Purcell: King Arthur, 1691 / McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort

$27.99
Label
Signum Classics
Release Date
October 25, 2019
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      PURCELL, HENRY
    • PERFORMER
      Gabrieli, Mccreesh
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      October 25, 2019
    • UPC
      635212058923
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      SIGCD589
    • LABEL
      Signum Classics
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Classical
    Works ⌄

    1. V. Air

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    2. VI. Minuet

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    3. III. Hornpipe

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    4. IV. Scotch Tune

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    5. Act I Scene 1: Overture

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    6. Act I Scene 1: Air

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    7. Act I Scene 2: Woden, first to thee (Tenor, Bass, Chorus)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Ashley Riches, James Way, Roderick Williams

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    8. Act I Scene 2: The white horse neigh'd aloud (Tenor, Alto, Chorus)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: James Way, Jeremy Budd

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    9. Act I Scene 2: The lot is cast (Soprano, Chorus)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Mhairi Lawson

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    10. Act I Scene 2: I call you all, to Woden's Hall (Alto, Chorus)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Jeremy Budd

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    11. Act I Scene 3: Come if you dare, our Trumpets sound (Tenor, Chorus)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: James Way

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    12. Act II Scene 1: Prelude

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    13. Act II Scene 1: Hither this way, this way bend (Philadell, Philadell's Spirits, Grimbald's Spirits)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Carolyn Sampson

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    14. Act II Scene 1: Let not a moonborn elf mislead ye (Grimbald)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Roderick Williams

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    15. Act II Scene 1: Hither this way, this way bend (Philadell's Spirits, Grimbald's Spirits)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    16. Act II Scene 1: Come, follow me (Sopranos, Bass-baritone, Counter-tenor, Chorus)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Carolyn Sampson, Anna Dennis, Rowan Pierce, Mhairi Lawson, Ashley Riches, Jeremy Budd

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    17. Act II Scene 2: How blest are shepherds (Shepherd, Chorus)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: James Way

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    18. Act II Scene 2: Shepherd, shepherd, leave decoying (2 Shepherdesses)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Mhairi Lawson, Anna Dennis

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    19. Act II Scene 2: Come, shepherds, lead up a lively measure (Chorus)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    20. Distress'd Innocence, Z. 577: VI. Rondeau

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    21. Act III Scene 2: What ho, thou Genius of this isle (Cupid)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Rowan Pierce

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    22. Act III Scene 2: What power art thou (Cold Genius)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    23. Act III Scene 2: Thou doting fool, forbear (Cupid)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Rowan Pierce

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    24. Act III Scene 2: Great Love, I know thee now (Cold Genius)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    25. Act III Scene 2: No part of my dominion shall be waste (Cupid)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Rowan Pierce

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    26. Act III Scene 2: See, see, we assemble (Chorus)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    27. Act III Scene 2: 'Tis I, 'tis I, 'tis I, that have warm'd ye (Cupid, Chorus)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Rowan Pierce

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    28. Act III Scene 2: Sound a parley (Cupid, Cold Genius)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Rowan Pierce, Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    29. Act III Scene 2: 'Tis Love that has warm'd us (Chorus)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    30. Act III Scene 2: Air

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    31. The British Heroine, Z. 574, "Bonduca": No. 6. Air

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    32. Act IV Scene 1: Two daughters of this aged stream are we (2 Sirens)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Carolyn Sampson, Anna Dennis

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    33. Act IV Scene 1: Passacaglia: How happy the lover (Counter-tenor, Chorus, Soprano, Bass)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Jeremy Budd, Carolyn Sampson, Roderick Williams

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    34. Act IV Scene 1: You say, 'tis love creates the pain (She, He)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Carolyn Sampson, Roderick Williams

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    35. Act IV Scene 1: Hornpipe

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    36. The Old Batchelor, Z. 607: V. Rondeau

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    37. Act V Scene 2: Ye blust'ring brethren of the skies (Aeolus)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Roderick Williams

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    38. Act V Scene 2: Soft Tune

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    39. Act V Scene 2: Round thy coast (Nereid, Chorus)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Mhairi Lawson

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    40. Act V Scene 2: For folded flocks (3 Shepherds)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Jeremy Budd, James Way, Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    41. Act V Scene 2: Your hay it is mow'd (Comus, Peasants)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Roderick Williams, Ashley Riches

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    42. Act V Scene 2: Fairest Isle (Venus)

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Carolyn Sampson

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    43. Act V Scene 3: Tune for Trumpets (after The Prophetess, Z. 627, "The History of Dioclesian")

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    44. Act V Scene 3: Sound Heroes, your brazen trumpets sound! - Let all rehearse (Fame, Chorus) (after The Prophetess, Z. 627, "The History of Dioclesian")

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Performer: Jeremy Budd

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh

    45. Act V Scene 3: Chaconne

      Composer: Henry Purcell

      Ensemble: Gabrieli Consort and Players

      Conductor: Paul McCreesh




The great patriotic opera of the 17th century, recorded here in a lively new performing edition after two decades in the Gabrieli’s touring repertoire. Notoriously difficult to present on recording or in concert, this version presented by Gabrieli was created to allow an obvious musical narrative, despite Purcell’s music often being completely dislocated from much of the original theatre context. Gabrieli have been performing the music from King Arthur for nearly a quarter of a century, evolving their interpretation over time. With the score having to be pieced together using separate versions (due to Purcell’s originals being lost), and with Gabrieli’s evolved interpretation of the music, the end product of this recording is truly unique. Their next release on Signum will be with the semi-opera by Purcell, Fairy Queen, in April next year, which is an adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

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REVIEW:

The eight soloists with two additional singers form an excellent chorus that is adept in every context. Throughout the opera McCreesh’s speeds are relaxed rather than driven – no bad thing, to my mind, and it results in Dryden’s wonderful poetry being acted with personable clarity, and the lucidity of musical gestures ensures that affection and intimacy are the hallmarks of a performance that conveys a humane smile.

– Gramophone