Narrow my search:
From
HI-RES$15.98
CD$11.98
Handel: Acis and Galatea
Christian Curnyn
Opera - Released June 1, 2018 | Chandos
Hi-Res
This isn't an opera, strictly speaking; this Acis and Galatea by Handel, most likely dating from 1718, is much more a part of the very English genre of the "masque", or pastoral divertimento. That said, its hour-and-a-half running time is redolent of a lot of operas... It seems that Handel wrote it for a rich private patron, in those politically turbulent days when the Royal Theatre had more bad days than good; James Brydge, the count of Carnarvon, had assembled a little troupe of singers and musicians at his manor, as well as a choir, which allowed him to offer purely private musical entertainments of high quality. Of course, the work is sung in English; the orchestration, which is very original, calls for inter alia a soprano recorder for the songbirds; and it unfurls a number of theatrical "tricks" to highlight the personalities of the various characters. Twenty years later, Handel would revise his work for public performances in London, but this is a recording of the 1718 original. Elegance, sensuality, a strong dose of humour in spite of the often-sombre subject matter: this is the best of Handel, and it should be noted that the composer used almost none of his normal "recycling": apart from an aria, all the music here is original, and was not re-used in any other works. Acis and Galatea was one of Handel's most-performed works in his own lifetime, which rather prevented him from re-using any of the tunes too often, as he might have been able to do with a lesser-known piece. The Early Opera Company conducted by Christian Curnyn proves here that private lyrical enterprises, supported by crowdfunding and generous subscriptions from patrons have got a long and happy future ahead of them still. © SM/Qobuz
From
HI-RES$31.79
CD$24.59
Handel: Acis & Galatea
Dunedin Consort
Classical - Released November 3, 2008 | Linn Records
Hi-Res
Booklet
The Dunedin Consort, led by John Butt, has moved into the niche of recording original or obscure versions of Baroque choral masterworks using forces as close as possible to those of the original performances. Its 2006 performance of the Dublin version of Messiah is one of the liveliest and refreshingly intimate recordings of the work, and won a Gramophone Award for Best Baroque Vocal Album of the year. Here the group turns its attention to a much earlier Handel work, the 1718 pastoral oratorio Acis & Galatea. Through ingenious musical detective work, Butt has reconstructed the most likely constitution of the ensemble that originally performed the piece while the composer was employed at Cannons House in Middlesex. Acis & Galatea is a work stronger on charm than substance, but its charms are considerable, from its lively and lyrical solos and ensembles to its inventive and clever orchestration. While Handel is not known for comedy, and this piece is in fact a tragedy (a rejected suitor kills his rival, but the heroine transforms her slain lover into a fountain, so things don't turn out too badly), the librettists and composer treat the subject lightly and with genuine wit. The villain is portrayed as a buffoon, and Butt and his singers play up the work's humor. Baritone Matthew Brook is vocally virtuosic and comically convincing as Polyphemus; his arias "O ruddier than the cherry" and "Cease to beauty to be suing" are among the highlights of the recording. As Galatea, soprano Susan Hamilton sings with purity and unmannered grace. Tenor Nicholas Mulroy as Acis has a somewhat covered sound that keeps him from being truly heroic. Thomas Hobbs, in the secondary role of role of Damon, has a light but bright and clarion tenor. The orchestra plays with exquisite finesse and expressiveness. Butt and his exemplary forces make a strong case for this odd little piece and give it a depth and coherence that make their performance stand out among the recorded versions.© TiVo
From
HI-RES$33.09
CD$28.69
Acis and Galatea
The Sixteen
Classical - Released February 1, 2019 | Coro
Hi-Res
Booklet
Handel's Acis and Galatea, short and sweet, has been among his most enduringly popular works. Part of its fascination resides in its generic ambiguity: it may be classified as an oratorio (although its choral elements are sparse), a serenade, a masque, a pastoral, or, perhaps most accurately by Handel himself as "a little opera." The story involves a shepherd, Acis, a kind of goddess-nymph, Galatea, and a rude giant, Polyphemus, who is jealous of the love of Acis and Galatea (spoiler: Acis is killed and ends up as a fountain). The music hits the pastoral mood from the very start with the subdominant harmonies and fetching suspensions of the Sinfonia. The work has been expanded in several dimensions, including by Handel himself over the decades and centuries, but the original 1718 version of the work, the one heard here, is perhaps preferable: the mix of fun and light tragedy in the work comes through most clearly. Likewise, although the opera has been done plenty of times by full-on operatic voices, and listeners may fondly remember the version with Peter Pears and Joan Sutherland from the 1950s, the smaller-scale singing of Jeremy Budd and Grace Davidson is attractive indeed, and the one-voice-per-part chorus reflects the circumstances of the work's original performance. Sample Davidson's charmingly injured "Must I my Acis still bemoan." An altogether delightful version of this familiar Handel work.
© TiVo
From
CD$30.09
Handel: Acis & Galatea
English Baroque Soloists
Classical - Released January 1, 1978 | Archiv Produktion
From
CD$29.66
Handel: Acis and Galatea, HWV 49
Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ensemble
Classical - Released January 1, 2016 | CPO
Booklet
From
HI-RES$1.99
CD$1.69
Acis and Galatea, HWV 49a Hush, ye pretty warbling quire!
The Sixteen
Classical - Released December 28, 2018 | The Sixteen Productions Ltd.
Hi-Res
From
HI-RES$15.09
CD$13.09
Purcell: The Fairy Queen, 1692
Gabrieli Consort
Classical - Released April 10, 2020 | Signum Records
Hi-Res
Booklet
Purcell’s The Fairy Queen is based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a play not frequently performed in the late 17th century, nor very well regarded (“the most insipid ridiculous play that ever I saw in my life” – Samuel Pepys’ diary, 1662). Despite this, the play would go on to work well within an opera, as the characters of Pyramus and Thisbe could conjure up singing and dancing accomplices. Purcell’s masterful composition, Gabrieli’s first-class performance, and McCreesh’s superb interpretation demonstrate why their recordings are seen as some of the best in classical music today. Gabrieli are world-renowned interpreters of great vocal and instrumental repertoire, from the Renaissance to the present day. Founded by Paul McCreesh in 1982, Gabrieli have both outgrown and remained true to their original identity: whilst the ensemble’s repertoire has expanded beyond any expectation, McCreesh’s ever-questioning spirit, expressive musicianship and a healthy degree of iconoclasm remain constant and are reflected in the ensemble’s dynamic performances. Gabrieli’s repertoire includes major works of the oratorio tradition, virtuosic a cappella programmes and mould-breaking reconstructions of music for historical events. Above all, Gabrieli aims to create thought-provoking performances which stand out from the crowd. © Signum Records
From
HI-RES$17.59
CD$15.09
Handel: Finest Arias for Base (Bass) Voice, Vol. 1
Christopher Purves
Classical - Released December 2, 2012 | Hyperion
Hi-Res
Booklet
There's no shortage of Handel aria recitals these days, especially in Britain, but this one by bass baritone Christopher Purves stands out from the crowd in several respects. First of all, it is rare in collecting arias for bass voice, which was, in Handel's time as it was later on, generally associated with a few fixed and generally negative character types (tyrants, rogues, repressive patriarchs). Second, it's a very pleasantly varied collection of tunes, including displays of brilliant passagework, out-of-the-norm writing in service of characterization (Fra l'ombre e gl'orrori, from Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, track 4), and high climactic drama (the big, three-part Revenge, Timotheus cries, from Alexander's Feast, track 19, is a familiar example). Finally, Purves unearths some rarely heard pieces and programs them intelligently. When did anyone last year anything from Muzio Scevola, or Riccardo Primo, rè d'Inghilterra, which must have pleased London audiences in 1727 despite its Italian-language text. Purves does not have the biggest voice in the bass baritone universe, and there could be a bit more sound in the very low notes. But the dimensions of the music are right for the period. He's pleasingly accurate in the passagework, and he's a real actor who makes these potentially stilted characters come alive. Listeners will want to hear Purves in a small production of one of these operas after hearing this album, preferably accompanied by the strong historical-instrument group Arcangelo under Jonathan Cohen, as he is here.© TiVo
From
HI-RES$24.71
CD$19.77
Lully: Acis et Galatée, LWV 73
Jean-François Lombard
Opera - Released October 13, 2023 | Naxos
Hi-Res
Booklet
From
HI-RES$14.99
CD$9.99
Purcell : The Fairy Queen (Remastered)
Alfred Deller
Opera - Released January 1, 1972 | harmonia mundi
Hi-Res
Booklet
From
HI-RES$24.71
CD$19.77
Purcell: The Fairy Queen, Z. 629
Les Nouveaux Caractères
Opera - Released September 1, 2017 | Glossa
Hi-Res
Booklet
Sébastien d’Hérin and his ensemble Les Nouveaux Caractères wanted to give back to The Fairy Queen (the masterful 1692 semi-opera; a very British genre, comparable to the French comedy ballet of that time) all its variety and exuberance as well as imperial stature from that time. A combination of lushness, opulence and generosity − that was the true genius of Purcell. Thus this recording can easily be described as “baroque”, in the original sense of the word: irregular and unexpected, but it’s precisely this share of surprises and colours that d’Hérin proclaims loud and clear. Adequate period instruments − such as gut strings, two harpsichord and one organ, a few pastoral oboes, a bassoon, two trumpets and a serpent, a cornett, a viola da gamba, a theorbo, a harp, numerous flutes – are played as they were at the time, by polyvalent instrumentalists… A good number of percussions can be heard, more or less improvised – again, as it was the custom at the time – because the initial score omits countless instrumental details, as we know it was common to have the available instrumentalists play on the spot. Regardless this interpretation by Les Nouveaux Caractères puts emphasis on spontaneity, vivacity, and (good) surprises, both on the instrumental and vocal sides: the Shakespeare play that vaguely serves as a setting – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, even though Purcell didn’t use any single word from the play – is wonderfully depicted. © SM/Qobuz
From
HI-RES$17.49
CD$13.99
Pancrace Royer: Surprising Royer, Orchestral Suites
Les Talens Lyriques
Symphonic Music - Released May 5, 2023 | Aparté
Hi-Res
Booklet
Beyond the neglect of French Baroque music in general, it is a bit hard to understand why composer Pancrace Royer was almost completely unknown until Christophe Rousset came along to champion him, first in harpsichord music and now, with these suites of music drawn from operas, in orchestral music. In the 18th century, Royer was quite well known and admired among others by Rameau, whose music he helped along considerably. Royer certainly inhabited Rameau's stylistic world, but from the evidence here, his music is distinctive and merits the adjective "surprising" that Rousset has attached to it. It is colorful, given to unexpected turns of harmony, and vivid in its evocation of the exotic scenes of French opera. Sample the "Air pour les turcs" ("Air for the Turks") from Zaïde, reine de Grenade, with its crackling percussion. Royer challenged his orchestra with virtuoso ensemble writing in the likes of the "Premier et second tambourins" from Almasis, and Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques step up with precise, vigorous readings that one imagines would have made the composer overjoyed. The inclusion of two alternate versions for movements from Zaïde is also unusual and gives insight into the compositional thinking of the day. Essential for specialists and enthusiasts interested in the French Baroque, this album is a lot of fun for anyone, with only overdone church sound detracting from the overall effect.
© James Manheim /TiVo
From
HI-RES$24.70
CD$19.76
Atys
Christophe Rousset
Opera - Released January 5, 2024 | Château de Versailles Spectacles
Hi-Res
Booklet
Backed by the Sun King despite a lukewarm audience reception at first, Lully's Atys (1676) went on to become one of the composer's most successful operas, with revivals at French court theaters as late as 1753. In modern times, however, it is a considerably rarer item due to the massive forces and time required. Christophe Rousset was in the pit as harpsichordist when conductor William Christie gave the first modern revival of the work in the late '80s. That experience marks this 2024 release, which made classical best-seller lists at the beginning of that year. That is not common for a hefty five-act Baroque opera, but even a bit of sampling will confirm why it happened: Rousset, from the keyboard, brings tremendous energy to the opera. He pushes the tempo in the numerous dances and entrance numbers, and the musicians of Les Talens Lyriques and the singers of the Choeur du Chambre de Namur, all of whom have worked closely with Rousset in the past, keep right up. The singers in the solo roles are all fine; haut-contre Reinoud Van Mechelen in the title role and Ambroisine Bré as the goddess Cybèle, who sets the tragic plot in motion, are standouts. The sound from the increasingly engineering-expert Château de Versailles label is exceptionally clear in complex textures, and the sensuous cover art (representing, it is true, not the Roman mythological figure of Atys but Hippomène and Atalante) is a bonus. In the end, this is Rousset's Atys, and that is a very good thing.© James Manheim /TiVo
From
HI-RES$15.09
CD$13.09
It's Always Christmas Somewhere
Alela Diane
Christmas Music - Released December 1, 2023 | Rusted Blue Records
Hi-Res
From
HI-RES$24.70
CD$19.76
Messiah
Franco Fagioli
Classical - Released November 17, 2023 | Château de Versailles Spectacles
Hi-Res
Booklet
From
HI-RES$31.79
CD$24.59
Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre: Céphale et Procris
Reinoud Van Mechelen
Classical - Released February 9, 2024 | Château de Versailles Spectacles
Hi-Res
Booklet
Distinctions
Diapason d'or
From
HI-RES$24.70
CD$19.76
Psyché
Christophe Rousset
Classical - Released January 13, 2023 | Château de Versailles Spectacles
Hi-Res
Booklet
From
HI-RES$24.70
CD$19.76
Écho & Narcisse
Hervé Niquet
Classical - Released August 25, 2023 | Château de Versailles Spectacles
Hi-Res
Booklet
From
HI-RES$21.09
CD$18.09
Les soupers du roy
Arion Orchestre Baroque
Classical - Released September 8, 2023 | Les Disques ATMA Inc.
Hi-Res
Booklet
Suppose you have a more precise idea of what you want. If you are searching for the album "Bad" by Michael Jackson, type michael jackson bad. The album in question will be displayed at the top, as it is the most relevant.
By default, search results are sorted in order of relevance. The drop-down menu to the right of "Sort by" allows you to display the results in the desired order.