shirley-Quirk , Graham Sheen , Johann Sebastian Bach , Ludwig van Beethoven , Hector Berlioz , Giovanni Bononcini , Benjamin Britten , Giulio Caccini , and Antonio Caldara
Manufacturer: Philips
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ASIN: B0000B0A0Q
Release Date: 2003-11-25

Customer Reviews:

Essential Performances from a Great & Beloved Singer.......2004-01-09

For those of us who grew up on Janet Baker's recordings (and were lucky enough to hear her "live" as well), the sound of her voice and her singular artstic personality - British restraint coupled with fierce emotional and spiritual commitment - are indelibly imprinted in our minds and hearts. The closest current equivalent is Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, another superb artist who has charted her own course, and not surprisingly there is some overlap of repertoire, in the music of J.S. Bach, of course, but also Berlioz's Didon and Beatrice, Handel's Ariodante and Britten's Phaedra (composed for Baker).
This wonderful compilation is complementary to EMI's 2-CD "The Very Best of Janet Baker" -- no overlap of repertoire whatsoever. Unlike that set, which focused on concert repertoire (with orchestra or piano) there's a generous sampling here of Baker's operatic roles including Handel, Mozart, Purcell, Rameau, Gluck, and Britten. Also welcome is "Phaedra," one of Britten's strongest late works. And it's good to have the Berlioz: "Cleopatre" and "Herminie" complete, the big aria from "Beatrice et Benedict." (Why EMI included nothing from her recording of the last 2 scenes of "Les Troyens" is unfathomable.) The wide time-span allows us to hear Baker's voice in all its youthful, "sappy" warmth, as well as in its artistic maturity (though truth to tell she was pretty much a complete artist from the start). There are a few signs of wear in later items, nothing serious, in fact rather less than I remembered. I could have done with fewer of the "Arie Amorose" in favor of more cuts from her Gluck LP, which I believe has never been issued complete on CD, but that's just personal preference. The focus here is entirely on orchestrally accompanied works (or, in the case of the marvelous early disc of Ravel, Chausson & Delage songs, with chamber ensemble) so for Baker the supreme interpreter of English, German and French song you'll need to go elsewhere (the EMI has a fair sampling, especially of her Schubert). But everything here is indispensible.

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The Rediscovery?
AMAZING
Rediscovering Leontyne Price
Masterful Recital Performance From Price at Her Peak
Love Leontyne But Stick To The Studio Gems.

Rediscovered (Dig)
Leontyne Price
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Essential Leontyne Price: Spirituals, Hymns & Sacred Songs

ASIN: B00006HCUX
Release Date: 2002-09-10

Tracks:

Applause
Care selve
Bel piacere
Avanti al tuo cospetto; Piangero la sorte mia
He, Zigeuner, greife
Hochgeturmte Rimaflut
Wisst ihr, wann mein Kindchen
Lieber Gott, du weisst
Brauner Bursche f - hrt zum Tanze
Roslein dreie in der Reihe
Kommt dir manchmal in den Sinn
Rote Abendwolken ziehn am Firmament
mamma morta
Tu vois le feu du soir
Main dominee par le coeur
C'est ainsi que tu es, Paganini
Je nommerai ton front
Nocturne, Op. 13 No. 4
The Daisies, Op. 2 No. 1
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Winter Song
In the Wand of the Wind
His Name So Sweet
My Soul's Been Anchored in the Lord
Lord, I Just Can't Keep from Cryin'
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
Chi il bel sogno di Doretta
Summertime
Ecco: respiro appena; Io son l'umile ancella
Vissi d'arte

Customer Reviews:

The Rediscovery?.......2007-05-17

Few sopranos in their prime have consistently
balanced vocal beauty and power as well as Price did.
I'm sure her smooth legatos were the envy of
her contemporaries, and those since. However,
I do not think this album is the best recording
of her live recitals.

Vocally, Price is in great form. I have no
complaints with the voice. My issue is with the
performance as a total package, in it's entirety.
The ambiance and general "feel" of this recording
is odd. To me, it sounds like Price was coaxed into
entertaining a groups of friends after a high society
dinner party; It's as if someone had suggested after dinner,
"Leontyne, why don't you regale us with a few classical
arias?"

Truthfully, this sounds like a completely impromptu performance.
The pianist is on autopilot, banging through each aria
in a fevered, sometimes overbearing bravura. Price
displays excellent musicianship by adjusting to
the volume and varying tempos without compromising
superb artistry. At times, it appears that Price and the
pianist are battling for artistic control. The
audience is obviously in love with her, as well they
should be. They are not reserved in their thunderous
applause and whistles. I personally prefer to hear Price
backed by full orchestra. The rendition of Spirituals
are well sung and sound more appropriate with the piano accompaniment.
"Vissi d'Arte" is regal and elegant, in grand fashion.
"Chi il bel sogno" from La Rondine is a richly
legato master work.

While Leontyne Price's vocal performance on this album is
top-notched, I would only recommend this "rediscovered" performance
as a collection keepsake. For some reason, I can't part
from the feeling that perhaps this recording was never
meant to be released. It's not bad, but by no means is it
definitive of Leontyne Price's remarkable contributions
as an operatic legend.

AMAZING.......2007-02-13

Leontyne Price. Do I need to say anything more. That astoundingly wonderful voice, tremendous dramatic range --- earthy, angelic, strong, tough, tender, playful, loving --- a performer that never grows stale, always fresh and new.

Rediscovering Leontyne Price.......2005-07-28

This magnificent recording is a collection of rare and beautiful arias sung by the gifted lyric-dramatic soprano Leontyne Price, the very first successful black opera diva, who reigned supreme in the 60's and 70's. While there are many full-length operas starring Price, this compilation album is quite refreshing because it's new and lovingly remastered from the original tapes/LPs. Among the arias are Bel Piacere- a Handel piece full of gorgeous ornamentation, Care Salve from Falla's Atlantida, very beautiful and majestic. Other songs include Summertime from Porgy and Bess and songs by Samuel Barber. Leontyne Price had versatility. While she was famous for her Aida, Leonora in Trovatore, Leonora in Forza Del Destino, as Tosca, and as many of the dramatic Verdi and Puccini roles, she sung roles that were modern and thrilling- Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra was one. She sang Lieder, she sang Gospel, she was a one-woman opera. This recording is a fitting tribute to her artistry. However there are many other fine compilation albums out there that far surpass even this new one - the best is The Prima Donna Collection, Leontyne Price in Concert, An Evening With Leontyne Price, The Best of Leontyne Price and The Ultimate Leontyne Price.

Masterful Recital Performance From Price at Her Peak.......2005-01-21

World-renowned soprano Leontyne Price can be an intimidating presence on any stage but not on this live concert recording. She lends a warm, lovely presence and of course, her unparalleled voice, to this eclectic program, which amazingly at the age of 38, represented her Carnegie Hall recital debut in 1965. It's hard to imagine her sounding any better than this at any point in her career, and just as importantly, the program reflects her heightened awareness of what serves her powerful voice best. It's a wonderful record of an obviously triumphant evening, and in what must be one of the recording industry's most monumental oversights, it languished in the RCA vault for thirty-seven years.

Price starts with three opera arias from Handel, all very clean in delivery and one especially noteworthy, "Piangerò la sorte mia" from "Giulio Cesare in Egritto". She is simultaneously opulent and regal while displaying a strong sense of pathos as Cleopatra contemplates her fate. The ten-minute Brahms "Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103" is stunning for the freshness she provides with her flexible quicksilver tones, all delivered in her very expressive German. The four Poulenc selections are delivered in a such a delicate manner that it can only be described as buttery, and as such, perfect for the Gallic verses. And her big opera moment comes with Giordano's "La mamma morta" from "Andrea Cénier" sung with her requisite passion. Regardless though, Price really soars with the American selections where her voice takes on an added dimension of humanity. She begins this portion with three stellar selections from Samuel Barber, all shimmering showcases for her voice: the haunting "Nocturne, Op. 13 No. 4", the light and airy "The Daisies, Op. 2 No. 1" and the near spiritual "Sleep Now, Op. 10 No. 2". These segue seamlessly into two lush pieces by the relatively unknown Lee Hoiby, who wrote specifically for Price. For me personally, the high points of the entire recording are the four spirituals, which she sings with an unearthly combination of roof-raising conviction and clarion tones. She concludes with classic arias from Puccini and Cilea and of course, her definitive version of George Gershwin's "Summertime". This is as fulfilling a recital as you could possibly hear from this wondrous singer. Essential listening.

Love Leontyne But Stick To The Studio Gems........2004-03-04

I have been an admirer of the great Price since I was a boy of 10 after discovering her tremendous recoding of "Carmen" with the greats Corelli, Freni, and von Karajan. In my humble opinion, the greatest period of her voice was the 50's-60's, where her incredible force and power were nicely balanced with a lyric openness and clarity. This live recording stems from that most golden period, before the more unattractive Price qualities came into play in the early-mid 70's - a major tendency to scoop and slide, a lack of crisp enunciation, and a cloudy timbre. Be that as it may, I was disappointed with this performance on a whole. Simply put, with the exception of the Spirituals, I find Ms. Price's performance uncommitted and almost like she is rushing through from one number to the next. This might be the "fault" of her accompanist, David Garvey. In every instance where a duplicate version exists in a studio recording by Ms. Price, I wholeheartedly prefer those over these live ones. Usually artists are even more committed and intense when performing before the public. I simply do not find that intensity here. My advice - stick to the great studio recordings or, at least, different live recordings, of which I know exist but have not as of yet purchased.

Average customer rating:

Awesome voice, exquisite performances
It may take you a little time to love her voice

A Tribute

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Um Mitternacht

Customer Reviews:

Awesome voice, exquisite performances.......2006-08-27

These two CDs contain a great selection of classical, operatic and folk songs in English, German and Italian by the famous contralto (1912 - 1953). Highlights on the first CD include What Is Life from Orfeo et Euridice, Art Thou Troubled from Rodelina, Woe Unto Them and O Rest In The Lord from Elijah and the traditional song Blow The Wind Southerly.

My personal favorites appear on the second CD. The first is the divine Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes, the Ben Jonson poem, which is a most mystical and transcending listening experience. The buoyant Stuttering Lovers is most catchy and appealing. Both of the aforementioned are sung to the piano accompaniment of pianist Phyllis Spurr.

Backed by the London Philharmonic, Ferrier renders splendid versions of Father Of Heaven from Judas Maccabaeus and O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion from The Messiah. These are truly awesome, the first one slow and somber, the second joyous and triumphant. Other highlights on this second CD include He Was Despised from The Messiah and All Is Fulfilled from St John Passion by Bach.

The informative CD booklet contains black and white photographs, a short biography in English, French and German, plus complete information on the recording of the tracks: composers, dates, venues, conductors and musicians. Kathleen Ferrier was a unique vocalist who made a magnficent contribution to classical and folk music.

It may take you a little time to love her voice.......2004-08-19

Kathleen Ferrier has one of the most instantly recognizable voices in music. And it's a voice that might take you time to love. As an eight year old I heard her version of Blow the Wind Southerly many times on British radio and intensely disliked it. I wasn't sure if it was a man or a woman, adult or child, such is the nature of her contralto. But over the years, especially hearing Ferrier sing Handel and Mahler, I've come to treasure her recordings alongside Callas, Sutherland, Flagstad and Baker. This two disc set contains performances which are about 45-55 years old. Many favourites are here especially the folk songs and selections from Bach, Handel and Mahler. The sound quality is excellent. The sleeve notes mention that Ferrier's vocal delivery may sound old fashioned to our ears. But her remarkable voice which stirs one's deepest emotions, transcends any thought of quaintness or mannerism. She is, quite simply, the greatest contralto ever. This selection will have you seeking out her other recordings on Amazon.com. And it might also lead you to Virginia Rodrigues, a Brazilian contralto with a superb voice who, like Ferrier, makes everything she sings, her own.

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Niklas Eklund, world class baroque trumpeter

Art of Baroque Trumpet Vol.4
Joseph Arnold Gross , George Frideric Handel , Michael Haydn , Johann Wilhelm Hertel , Johann Melchior Molter , Georg Philipp Telemann , Drottningholm Court Baroque Ensemble , Ulf Bjurenhed , and Niklas Eklund
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Art of the Baroque Trumpet, Vol. 5: An Italian Concert
The Art of the Baroque Trumpet, Vol. 1
Art of the Baroque Trumpet, Vol 2
The Art of the Baroque Trumpet Volume 3
Haydn, Hummel, Neruda: Trumpet Concertos

ASIN: B00004GLLO
Release Date: 2000-03-14

Tracks:

Trumet Concerto In D Major: Allegro
Trumet Concerto In D Major: Andante molto
Trumet Concerto In D Major: Allegro molto
Trumpet Concerto No.2 In C Major: Adagio
Trumpet Concerto No.2 In C Major: Allegro molto
Trumpet Concerto No.2 In D Major: Allegro
Trumpet Concerto No.2 In D Major: Adagio
Trumpet Concerto No.2 In D Major: Allegro assai
Double Concerto In E Flat Major For Trumpet And Oboe: Allegro
Double Concerto In E Flat Major For Trumpet And Oboe: Arioso
Double Concerto In E Flat Major For Trumpet And Oboe: Allegro
Trumpet Concerto No.2 In D Major: Largo
Trumpet Concerto No.2 In D Major: Vivace
Trumpet Concerto No.2 In D Major: Siciliano
Trumpet Concerto No.2 In D Major: Vivace
Overture To 'Atalanta': Andante
Overture To 'Atalanta': Vivace
Overture To 'Atalanta': Andante

Customer Reviews:

Niklas Eklund, world class baroque trumpeter.......2000-04-12

Niklas Eklund demonstrates the superiority of the baroque trumpet in this medium with this incredible recording of some of the most difficult and favorite baroque trumpet literature. He is without a doubt one of the finest virtuoso artists of our time. His playing and interpretations are wonderful, and the beauty of his sound and authentic baroque concepts present a fresh and welcome addition to the trumpet repetoire. Bravo to Eklund for a recording of unprecedented quality and ability. It is sure to become the new standard of baroque trumpet playing.

Average customer rating:

A Great British collection
If you like Baroque music, buy it; it is excellent

Rule Britannia

Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Rule Britannia and Other Music from Last Night of the Proms
Royal Salute
Music from the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Marches-1/British
Regimental Marches of British Army, Vol. 1

ASIN: B00004W3JI
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

The Island Princess: Tpt Aire/Sym Of Flatt Trumpits
'Mr. Handel's Water Piece': Ste in D: I. Ov
'Mr. Handel's Water Piece': Ste in D: II. Gigue (Allegro)
'Mr. Handel's Water Piece': Ste in D: III. Aire (Menuetto)
'Mr. Handel's Water Piece': Ste in D: IV. March I (Bouree) - March II
The Choice Of Hercules: I. Ov (Largo-Allegro)
The Choice Of Hercules: II. March
Europe Revells In Ye Peace: Sym
'Ste De Clairque' (Tpt Voluntary Ste): I. Prld: The Duke Of Gloster's March; Minuet & Sybelle...
'Ste De Clairque' (Tpt Voluntary Ste): II. Ser & Ecossaise
'Ste De Clairque' (Tpt Voluntary Ste): III. Bourre & Hornpipe
'Ste De Clairque' (Tpt Voluntary Ste): IV. Gigue
'Ste De Clairque' (Tpt Voluntary Ste): V. Rondeau: The Prince Of Denmark's March (Tpt Voluntary)
The Fairy Queen: Sym To Act IV: I. Intro - Canzona
The Fairy Queen: Sym To Act IV: II. Adagio
The Fairy Queen: Sym To Act IV: III. Battle (Allegro) - Pastoral - Battle
The Indian Queen: Tpt Ov To Act II
Son in E, Op.3 No.5: I. Allegro
Son in E, Op.3 No.5: II. Largo
Son in E, Op.3 No.5: III. Giga: Allegro
Atalanta: Ov: I. Adagio - Allegro
Atalanta: Ov: II. Andante
The Judgment Of Paris: Recitative: Awake, Awake, Thy Spirits Raise; Aire: Hark, Hark, The Glorius...
Birthday Song For Queen Mary: Come Ye Sons Of Art (Ov & Chor): I. Sym (Largo - Allegro)
Birthday Song For Queen Mary: Come Ye Sons Of Art (Ov & Chor): II. Adagio
Birthday Song For Queen Mary: Come Ye Sons Of Art (Ov & Chor): III. Ritornello - Chor
Funeral Music For Queen Mary: I. March
Funeral Music For Queen Mary: II. Canzona
Funeral Music For Queen Mary: III. March (Reprise)
Alfred: 'Rule Britannia'

Tracks:

Pomp And Circumstance Military: March No.1 in D, Op.39 - English Str Orch/William Boughton
Pomp And Circumstance Military: March No.2 in a, Op.39 - English Str Orch/William Boughton
Pomp And Circumstance Military: March No.3 in c, Op.39 - English Str Orch/William Boughton
Pomp And Circumstance Military: March No.4 in G, Op.39 - English Str Orch/William Boughton
Pomp And Circumstance Military: March No.5 in C, Op.39 - English Str Orch/William Boughton
The Pirates Of Penzance: Ov - SCO/Alexander Faris
HMS Pinafore - Ov - SCO/Alexander Faris
Ste: The Planets, Op.32: Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity - Philharmonia Orch/William Boughton
Te Deum - Christ Church Cathedral Chor, Oxford/Stephen Darlington
Vars On An Original Theme, Enigma, Op.36: IX. Nimrod - English SO/William Boughton
The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune - Christ Church Cathedral Chor, Oxford/Stephen Darlington

Customer Reviews:

A Great British collection.......2005-10-05

This CD features several particular composers who have written pieces of music that are quintessentially British: Jeremiah Clarke, George Frideric Handel, John Stanley, John Eccles, Henry Purcell, William Corbett, Edward Elgar, Arthur Sullivan, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst and Thomas Arne. The pieces here are triumphant, celebrating that particular period of Empire when the British ruled vastly such that the sun never set upon it - one of the key elements of such triumphant music-making, particularly for the time, was the use of brass and trumpet. Some of the later composers included here draw on inspirations from these earlier times.

One of the featured performers on this collection is John Wallace, who was principal trumpet of the Philharmonia Orchestra since the 1970s; he founded the brass ensemble, the Wallace Collection, ten years later in 1986. In 2002, he became principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Scotland, and the Wallace Collection gave their last performance shortly thereafter. However, the Wallace Collection lives on in performances on CD such as this one, performed with William Boughton and the English String Orchestra. Other tracks are performed by Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Alexander Faris and the English String Orchestra conducted by Stephen Darlington.

Pieces here are very familiar to anyone with an interested in British national composition -- pieces such as the Water Music by Handel are very famous, as are Holst's 'Planets' and Sullivan's (of Gilbert & Sullivan) 'Pinafore'; other pieces, such as Clarke's 'Trumpet Voluntary', are similarly famous even if their composers did not achieve the 'brand recognition' that Handel did. All of the composers here came from the period spanning the late 1600s to the late 1700s, when music was as often written for music halls and public performances as it was for royal events and commissions.

The performances here are uniformly upbeat and well played, with little by way of blemish save the occasional drop and surge in levels (as often becomes the case when recording music with sharp brass elements).

One can envision theatres full of people waving Union Jacks while this plays, and many of the pieces have a quality about them that speaks directly to the time and place of Britain.

If you like Baroque music, buy it; it is excellent.......2005-06-29

If you like Baroque music, buy this 2 CD's BOX SET; it is excellent. Clarke, Handel, Purcell, Corbet and so on are very well played. The orchestration is very good, the quality of recording is excellent. Remember that Baroque music uses mainly a single trumpet, few other brass instruments, some woodwinds and very few drums. It is very easy, elegant and pleasant to listen. When I got married in 2003, I have chosen only Baroque music for the ceremony and the banquet because Baroque music is so lovely, so delicate and so sweet. Even if you have never heard or you think that you have never heard Baroque music, buy this CD; I tell you, you will not regret your choice because it is really an excellent CD. You have my words.

The Glories of Handel Opera ~ Kirkby · Sutherland · Tebaldi · Berganza · Horne · Bowman · Pavarotti

Average customer rating:

A Lovely Mix of Old and New.
Glorious!
The glories could have been even more...glorious
Splendid Anthology from the Past 40 years

The Glories of Handel Opera ~ Kirkby · Sutherland · Tebaldi · Berganza · Horne · Bowman · Pavarotti
George Frideric Handel , Christopher Hogwood , Christophe Rousset , Richard Bonynge , Alexander Gibson , Bryan Balkwill , Henry Lewis , Emma Kirkby , James Bowman , Sara Mingardo , Luciano Pavarotti , Marilyn Horne , Joan Sutherland , Alicia Nafe , Philip Ledger , Forbes Robinson , Teresa Berganza , Bernadette Greevey , Renata Tebaldi , Sir Geraint Evans , and Emmanuelle Haïm
Manufacturer: Decca
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Binding: Audio CD

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The Emma Kirkby Collection
Emma Kirkby sings Handel, Arne, Haydn & Mozart
Rinaldo
Handel: Serse (Complete Opera) - William Christie, Anne Sofie von Otter
Sandrine Piau - Handel Opera Seria

ASIN: B00004U8FD
Release Date: 2001-02-13

Tracks:

Alcina: Tornami a vagheggiar - Kirkby
Orlando: Ah Stigie larve! - Bowman
Orlando: Gia latra Cerbero - Bowman
Orlando: Vaghe pupille non piangete - Bowman
Riccardo Primo: Atterrato il muro cada - Mingardo
Atalanta: Care selve ombre beate - Pavarotti
Semele: Hence Iris hence away - Horne
Rodelinda: Io t'abbraccio - Sutherland
Ezio: Se un bell'ardire puo innamorarti - Forbes Robinson
Giuliu Cesare: Piangero la sorte mia - Teresa Berganza
Alcina: Dream Music - Kirkby
Rinaldo: Armida dispietata! Lascia ch'io pianga - Bernadette Greevy
Alcina: Sta nell'Ircana pietrosa tana tigre sdegnosa - Teresa Berganza
Serse: Frondi tenere - Ombra mai fu - Renata Tebaldi
Berenice: Si tra i ceppi e le ritorte la mia fe risplendera - Geraint Evans
Rodelinda: Dove sei amato bene? - Marilyn Horne
Giuliu Cesare: Da tempeste il legno infranto - Joan Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

A Lovely Mix of Old and New........2006-11-14

This volume actually updates an old tape--which I still own!--by adding some of the more recent interest in historical performance practices to some of the older operatic show-biz types on display here.

I very much enjoy Sutherland and similar performers in this material. Talk about razzle-dazzle. Singers like Pavarotti and Tebaldi bring a lot of know-how about beautiful music to Handel, and that is never unwelcome.

While they might not have been terribly musicologically-informed, performers like Sutherland, Horne and Berganza certainly knew more about period performance practices: they indeed initiated the resurgence of such practices in the last three decades. Do other reviewers here perhaps forget that in preferring Dessay over Sutherland?

Meanwhile for the purists, Hogwood, Kirkby and Bowman are certainly more in the original instruments/authenticity-fetish camp: if memory serves, they were not included in the old cassette version. Clearly Decca is aware of the change in performing styles--and perhaps audience tastes--even as they are reflected on this very Amazon page. Frankly, I could use less of these and more of the old-timers.

So yes, this is a mix of old and new. The newest trends are not included. But are they not readily available elsewhere? Meanwhile, like its earlier incarnations, this set is still a marvelous compilation of gorgeous music-making from the deep Decca catalog.

Glorious!.......2005-12-30

I bought this album a while back because I've taken an interest in Baroque music recently, and I was not disappointed. This truly is a glorious recording of Handel Opera. Of course with singers like Pavarotti, Sutherland, Horne, Tebaldi it would have to be above average. Sutherland ends the album with a dazzling display of vocal dexterity in "Da tempeste il legno infranto". Even when she sings the 16th note runs each note still has clarity. And Pavarotti is delectable in "Care Selve". I could give a review of each song but there's no need for that because each track on this is marvellous in its own way. Buy this album.

The glories could have been even more...glorious.......2004-05-31

Handel operas nowadays receive impressive stage productions and become increasingly popular. This is a great collection if you want to hear some of your favourite Italian opera singers like Sutherland, Tebaldi, Pavarotti, Evans, Berganza and Horne sing Handel. Especially the young Sutherland and Pavarotti are sensational!

Considering on the other hand that Decca has now recorded many Handel operas with excellent Baroque singers, I find this recording to be somewhat outdated. It wasn't necessary for example to have Sutherland, Horne and Berganza sing two different roles when the same parts have recently been recorded by excellent newcomers like Dessay, Von Otter, or Scholl to name a few. Why stick to the past when the present has so many wonderful Handel singers?

Overall however, a decent introduction to Handel's music.

Splendid Anthology from the Past 40 years.......2002-07-03

This fine CD is an anthology of splendid performances dating from 1960-1995 by the world's most celebrated opera singers of great music by Handel, who in my opinion wrote better for the voice than anyone else. Enjoy! You will listen to it again and again.

The Pavarotti Edition (includes bonus disc with previously unreleased 1964 debut Decca recording session)

Average customer rating:

Beyond all description...
An Absolute Must-Have for Any Pavarotti Fan
Wonderful!!!!

The Pavarotti Edition (includes bonus disc with previously unreleased 1964 debut Decca recording session)

Manufacturer: Decca
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Binding: Audio CD

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Borat - Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00005O841
Release Date: 2001-11-13

Album Description

Disc 1: Donizetti Arias from L'elisir d'amore, Maria Stuarda, Lucia di Lammermoor, La Fille du Regiment, Linda di Chamounix, La Favorita, and Don Paquale

Disc 2: Bellini/Donizetti/Verdi Includes arias from I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Norma, La Sonnambula (1976 Duet Recording), I Beatrice di Tenda, I Puritani, Don Sebastien, Il Duca d'Alba, I Lombardi, I due Foscari, Ernani, and Attila

Disc 3: Verdi 1 Includes arias from Macbeth, Luisa Miller, Rigoletto, Il Trovatore, La Traviata, and Les Vepres Siciliennes

Disc 4: Verdi 2 Includes arias from Un Ballo in Maschera, La Forza del Destino, Don Carlos, Aida, Otello, and Requiem

Disc 5: Puccini Includes arias from La Boheme, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot

Disc 6: Puccini and Verismo Includes arias from Cavalleria Rusticana, Manon Lescaut, Pagliacci, Andrea Chenier, and Tosca

Disc 7: Arias 1 Includes arias from La Griselda, Atalanta, Orfeo ed Euridice, Don Giovanni, Cosi fan Tutte, Guillaume Tell, and more. Includes Unreleased Material.

Disc 8: Arias 2 Includes arias from Martha, Mefistofele, La Giocanda, Adriana Lecouvreur, Rosenkavalier, Fedora, Werther, Faust, Carmen, and more

Disc 9: Italian Songs Includes: In questa tomba oscura, Me voglio fa'na casa, Non t'amo piu, Pace non trovo, and more

Disc 10: Neapolitan and Italian Popular Songs Includes: O sloe mio, Torna a Surriento, Core 'ngrato, Funiculi Funicula, Non ti scordar di me, Mamma and more

Bonus CD: The 1964 EP (previously unreleased) "Che Gelida Manina," "E lucevan le stelle," "Questo o quella," "La Donna e mobile," and "Parmi veder" with Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Edward Downes conducting

Customer Reviews:

Beyond all description..........2006-09-19

As a boy, I heard so many hyperbolic references to the legendary Enrico Caruso that I chose to purchase a remastered copy of his "Greatest Hits" when I first began to acquire recordings as a young man. Soon after, I discovered Pavarotti and my life was changed by his music. Caruso ended up in the Goodwill Store. I am convinced that in 500 years, should the earth cool again and the Muslim hoards abate, the civilized world will still tell tales of the greatest tenor. I have often found myself grumpy when searching for recordings of Pavarotti because of the inconsistent fidelity of the recordings. That search for the definitive Pavarotti recordings, regarding both content and fidelity, has ended with the release of this extraordinary collection. Worth it's weight in gold, the Puccinni Volume (#5) alone is enough to send someone like me into hyperspace. I am astounded by the beauty and power of these performances. I will always remember the day, not long ago, when a NPR commentator glibly mentioned between the weather and the night's playlist the terrible words, "Luciano Pavarotti has announced that he is retiring from Opera." I felt as if something indescribably beautiful was fading from the world. Of course, beauty in all of its earthly forms is fleeting at best, but these discs contain a reflection of it that will surely bolster any soul.

An Absolute Must-Have for Any Pavarotti Fan.......2004-01-09

...and that certainly goes without saying. My one tiny little problem with it is that his recordings of "Santa Lucia" and "Caruso" are not on this incredible box-set. Even though I have those recordings on other CDs, I still think those are very important pieces to include on this set (assuming that this set of Pavi hits would be the only compilation that that any fan of this phenomenal tenor would have). He is probably my biggest idol, and he deserves to have been one of the biggest opera stars in history.

Wonderful!!!!.......2002-11-07

This Pavarotti set; The Pavarotti Edition; is a wonderful collection of Arias and songs that cover Luciano's great career. Pavarotti is THE Voice of the 20th Century and this set does him justice. It includes 10 CDs with over 750 minutes of music; Includes Music from All of His roles; has a beautiful 76 page full color booklet; Has a wonderful write up; and includes a bonus CD of Pavarotti's fist album, a 45, from 1964, which has never been released on CD before this set. Every Song is hear, This SET is a must have for every Pavarotti Fan.

Average customer rating:

Pure Perfection
Had a Freudian moment
No Villa-Lobos
Be warned!
Unforgettable

American Soprano

Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Arleen Auger - Love Songs / Dalton Baldwin
Arleen Auger - Handel · Bach Arias / The Mostly Mozart Orchestra · Gerard Schwarz
Haydn - Arias & Cantatas / Auger · H&H · Hogwood
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben - Four Last Songs / Auger, Previn
Arleen Augér ~ Handel - Nine German Arias

ASIN: B00004W1PQ
Release Date: 2000-07-25

Tracks:

Rejoice Greatly - Messiah
Piangero - Giulio Cesare
Care Selve - Atalanta
Let The Bright Seraphim - Samson
Lascia Ch'io pianga - Rinaldo
Ricetti Gramezza
Bist du bei mir
Weichet nur, betrubte Schatten
Sich uben im lieben
Blute nur
Ich will dir mein Herze schenken
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 For Soprano And Orchestra Of Violoncellos: Aria
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 For Soprano And Orchestra Of Violoncellos: Dansa
Pastorale
Del Cabello mas sutil
Azulao
Standchen
Selige Nacht
Fleurs
Stornello
Music, When Soft Voice Die
Je t'aime
Love's Philosophy
Widmung
Du bist wie eine Blume
Das Rosenband
Liebst du um Schonheit
Cantares
How Do I Love Thee?
I'll Follow My Secret Heart
Serenade
Liebe Schwarmt auf allen Wegen
Love Went A-Riding
Why, No One to Love
O del mio amato ben
The Salley Gardens
Heart, We Will Forget Him
Before I Gaze at You Again

Customer Reviews:

Pure Perfection .......2006-09-25

Words cannot express how much I adore these two discs, but here goes anyway. A friend gave me a burned copy 'Love Songs' which I lost and so I purchased this double disc set. Arleen is by far and away my favorite soprano of all time and if you end up owning these cd's, I have no doubt she will become yours as well. Arleen had the most gorgeous voice, a pure yet colorful tone. And her technique as demonstrated on these recordings was superb. If you are a singer as am I, you will not be able to ignore her phrasing on The Salley Gardens - it's truy astonishing. If you are in to doing side by side comparison, try listening to Arleen's version of O Del Mio Amato Ben, then listen to Sumi Jo's version. But be forewarned if you're a Sumi Jo fan, you won't be able to listen to her version ever again. Arleen wrings every bit of naked emotion out of that song without ever being cheesy or over the top. Her musical instinct and interpretation was as flawless as her voice and technique. I use these cd's as my personal master classes with an impeccable artist who was taken from us all much too soon.

Had a Freudian moment.......2005-08-12

Be it known, I had no intention of writing a review of this recording. I still do not in fact. But I listened to the late Ms. Auger's reading of 'Lascia chio pianga' and nearly seized (cigarette in hand and all.) I've yet to move beyond track five. That being documented, I implore both the fastidious collector of vocal music and the layman alike to purchase this set. Oh, and about the Freud...following the aforementioned revelatory aural sensation of some five minutes, I typed amazing.com in place of the amazon.com destination. "Behind every mishap in speech, writing, etc. there lies an unconcious motive..."
Well,

No Villa-Lobos.......2003-05-28

Since I purchased this album specifically for the recording of the Villa-Lobos, I am extremely disappointed that it was replaced by "He Shall Feed His Flock." She sings everything beautifully, but it is not the recording it pretends to be.

Be warned!.......2003-05-03

My copy did not have the works by Heitor Villa-Lobos. The first disk in the set is Delos 3026, "Bach, Handel: Arias," which includes two selections from Alexander's Feast and "He Shall Feed His Flock" from the Messiah. I am not disappointed. Ms. Auger sings wonderfully. My second disk is Delos 3029 "Love Songs," which makes it a good bargain. But there are no texts.

Unforgettable.......2002-05-16

After much auditioning and re-auditioning, Auger's "Rejoice" here has finally replaced Kathleen Battle's fine performance on "Grace" as my favorite.

Both singers are at their best in the repeat, where their technique and ornamentation will knock anyone's socks off. But where Battle does a musical and brilliant concerto-like display of Kathleen Battle, Auger instead serves Handel with overriding sincerity. She builds intensity to an incredible pitch, ending on an almost trumpet-like flourish to announce the coming of the King.

Tracks:

Messiah: Rejoice Greatly
Giulio Cesare: Piangero
Atalanta: Care Selve
Alexander's Feast: The Prince, Unable To Conceal His Pain
Alexander's Feast: Softly Sweet In Lydian Measures
Rinaldo: Lascia ch'io pianga
Samson: Let The Bright Seraphim
Messiah: He Shall Feed His Flock
Non sa che sia dolore: Ricetti Gramezza
Klavierbuchlein fur Anna Magdalena Bach: Bist du bei mir
Weichet nur, betrubte Schatten
Weichet nur, betrubte Schatten: Sich uben im lieben
St. Matthew Passion: Blute nur
St. Matthew Passion: Ich will dir mein Herze schenken

Customer Reviews:

Transcendent.......2002-05-15

This is some of the most beautiful singing I have heard anywhere. Auger fuses technique, emotion, and baroque sensibility into a phenomental whole.

In particular, listen to "Come Unto Him" from Messiah. I have more than 30 complete Messiahs and this section is the best of the best of the best. Her original ornamentation is so transcendant, it's hard to imagine why anyone does it any other