The Purcell Thread

[Tapio Dimitriyevich Shostakovich]

Well, I already mentioned I'm completely stunned by the Emanuelle Haim Dido & Aeneas. Today and yesterday, I've listened to "Thanks to these lo(n|v)esome vales" by Belinda (Camilla Tilling), maybe one million times. Tillings singing is so sweet, it makes the snow melt here, honestly! I love this song. Followed by "Oft she visits..", a musical masterpiece.

Tilling/Belinda/"Thanks to...": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJhLAe2JC_E (starts @ 0:45)
Dido/Haïm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlUYtL-M_Go


BTW, I tried Dido&Aeneas with Emma Kirkby as Dido yesterday. The one on Chandos with Taverner Choir and players. No. The choir boys voice doesn't work for me here. I also think her singing is not perfect. Also I do not like the emphacizing of the syllables, which she does in the end of words. (i.e., she sings "ah.. 1be 2lin 3in 4da" - I'm used to "1be 2lin 3da 4ha").

"Thanks to this lonesome vales" or "Thanks to this lovesome vales"? http://opera.stanford.edu/iu/libretti/dido.html#act3 writes "lovesome". But on many CDs "lonesome" is written...

[Shrunk]

Recently got this one:

[asin]B000058UV0[/asin]

Sexy and fun.

[Rinaldo]

When I'm alone on the subway train, I enjoy singing There's not a swain in a rather silly voice. Please, don't tell anyone.

[snyprrr]

I'm just hearing the Funeral Music for Queen Mary, and I'm shocked at how 'modern' it sounds, but then I see that it is an arragement by Steven Stucky. I hear bells and chimes, and what sounds like a piano. This is on a "President's Own" Marine Band cd, so I'm curious...

Pretty cool music,... is it really getting somewhat mysterious at the end?

[Rinaldo]

Oh, this is glorious: Hommage à Henry Purcell (La Fenice, Jean Tubéry). Ode to / Funeral of Queen Mary, King Arthur excerpts. Beautifully played & sung (especially Blažíková). I'd love to get this performance on a CD.

[Tapio Dimitriyevich Shostakovich]

Scholl/Academia Bizantina/Purcell, Airs and Songs: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7196384D493089EF - Has been on ARTE TV AFAICS. I love his "Music for a while".

[milk]

Does anybody have a favorite recording of Purcell's keyboard music? I bought Egarr's recording but somehow feel that the sound of the harpsichord doesn't quite match the music - although Egarr's performance is very good. I listened to some samples of John Gibbons and this seems better in terms of the sound of the harpsichord he uses. But this is just my opinion - not based on any knowledge of musicology. Any thoughts, recommendations?

[Octave]

Bumping this thread because it's been ~1.5 years since Milk's question (immediately above) re: the keyboard music; I have only sampled the Egarr, but I'd be interested in GMG responses to his question.

Also interested in a top FAIRY QUEEN selection or two; I read this whole thread some weeks ago and did a little keyword searching, and I'm not sure I've seen any concentrated discussion of the options.  Norrington's was praised at one point.  I've also been interested in Christie's early-90s HM audio version, though I'll have to wait for that to come back into print.  I also read a non-evaluative comment about Christie's more recent DVD/BR stage production, which seems to make use of the fully-integrated Shakespeare pastiche [?]...that's almost certainly of interest to me, eventually.

Any other recommendations for Purcell recordings would be most appreciated.  I've made do over the past year or so with two of the King/Hyperion boxes (SACRED MUSIC and WELCOME SONGS AND ODES); the Brilliant box of chamber music (Belder et al); the Deller Consort recordings on Vanguard (reissued not long ago as a 6cd); DIDO by Anthony Lewis (old school) and Scholars Baroque (Naxos, a very old acqusition); and Fretwork for the Fantasias (Savall is in the post).  I know I'm interested in another couple DIDOs, those of Haim and Hogwood, but I'm not sure what else might be considered key interpretations.  I also received one recommendation for Hogwood's THEATRE MUSIC box, which seems to be almost all music I don't know at all...I'm sure to check that one out.
EDIT: I also have a disc worth of theatre ayres from that little Sony 6cd box of Tafelmusik/Lamon playing Handel (three fine discs of him), Geminiani, etc etc; that was quite enjoyable, cheering music. 

[Parsifal]

I'm watching a recent video of The Fairie Queen, and I am unable to engage with it.  At this point, the plan is to wait a decade and try again.

[Rinaldo]

Bumping this thread because it's been ~1.5 years since Milk's question (immediately above) re: the keyboard music; I have only sampled the Egarr, but I'd be interested in GMG responses to his question.

Also interested in a top FAIRY QUEEN selection or two; I read this whole thread some weeks ago and did a little keyword searching, and I'm not sure I've seen any concentrated discussion of the options.  Norrington's was praised at one point.  I've also been interested in Christie's early-90s HM audio version, though I'll have to wait for that to come back into print.  I also read a non-evaluative comment about Christie's more recent DVD/BR stage production, which seems to make use of the fully-integrated Shakespeare pastiche [?]...that's almost certainly of interest to me, eventually.

Any other recommendations for Purcell recordings would be most appreciated.  I've made do over the past year or so with two of the King/Hyperion boxes (SACRED MUSIC and WELCOME SONGS AND ODES); the Brilliant box of chamber music (Belder et al); the Deller Consort recordings on Vanguard (reissued not long ago as a 6cd); DIDO by Anthony Lewis (old school) and Scholars Baroque (Naxos, a very old acqusition); and Fretwork for the Fantasias (Savall is in the post).  I know I'm interested in another couple DIDOs, those of Haim and Hogwood, but I'm not sure what else might be considered key interpretations.  I also received one recommendation for Hogwood's THEATRE MUSIC box, which seems to be almost all music I don't know at all...I'm sure to check that one out.
EDIT: I also have a disc worth of theatre ayres from that little Sony 6cd box of Tafelmusik/Lamon playing Handel (three fine discs of him), Geminiani, etc etc; that was quite enjoyable, cheering music.

Savall's Fairy Queen is gorgeous and as for the whole thing, Gardiner or Deller would be my first choice.

+1 to Hogwood's Dido and the Theatre set, which holds some of my favourite Purcell tunes.

[TheGSMoeller]

My current favorites for Purcell's Big Three (I just made that up btw)...


   

[Johnll]

My current favorites for Purcell's Big Three (I just made that up btw)...


   

A big plus on Currentzis Dido and Aeneas. I also rather enjoyed his Shosty 14 and Mozart Requiem.

[TheGSMoeller]

A big plus on Currentzis Dido and Aeneas. I also rather enjoyed his Shosty 14 and Mozart Requiem.

Yes! I'm hoping to see more releases from Currentzis very soon.

[Octave]

Late thanks to John, Rinaldo, and Monkey-Greg for the tips.  There will be a lot of Purcell spun this summer, chez Octave.

[Silk]

Here's a composer who is seldom discussed.  He's magnificent!  How about a tiny sample from his "Timon of Athens", just to tempt you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_o_pjxVldI

[Silk]

Woops!!  I see there is huge activity on Purcell.  Guess I need to hone my 'searching' skills!  Thanks.

[Rinaldo]

Happy 355th birthday!

Let's celebrate with the slowest Abdelazer suite ever commited to video:

https://www.youtube.com/v/MtdBebvbcO0

[radicle]

Is this really the main Purcell thread?

I've been enjoying the YouTube extracts from this goofy French production of King Arthur; I'd love to have seen it.

Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet

http://www.youtube.com/v/U5UtgAKRZGo

http://www.youtube.com/v/4CQ3u8y_GF8

http://www.youtube.com/v/9x1SUwNm6OI

[snyprrr]

anything I'd like?

[Jo498]

try the viol fantazias