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Purcell: King Arthur, 1691 / McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort
Signum Classics

Purcell: King Arthur, 1691 / McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort

$27.99

Details

Composer
PURCELL, HENRY
Artist
Gabrieli, Mccreesh
Format
CD
Label
Signum Classics
Released
Oct 25, 2019
Catalog #
SIGCD589
UPC
635212058923

About



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.

-----

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

Tracklist 45 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 V. Air 01:04
    Track
    1
    Title
    V. Air
    Duration
    01:04
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  3. 2 VI. Minuet 01:05
    Track
    2
    Title
    VI. Minuet
    Duration
    01:05
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  4. 3 III. Hornpipe 01:10
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Hornpipe
    Duration
    01:10
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  5. 4 IV. Scotch Tune 00:58
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Scotch Tune
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  6. 5 Act I Scene 1: Overture 01:48
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Overture
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  7. 6 Act I Scene 1: Air 01:36
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act I Scene 1: Air
    Duration
    01:36
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  8. 7 Act I Scene 2: Woden, first to thee (Tenor, Bass, Chorus) 02:34
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: Woden, first to thee (Tenor, Bass, Chorus)
    Duration
    02:34
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Ashley Riches, James Way, Roderick Williams
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  9. 8 Act I Scene 2: The white horse neigh'd aloud (Tenor, Alto, Chorus) 01:17
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: The white horse neigh'd aloud (Tenor, Alto, Chorus)
    Duration
    01:17
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    James Way, Jeremy Budd
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  10. 9 Act I Scene 2: The lot is cast (Soprano, Chorus) 02:42
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: The lot is cast (Soprano, Chorus)
    Duration
    02:42
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Mhairi Lawson
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  11. 10 Act I Scene 2: I call you all, to Woden's Hall (Alto, Chorus) 02:02
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act I Scene 2: I call you all, to Woden's Hall (Alto, Chorus)
    Duration
    02:02
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Jeremy Budd
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  12. 11 Act I Scene 3: Come if you dare, our Trumpets sound (Tenor, Chorus) 03:19
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act I Scene 3: Come if you dare, our Trumpets sound (Tenor, Chorus)
    Duration
    03:19
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    James Way
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  13. 12 Act II Scene 1: Prelude 00:41
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Prelude
    Duration
    00:41
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  14. 13 Act II Scene 1: Hither this way, this way bend (Philadell, Philadell's Spirits, Grimbald's Spirits) 02:12
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Hither this way, this way bend (Philadell, Philadell's Spirits, Grimbald's Spirits)
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  15. 14 Act II Scene 1: Let not a moonborn elf mislead ye (Grimbald) 01:17
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Let not a moonborn elf mislead ye (Grimbald)
    Duration
    01:17
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Roderick Williams
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  16. 15 Act II Scene 1: Hither this way, this way bend (Philadell's Spirits, Grimbald's Spirits) 00:37
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Hither this way, this way bend (Philadell's Spirits, Grimbald's Spirits)
    Duration
    00:37
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  17. 16 Act II Scene 1: Come, follow me (Sopranos, Bass-baritone, Counter-tenor, Chorus) 02:12
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act II Scene 1: Come, follow me (Sopranos, Bass-baritone, Counter-tenor, Chorus)
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Anna Dennis, Rowan Pierce, Mhairi Lawson, Ashley Riches, Jeremy Budd
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  18. 17 Act II Scene 2: How blest are shepherds (Shepherd, Chorus) 05:24
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: How blest are shepherds (Shepherd, Chorus)
    Duration
    05:24
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    James Way
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  19. 18 Act II Scene 2: Shepherd, shepherd, leave decoying (2 Shepherdesses) 01:57
    Track
    18
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Shepherd, shepherd, leave decoying (2 Shepherdesses)
    Duration
    01:57
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Mhairi Lawson, Anna Dennis
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  20. 19 Act II Scene 2: Come, shepherds, lead up a lively measure (Chorus) 01:27
    Track
    19
    Title
    Act II Scene 2: Come, shepherds, lead up a lively measure (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:27
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  21. 20 Distress'd Innocence, Z. 577: VI. Rondeau 00:53
    Track
    20
    Title
    Distress'd Innocence, Z. 577: VI. Rondeau
    Duration
    00:53
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  22. 21 Act III Scene 2: What ho, thou Genius of this isle (Cupid) 01:20
    Track
    21
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: What ho, thou Genius of this isle (Cupid)
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Rowan Pierce
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  23. 22 Act III Scene 2: What power art thou (Cold Genius) 02:19
    Track
    22
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: What power art thou (Cold Genius)
    Duration
    02:19
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Ashley Riches
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  24. 23 Act III Scene 2: Thou doting fool, forbear (Cupid) 00:50
    Track
    23
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Thou doting fool, forbear (Cupid)
    Duration
    00:50
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Rowan Pierce
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  25. 24 Act III Scene 2: Great Love, I know thee now (Cold Genius) 00:59
    Track
    24
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Great Love, I know thee now (Cold Genius)
    Duration
    00:59
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Ashley Riches
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  26. 25 Act III Scene 2: No part of my dominion shall be waste (Cupid) 00:55
    Track
    25
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: No part of my dominion shall be waste (Cupid)
    Duration
    00:55
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Rowan Pierce
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  27. 26 Act III Scene 2: See, see, we assemble (Chorus) 02:32
    Track
    26
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: See, see, we assemble (Chorus)
    Duration
    02:32
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  28. 27 Act III Scene 2: 'Tis I, 'tis I, 'tis I, that have warm'd ye (Cupid, Chorus) 02:48
    Track
    27
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: 'Tis I, 'tis I, 'tis I, that have warm'd ye (Cupid, Chorus)
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Rowan Pierce
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  29. 28 Act III Scene 2: Sound a parley (Cupid, Cold Genius) 02:29
    Track
    28
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Sound a parley (Cupid, Cold Genius)
    Duration
    02:29
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Rowan Pierce, Ashley Riches
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  30. 29 Act III Scene 2: 'Tis Love that has warm'd us (Chorus) 01:47
    Track
    29
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: 'Tis Love that has warm'd us (Chorus)
    Duration
    01:47
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  31. 30 Act III Scene 2: Air 01:12
    Track
    30
    Title
    Act III Scene 2: Air
    Duration
    01:12
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  32. Disc 2
  33. 1 The British Heroine, Z. 574, "Bonduca": No. 6. Air 02:55
    Track
    1
    Title
    The British Heroine, Z. 574, "Bonduca": No. 6. Air
    Duration
    02:55
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  34. 2 Act IV Scene 1: Two daughters of this aged stream are we (2 Sirens) 03:12
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act IV Scene 1: Two daughters of this aged stream are we (2 Sirens)
    Duration
    03:12
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Anna Dennis
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  35. 3 Act IV Scene 1: Passacaglia: How happy the lover (Counter-tenor, Chorus, Soprano, Bass) 05:06
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act IV Scene 1: Passacaglia: How happy the lover (Counter-tenor, Chorus, Soprano, Bass)
    Duration
    05:06
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Jeremy Budd, Carolyn Sampson, Roderick Williams
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  36. 4 Act IV Scene 1: You say, 'tis love creates the pain (She, He) 05:09
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act IV Scene 1: You say, 'tis love creates the pain (She, He)
    Duration
    05:09
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson, Roderick Williams
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  37. 5 Act IV Scene 1: Hornpipe 00:53
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act IV Scene 1: Hornpipe
    Duration
    00:53
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  38. 6 The Old Batchelor, Z. 607: V. Rondeau 00:41
    Track
    6
    Title
    The Old Batchelor, Z. 607: V. Rondeau
    Duration
    00:41
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  39. 7 Act V Scene 2: Ye blust'ring brethren of the skies (Aeolus) 03:04
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act V Scene 2: Ye blust'ring brethren of the skies (Aeolus)
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Roderick Williams
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  40. 8 Act V Scene 2: Soft Tune 02:04
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act V Scene 2: Soft Tune
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  41. 9 Act V Scene 2: Round thy coast (Nereid, Chorus) 02:22
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act V Scene 2: Round thy coast (Nereid, Chorus)
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Mhairi Lawson
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  42. 10 Act V Scene 2: For folded flocks (3 Shepherds) 02:57
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act V Scene 2: For folded flocks (3 Shepherds)
    Duration
    02:57
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Jeremy Budd, James Way, Ashley Riches
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  43. 11 Act V Scene 2: Your hay it is mow'd (Comus, Peasants) 02:38
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act V Scene 2: Your hay it is mow'd (Comus, Peasants)
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Roderick Williams, Ashley Riches
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  44. 12 Act V Scene 2: Fairest Isle (Venus) 03:36
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act V Scene 2: Fairest Isle (Venus)
    Duration
    03:36
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Carolyn Sampson
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  45. 13 Act V Scene 3: Tune for Trumpets (after The Prophetess, Z. 627, "The History of Dioclesian") 00:42
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act V Scene 3: Tune for Trumpets (after The Prophetess, Z. 627, "The History of Dioclesian")
    Duration
    00:42
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  46. 14 Act V Scene 3: Sound Heroes, your brazen trumpets sound! - Let all rehearse (Fame, Chorus) (after The Prophetess, Z. 627, "The History of Dioclesian") 05:37
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act V Scene 3: Sound Heroes, your brazen trumpets sound! - Let all rehearse (Fame, Chorus) (after The Prophetess, Z. 627, "The History of Dioclesian")
    Duration
    05:37
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Performer
    Jeremy Budd
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort, Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh
  47. 15 Act V Scene 3: Chaconne 03:17
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act V Scene 3: Chaconne
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Henry Purcell
    Ensemble
    Gabrieli Consort and Players
    Conductor
    Paul McCreesh