Dido & Aeneas (German) / Scenes From Rodelinda

On this CD:

1. Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626 Ouverture
Composed by Henry Purcell
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

2. Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626 Laß die Stirn heiter sein
Composed by Henry Purcell
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Martha Modl, Hermann Prey, Ursula Zollenkopf, Fritz Gollnitz, Kurt Marschner
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

3. Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626 Von tapferen Ahnen
Composed by Henry Purcell
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Martha Modl, Hermann Prey, Ursula Zollenkopf, Fritz Gollnitz, Kurt Marschner
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

4. Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626 Sieh, Aeneas dort erscheint
Composed by Henry Purcell
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Martha Modl, Hermann Prey, Ursula Zollenkopf, Fritz Gollnitz, Kurt Marschner
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

5. Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626 Gitarrentanz
Composed by Henry Purcell
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Martha Modl, Hermann Prey, Ursula Zollenkopf, Fritz Gollnitz, Kurt Marschner
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

6. Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626 Düstre Schwestern
Composed by Henry Purcell
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Martha Modl, Hermann Prey, Ursula Zollenkopf, Fritz Gollnitz, Kurt Marschner
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

7. Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626 Dank dir, du Einsamkeit
Composed by Henry Purcell
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Martha Modl, Hermann Prey, Ursula Zollenkopf, Fritz Gollnitz, Kurt Marschner
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

8. Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626 Kommt an Bord
Composed by Henry Purcell
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Martha Modl, Hermann Prey, Ursula Zollenkopf, Fritz Gollnitz, Kurt Marschner
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

9. Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626 Matrosentanz
Composed by Henry Purcell
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Martha Modl, Hermann Prey, Ursula Zollenkopf, Fritz Gollnitz, Kurt Marschner
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

10. Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626 Hexentanz
Composed by Henry Purcell
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Martha Modl, Hermann Prey, Ursula Zollenkopf, Fritz Gollnitz, Kurt Marschner
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

11. Dido and Aeneas, opera, Z. 626 Führ mich, Belinde
Composed by Henry Purcell
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Martha Modl, Hermann Prey, Ursula Zollenkopf, Fritz Gollnitz, Kurt Marschner
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

12. Rodelinda, regina de' Langobardi, opera, HWV 19 Eitler Glanz und Verwesung
Composed by George Frideric Handel
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Hermann Prey
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

13. Rodelinda, regina de' Langobardi, opera, HWV 19 Ha, die treulose Gattin
Composed by George Frideric Handel
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Hermann Prey
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

14. Rodelinda, regina de' Langobardi, opera, HWV 19 In dunklem Rauschen tönen
Composed by George Frideric Handel
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Hermann Prey
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

15. Rodelinda, regina de' Langobardi, opera, HWV 19 Einen Kuß nur
Composed by George Frideric Handel
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Hermann Prey
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

16. Rodelinda, regina de' Langobardi, opera, HWV 19 Auf Grauen folgt Wonne
Composed by George Frideric Handel
Performed by North German Radio Symphony Orchestra with Hermann Prey
Conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

Tracks:

Kelly Clarkson - The Trouble With Love Is
Dido - Here With Me
Maroon 5 - Sweetest Goodbye/Sunday Morning
Norah Jones - Turn Me On
Wyclef Jean - Take Me As I Am (feat. Sharissa)
Eva Cassidy - Songbird
The Calling - Wherever You Will Go
The Pointer Sisters - Jump (For My Love)
Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now
Lynden David Hall - All You Need Is Love
The Beach Boys - God Only Knows
Texas - Ill See It Through
Sugababes - Too Lost In You
Craig Armstrong - Glasgow Love Theme
Otis Redding - White Christmas
Billy Mack - Christmas Is All Around
Olivia Olson - All I Want For Christmas Is You

Amazon.com

Noted English screenwriter Richard Curtis makes his directorial bow with this romantic comedy that follows the dizzying foibles of no less than a dozen couples, featuring a cast that includes Hugh Grant as a bachelor British PM and Billy Bob Thornton as a disturbing hybrid of the worst of Clinton and Bush. Seemingly taking its lead from Bridget Jones's Diary and its sequel (both of which Curtis also wrote), Love's rich, eclectic collection of pop songs becomes something more than mere movie-soundtrack wallpaper. Indeed, tracks as disparate as Joni Mitchell's hauntingly autumnal remake of "Both Sides Now" and the Pointer Sisters' effusive '80s hit "Jump" function somewhere between supporting player and narrative Greek chorus. It's a mature, often introspective collection that mixes the expected chestnuts (the Beach Boys' evergreen "God Only Knows") and covers (Eva Cassidy's stately version of Christine McVie's "Songbird," an R&B-infused take of "All You Need Is Love" by Lynden David Hall) with standout work from Norah Jones (a torched-up "Turn Me On"), Texas (the Dusty Springfield-esque dramatics of "I'll See It Through"), and Wyclef Jean's joyous "Take Me As I Am." Underscoring the film's Christmas subtext are three holiday-themed bonus cuts by Otis Redding, Billy Mack (the film's resident rock star burnout, played by Bill Nighy), and Olivia Olson. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Love Actually CD from Movie.......2007-05-30

CD is fine, but some of the music that was in the movie does not exist on the CD.... Too bad,,,,

Best sound track.......2007-03-15

If you even just liked the movie you will love the sound track. There were a couple of songs that I didn't even remember from the movie but it was awesome.

movie and sound track.......2007-03-10

The movie was great. Although, not for kids to watch. But the movie was fun, funny and heart warming. The sound track is terrific. Great songs.

Movie is way better than CD.......2007-03-09

Kind of disappointing as the movie is so good and the music just seems to rock in the movie. There are a couple of songs on the soundtrack that I don't remember hearing in the movies and you're kind of like "what the heck is this?". And there are a couple of songs that I do remember from the movie that aren't in the soundtrack like that song Bye, Bye Baby by the Bay City Rollers (I think that's the name).

It's definately more of a chick type of CD.

Great movie.........2007-03-06

So i purchased the album to one of our favorite movies of all time, and I must say I was a little dissapointed.. Maybe I was just over excited about getting the cd, that I built myself up for dissapointment. First, while all the songs that were in the movie were on the cd, I had my heart set on hearing "All You Need is Love". In the version on the movie, you hear the trumpets, the guitar, and the flutes at key points in the song.. However, the recoring sounded awful! Very faintly in the background do you hear these instruments, and the "keyboard beats" are horrible.. Otis Redding is amazing, as is Joni Mitchell. Olivia Olsen made me forget about Mariah Carey (not a fan). She has an incredible voice!

All in all, I did like the cd, and I do recommend it, but beware! A couple of the songs have been recorded badly..

Average customer rating:

a must have it!
Make up your heart to break it again
Very happy with our purchase!
My life soundtrack
YUMMY

Life for Rent
Dido
Manufacturer: Arista
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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No Angel
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ASIN: B000089RVR
Release Date: 2003-09-30

Tracks:

White Flag
Stoned
Life For Rent
Marys in India
See You When Youre 40
Dont Leave Home
Who Makes You Feel
Sand In My Shoes
Do You Have a Little Time
This Land is Mine
See the Sun

Amazon.com

Despite its somewhat polite, trip-hoppy surface, Dido Armstrong's music frequently rests on a melancholy that can only be called courageous in the current pop world. Few singer-songwriters with 12 million record sales behind them would offer a single such as Life for Rent's "White Flag," which is in part an apology for the "mess and destruction" the narrator has left with her lover. Emotions are even stickier on other tracks, with Dido's Dusty-ish voice coolly sweeping through "Don't Leave Home," one of the creepiest codependent-love songs since "Every Breath You Take," and in "Who Makes You Feel," ticking off a list of reasons why an affair is dying, while also admitting that she still loves the guy. It's a hard-won romanticism, too, that pokes its head up in the tough-minded "This Land is Mine" and "Do You Have a Little Time" ("I'd like to hold you still/Remind you of all you've missed"). A knotty and rewarding album. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews:

a must have it!.......2007-06-20

excellent, the best one from this girl

Make up your heart to break it again.......2007-05-06

Dido's voice has this ethereal feminity to it which invites hope, gladness and serendipity. Almost every song on Life for Rent makes you wonder why you haven't heard it in a while.This came out sometime in 2003 and it still is worth it's weight in gold. I'm not a big pop fan and I don't like Justin Timberlake's music. I'm more of a grunge fan from the mid 90's and a bit psych trance gets my mood going. I'm a big Cranberries fan and I adore voices with range. Dido's voice, however, doesn't quite display range yet manages to comfort one's solitude or multitude. When White Flag came out, the world rocked to it and various remixes were made. She was 32 when this record came out and today she is 35.

The disc has 11 songs. There are no songs that are forgettable. Whether you're in a car or in a house made of wood or alone on your bed at night wondering if you should pick up the telephone, her voice will guide your mind. Now before I try display more faulty comprehension, I should conclude by mentioning my three absolute favourite tracks on the disc. See You When You're 40, Mary's in India and Stoned. The title track is maybe the most forgettable one on this disc but there will be days when listeners might have warmed their ears to it.

Avoid playing this on earphones. It's meant to be played to your room's walls. Just a thought. Very well, see you when you're 40.

Very happy with our purchase!.......2007-04-11

Great cd, came fast and in perfect condition. Thank you!!

My life soundtrack.......2007-03-03

I have been a big fan of Dido's music since the first time I heard her lush vocals on Faithless' first album. Her first cd "No Angel" was good, a bit predictable and often bland but still quite good. Dido definitely has a distinct voice that sets her apart from most of her counterparts nowadays. She may have a limited range but she knows it and doesn't try to hit the high notes like a lot of singers do.

"Life For Rent" is Dido's second album. I definitely felt the material was much stronger than the songs on her first album both lyrically and musically. Her songs take on a more lush, intimate sound courtesy of the occasional acoustic guitar. I feel like I am in a studio watching Dido perform when I listen to "Life for Rent". The title track is my favorite song because I often relate to her lyrics. Initially I wasn't too wild about the first single "White Flag" but after hearing it several times on the radio when it first came out, the song eventually grew on me. The songs on the album tends to sound eerily similiar which is a minor flaw but I didn't mind it. I am just glad that there was no "Thank You" pt 2 on the cd. Overall this is a nice cd to listen to in the morning with a steaming hot cup of coffee and a scone or two, nice mellow music to chill out to.

YUMMY.......2006-11-10

DIDO is amazing, every song on this album has depth and will speak to you. It also brings out the sensual, yummy and juicy side of us all...

Average customer rating:

Honestly ok
Dido's greatest album
relax and enjoy
Very Smooth
Time to Sleep...(I Blame Eminem)

No Angel
Dido
Manufacturer: Arista
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Life for Rent
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
Surfacing
Dido Live (DVD/CD Set)
Afterglow

ASIN: B00000IAU3
Release Date: 1999-06-01

Tracks:

Here With Me
Hunter
Don't Think Of Me
My Lover's Gone
All You Want
Thank You
Honestly OK
Slide
Isobel
I'm No Angel
My Life
Take My Hand

Amazon.com

Dido's debut is molded from Sarah McLachlan's intimate soul, Sinéad O'Connor's Celtic yelp, and Beth Orton's morose resolve--with all the sharp edges rounded out. Sculpted by producers Rollo (her brother) and techno-scientist Youth, No Angel is dream-pop mixed with Portishead-esque trip-hop; the results are midtempo ballads that would feel at home in Seal's neighborhood. The melancholy opener, "Here with Me," incorporates acoustic rhythm guitar, fluid strings, and a snare-driven tempo that simulates the slapping of rain off a windshield. "My Lover's Gone" is ethereal and misty, sounding at once ancient and modern with its synthesized ocean sounds and seagull cries. The only clunker is "Don't Think of Me," a passive, soft-bellied cousin to Alanis Morissette's "You Oughta Know." These songs play out beautifully in that quiet zone between slumber and consciousness--where you can see everything behind closed eyes. --Beth Massa

Customer Reviews:

Honestly ok.......2007-02-25

There aren't a lot of pop singers out there that I think is worth listening to. Most I find to be artistically changelleged. One of the few pop singers I do like is Dido. I first discovered her through the UK dance act Faithless. Her brother Rollo would often include her vocals on the group's songs. I later discovered her through cable tv and saw that she was a solo artist. "No Angel" is a pleasant but predictable mix of trip hop, pop, and folk music. The one song I cannot listen to any more is "Thank You" and that is because it was overplayed on radio stations 24/7 after Eminem's "Stan" (which took samples from "Thank You") became a smash hit. My personal favorite track on the cd is the folksy "Don't Think". I find the song addictively catchy and the melodies stick in my head for days on end. I also enjoy the haunting track "Here with Me". Sure the song is commonly found on many chill out compilations and soundtracks but it wasn't as annoying as "Thank You". Yeah the music is bit bland and inoffensive, and isn't the best representation of what trip hop music is. For all its quibbles, I still enjoy this cd to this very day. I find the music very soothing and relaxing to listen to on a snowy, winter day.

Dido's greatest album.......2007-02-08

Love this album especially the "Here with Me" (a big Roswell fan) and also her voice.

relax and enjoy.......2007-01-10

I listen to this cd to unwind or relax after work. It's great as a destresser. I would recommend it. My favorites are 1,5,10.

Very Smooth.......2006-06-30

I have been a fan of Dido for several years now and I had to purchase another copy so I can have one at work and home. Very relaxing.

Time to Sleep...(I Blame Eminem).......2006-06-13

I understand why so many people like Dido..She is beautiful, has a decent voice, comes across as a decent human being and is inoffensive...This album is the same - 'inoffensive'...some might say, bland...The tracks that work for me are 'Thank You' (used on Eminem's 'Stan'), but is done solo here and it works, 'Hunter' and 'Here With Me'...The rest just disappear into the background like a passing car...Nothing much happens, nothing inspires...I really want to like her, but it's all been done before...

Average customer rating:

Opera for Aficianados as well as Newbies
superb!
beatiful music
Best Opera CD ever
Rapture

Rapture: Opera's Most Heavenly Moments

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Most Famous Opera Duets
The Most Famous Opera Arias
The #1 Opera Album
Amor--Opera's Great Love Songs
The Best Opera Album in the World...Ever!

ASIN: B00006L3K2
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Tracks:

Casta Diva - Renee Fleming
Barcarolle - Edita Gruberova
Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana - Maria Chiara
Intermezzo - Herbert Von Karajan
Letter Duet - Edith Mathis
Che Faro Senza Euridice - Grace Bumbry
Va Pensiero - Giuseppe Sinopoli
Una Furtiva Lagrima - Gosta Winbergh
Porgi Amor - Gundula Janowitz
Humming Chorus - Ambrosian Opera Chorus
Soave Sia Il Vento - Kiri Te Kanawa
Overture (Excerpt) - Philharmonia Orchestra
Un'aura Amorosa - Hans-Peter Blochwitz
Un Bel Di - Mirella Freni
Depuis Le Jour - Montserrat Caballe
La Ci Darem La Mano - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
Quando Le Sere Al Placido - Placido Domingo
Mir Ist So Wunderbar - Lucia Popp

Tracks:

Flower Duet - Joan Sutherland
The Pearl Fishers Duet - Bryn Terfel
Lascia Ch'io Pianga - Kiri Te Kanawa
Prelude - Bayerisches Staatsorchestra
O Silver Moon - Renee Fleming
When I Am Laid In Earth - Tatiana Troyanos
Miserere - Placido Domingo
Vissi D'arte - Mirella Freni
Intermezzo - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Softly Awakes My Heart - Grace Bumbry
Ombra Mai Fu (Largo) - Bryn Terfel
Pilgrim's Chorus - Chorus Of The Bayreuth Festival
Ruhe Sanft - Kiri Te Kanawa
Flower Duet - Teresa Berganza
Entr'acte - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Mira O Norma - Marilyn Horne
Hochsten Heiles Wunder - Chorus Of The German Opera Berlin

Customer Reviews:

Opera for Aficianados as well as Newbies.......2007-06-11

If you are looking for peaceful, beautiful music this is for you. It is a delightful mix of some of opera's most memorable moments. Long time opera fans will be familiar with most of the arias and newcomers to opera will recognize music that has become identified with movies and commercials.

superb! .......2007-05-12

If you love wonderful operatic moments then this cd is a great buy for all of the wonderful and spectacular music on it. You get two cds for the price of one great opera cd, and all of the talented singers that were taken and put on these tracks do definate justice to all of the composers listed. A great cd to add to your collection especially if you are an aspiring singer or a student in music. Absolutely Fantastic!

beatiful music.......2007-02-23

former reviews are no exaggeration, this is the most beautiful music I have come across. I have many opera CDs but this is one I never tire of.
I listen to the CD everyday and it is always soothing, uplifting and inspiring. I wish I could find another as wonderful.

Best Opera CD ever.......2007-02-16

I have orderd plenty of classical CD's and DVD's on this webside.
Most were phantastish but this one is the best.
I listen so often to this CD that it should have grooves.
I never get tired of it.
I recommend this CD highly.
Roswitha

Rapture.......2007-01-24

Wonderous---Melodious----
This compilation of Opera's finest moments is positively wonderful!!!!Unquestionably the best buy I have made in Opera Music..No kidding,I have trays full of CDs covering every facet of Opera,but none as beautiful...A full 2 1/2 hours of the best of the best....Heavenly Moments says it ALL...I vote 6 stars!!!!!

Average customer rating:

This is a great album
Great CD
Hooked
Not bad, vocals are severely lacking however
EAST VILLAGE OPERA CO.

The East Village Opera Company

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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La Donna

ASIN: B000AMJE3W
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Tracks:

Overture (Redux)
Nessun Dorma (Redux)
Flower Duet (Redux)
La Donna E Mobile (Redux)
Un Bel Di (Redux)
Au Fond Du Temple Saint (Redux)
O Mio Babbino Caro (Redux)
Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana (Redux)
Che Gelida Manina (Redux)
Habanera (Redux)
When I Am Laid Earth (Redux)
E Lucevan Le Stelle (Redux)

Customer Reviews:

This is a great album.......2007-04-26

I never liked opera before. I guess it's all about how the music is presented. The performances are top-notch, and taken from real operatic classics, but the way it is done makes it very nice to listen too. If you can only get one album of this genre, this is the one to get!!!!

Great CD.......2007-03-16

I enjoy this different kind of opera music. Very nice and still giving you the feeling of the opera it self but in more modern way.

Hooked.......2007-03-15

I love this CD. I have it in my car, and now know practically all of the Italian words by heart. Infectious and uplifting. Good tears and fun listening.

Not bad, vocals are severely lacking however.......2007-02-28

I love music. I especially love classical music. When I find musicians who have taken classical music and presented it in a new way, I'm always excited. EVOC has done exactly that with these tried-and-true opera classics. The orchestrations are wonderful and the musicians obviously very talented. The vocalists, however, sometimes really don't deliver. All in all, it's a fun CD and I will certainly enjoy listening to it again and again.

EAST VILLAGE OPERA CO........2007-02-13

I SAW THEM ON T.V. AND HAD TO HAVE IT - JUST A REFRESHING TREATMENT POF OPERA

Average customer rating:

Mad about Baroque
The beauty of the songs brings tears to my eyes
Brilliant
Be Welcome then, great Sirs (and Mesdames).
Brilliant Purcell Disc

Essential Purcell
Henry Purcell , New College Choir Oxford , King's Consort , Robert King , Roy Goodman , Charles Daniels , John Mark Ainsley , James Bowman , Peter Buckoke , Jane Coe , Rogers Covey-Crump , Gillian Fisher , Michael George , Miles Golding , Jane Norman , Barbara Bonney , Mark Caudle , William Carter , King's Consort Choir , Helen Gough , Paul Nicholson , Angela East , Barry Guy , Tessa Bonner , Jerome Finnis , Rupert Bawden , Lucy Howard , Richard Campbell , Susan Addison , James O'Donnell , and Stephen Saunders
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Odes | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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Purcell: Odes for St. Cecilia's Day - Music for Queen Mary / Taverner Consort
Purcell: The Fairy Queen
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Purcell: Dido and Aeneas / James, Lewis, Baker, Herincx
Purcell: Full Anthems & Organ Music

ASIN: B000002ZDU
Release Date: 1995-04-10

Tracks:

Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol. 5: Welcome, Welcome Glorious Morn. Symphony And Opening Chorus
Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol. 3: Be Welcome Then, Great Sir
Complete Secular Solo Songs Vol.1: Oh, Fair Cedaria
The Choir Of The King's Consort: Hear My Prayer, O Lord
Great Baroque Arias: When I Am Laid In Earth ('Dido's Lament')
Complete Anthems And Services Vol.1: Let Mine Eyes Run Down With Tears (Part 1)
Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.4: The Sparrow And The Gentle Dove
Complete Secular Solo Songs Vol.1: If Music Be The Food Of Love (First Setting)
Complete Anthems And Services Vol.5: Rejoice In The Lord Always ('The Bell Anthem')
Complete Anthems And Services Vol.3: Hosanna To The Highest
Complete Anthems And Services Vol.7: Thou Knowest, Lord, The Secrets Of Our Hearts
Mr. Henry Purcell's Most Admirable Composures: Fairest Isle, All Isles Excelling
Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.6: Mark, How Readily Each Pliant String
Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.8: Sound The Trumpet
Complete Secular Solo Songs Vol.3: She Loves And She Confesses Too
Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.8: O How Blest Is The Isle
Complete Anthems And Services Vol.3: Remember Not, Lord, Our Offences
Complete Anthems And Services Vol. 11: An Evening Hymn
Complete Church Music Vol.2: Vouchsafe, O Lord, To Keep Us This Day
Complete Odes And Welcome Songs Vol.2: With Rapture Of Delight... Hail Bright Cecilia

Amazon.com essential recording

The "Essential" Purcell? Well, you could get a bunch of critics to argue about that for a few days, but in the meantime, here is a sampler of highlights from the King's Consort's three admirable Purcell series: the Complete Odes and Welcome Songs, Complete Anthems and Services, and Complete Secular Solo Songs. There are, of course, some of Purcell's most-performed pieces (which probably are "essential"): Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas, "Sound the trumpet" from Come, ye sons of Art, Rejoice in the Lord alway (the "Bell Anthem," named for the string figure at the opening that sounds like pealing bells), the gently patriotic "Fairest isle, all isles excelling" (sung by a miscast James Bowman), and a selection from the funeral music for Queen Mary. There are also some delightful surprises--particularly among the little-known secular songs and church music. The plaintive "O fair Cedaria" gets a lovely performance by Barbara Bonney (a singer not usually associated with Purcell); tenor Rogers Covey-Crump (possibly the ideal high tenor for Purcell) sings the enchanting "If music be the food of love"; the church anthems "Let mine eyes run down with tears" and "Remember not, O Lord, our offences" have some startling harmonies as daring as any Monteverdi ever wrote. If you're unfamiliar with Purcell, this reasonably priced disc is a good place to start exploring without a big initial investment. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

Mad about Baroque.......2007-02-12

This is a terrific CD. The music is breathtaking. Just buy IT !!!!!

The beauty of the songs brings tears to my eyes.......2002-08-21

Absolutely beautiful baroque music! The arrangament, singing and instrumentation is superb. It is too bad that Henry Purcell is not as widely known as Bach, because he should be recognized equally well."The Sparrow and the Gentle dove" is alone worth the price of the album! I can not stop playing it!

Brilliant.......2001-10-31

Like in his renditions of Handel's oratorios, Robert King manages to bring a freshness and strenght to Purcell's music that I had seldom heard before. This CD also features some of the best performers of early music in the world. My favourite tracks are Oh, Fair Cedaria, sung by the multi-talented Barbara Bonney; Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas, sung by Gillian Fisher; She Loves and she Confesses too, sung by the wonderful Susan Gritton; and Welcome, Welcome Glorious Morn, sung by Rogers Covey-Crump. The only track I didn't find absolutely wonderful is Fairest Isle, sung here by James Bowman. Don't get me wrong, I generally love Mr Bowman, I think that his performance in Mr Purcell's Most Admirable Composures (also conducted by Robert King) makes it another essential Purcell recording; but I find that Fairest Isle was much better done elsewhere, particularly by Christopher Hogwood and Barbara Bonney.

These songs aren't only beautiful, they're also poignant, sweet and unpretentious. I think that it will be very clear to anyone who listens to this recording that Mr Purcell was one of the finest composers that ever lived.

Be Welcome then, great Sirs (and Mesdames)........2001-10-20

If anyone has benefitted from the reversion in the last three or so decades to period instruments and historical reconstruction, it is Henry Purcell. Before, he was merely great, the peerless word-setter in the English language, a virtuoso of boundless range, a professional composer whose offical commissions were always imbued with personality and invention. But period instrumentation has added to this a greater depth, an other-worldly texture of sound. With his intricate, multi-part vocal writing, his preference for low, rumbling instruments such as the bass viol and the strange and remarkable theorbo, as well as his often sombre and low-key subject matter and treatment, Purcell creates a round, glowing, humming sound as pregnantly full as dub reggae.

This has an extraordinary effect on the listener. Whereas Bach, with his mathematical abstractions, sounds universal and timeless, Purcell's music takes the listener back 300 years, back to different ways of thinking about, feeling about and addressing things we still think etc. about today - death, love, friendship. The emotion is timeless, but the music's beauty is alien, THEIRS, hence its preciousness.

A lot of intelligence has gone into the unity of this compilation, beginning with two Welcomes (to the dawn and to the listener, in this case a King), and ending with thoughts of evening, death and a Baroque 'Thank you for the music'. These are bright, fanfare-like works, but the predominant mood is slow, ruminative, quiet. The selection covers the wide range of Purcell's oeuvre, from opera and funeral marches to secular songs and odes, and includes his most famous vocal works - Dido's Lament from Dido and Aeneas, sung by Gillian Fisher, and never more evocative of pagan loss and death; the massive 'Bell Anthem', with its ingenious opening symphony and joyful antiphon; and a miraculously serene 'Evening Hymn', Dido's opposite, death indicating hope, the treble voice swirling over the heavy ground bass like the soul released from the inert body.

it might seem quixotic to choose highlights from an exemplary collection of highlights, but the entry of the strings washing over the serene repetition of 'Be Welcome then, great Sir' always makes my heart stop still, while the musical picture of 'Bold Honour', the 'noisy Nothing, stalking shade', blocking the poet's amorous intentions in 'She loves and confesses too', adds a chilling hint of life's transience to a bouyantly bawdy song.

Brilliant Purcell Disc .......2000-11-30

With this album director and Purcell expert Robert King provides the listener with an excellent introduction to the composer's vocal works. The pieces presented here were taken from Mr. King's recordings of 'The Complete Odes and Welcome Songs', 'The Complete Anthems and Services', 'The Complete Secular Solo Songs' and diverse anthology discs. King, his wonderful soloists and musicians do the brilliance of Purcell's music fully justice. Whether he was commissioned by royalty, the church or theatre, Purcell shone in all areas. This disc certainly demonstrates the variety and originality of his craft, not to speak of his uncanny ability of setting words to music.

An outstanding Purcell offering. With a beautiful perfomance by Barbara Bonney of 'Oh, fair Cedaria'. Susan Gritton is equally captivating in 'She loves and she confesses too'. Gillian Fisher's rendition of the famous 'Dido's Lament' is haunting and poignant. Further an intelligent and brilliant 'Hosanna to the highest' by Michael George. James Bowman and Michael Chance sparkle in the countertenor duet 'Sound the trumpet' (from 'Come Ye sons of Art away'). And I should not forget to mention the joyous, luminous performance of the beautiful 'Bell Anthem'. To name but a few favourites, only James Bowman's 'Fairest Isle' was a disappointment.

Those who are familiar with Purcell's music will get an excellent disc with some of his most beloved works. If you are new to Purcell, this is, as already said a great introduction. Which might be the incentive to further explorations of Purcell.

by stardustraven

Purcell: Dido and Aeneas / James, Lewis, Baker, Herincx

Average customer rating:

Gorgeous performance, richly reproduced
After the Puritans England rediscovers music, singing and drama
What the hell
A Performance Resonating With Emotional Intensity
INFANDUM, REGINA, IUBES RENOVARE DOLOREM (Aeneid 2/3)

Purcell: Dido and Aeneas / James, Lewis, Baker, Herincx

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Essential Purcell
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Purcell: Dido and Aeneas
Purcell: The Fairy Queen
Dido and Aeneas: An Opera (Norton Critical Score)

ASIN: B00004C8TE
Release Date: 2000-04-11

Tracks:

Dido and Aeneas: Overture
Dido and Aeneas: Act One: Shake The Cloud From Off Your Brow
Dido and Aeneas: Act One: Ah! Belinda, I Am Prest With Torment
Dido and Aeneas: Act One: Whence Could So Much Virtue Spring?
Dido and Aeneas: Act One: Fear No Danger To Ensue
Dido and Aeneas: Act One: See, Your Royal Guest Appears
Dido and Aeneas: Act Two: Prelude For The Witches - Wayward Sisters
Dido and Aeneas: Act Two: Ruin'd Ere The Set Of Sun?
Dido and Aeneas: Act Two: Ritornelle - thanks To these Lonesome Vales
Dido and Aeneas: Act Two: Oft She Visits This Lone Mountain
Dido and Aeneas: Act Two: Behold, Upon My Bending Spear
Dido and Aeneas: Act Two: Stay, Prince, And Hear Great Jove's Command
Dido and Aeneas: Act Three: Prelude - Come Away, Fellow Sailors
Dido and Aeneas: Act Three: See The Flags And Streamers Curling
Dido and Aeneas: Act Three: Your Counsel All Is Urg'd In Vain
Dido and Aeneas: Act Three: But Death, Alas! ... When I Am Laid In Earth
Dido and Aeneas: Act Three: With Drooping Wings Ye Cupids Come

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous performance, richly reproduced.......2007-05-13

The piece is a treasure; the singers, legends; and the recording is exquisite in recreating this hallmark performance. Alive with a depth of feelings...love's vulnerability and worries, evil's powerful delusions, the pain of parting and death..,

Simple and profound, this remarkable recording plucks the strings of our sweetest humaness.

After the Puritans England rediscovers music, singing and drama.......2006-12-20

England is finally getting out of her puritan revolution, her puritan sixty or eighty years and the Stuarts are back for a short while and finally the Glorious Revolution brings freedom in 1688, a freedom the English haven't had for a long time, especially after the plague had desertified London in 1665 and then the Great Fire had cleaned up the dirty plate that looked more like a trashcan or a giant hearse in 1666. Life can finally come back and be enjoyed. So they reopen the theatres and they start looking for new shows. They sure are pushed towards the French style of the Great Century of the Sun King by the Stuarts coming back from their golden exile in Paris. But that is not enough to give these new generations of artists an inspiration, or even a style. They go back to Marlowe and Shakespeare and they rediscover Dido and Aeneas, Venus and Adonis, and so many other Midsummer Night Dream that they may call the Fairy Queen. They also need a new form, a new genre to celebrate this newly reacquired liberty and they invent the semi-opera. Dido and Aeneas is one of the best in this line. The story comes from Ancient times and Vergil. Dido was also a heroin in Ovid's poetry and in a tragedy by Marlowe. Perfect indeed, and Purcell reinvents the Queen of Carthage. We can only have the music on this CD and these songs, arias and choruses are nothing but intermezzos in a big play intersperced with ballet pieces, operatic songs and other interludes. That is a semi-opera. Today we have more or less forgotten that there was a tragedy behind and that this genre was the invention of the opera in England, since England had never had operas. Purcell was the pioneer and Handel will be the great master after him who will finally reach the full form of the opera and give it a completely new dimension. Purcell is of course at his best in this music. Very clear voices constrasting and complementing one another marvellously though he has not yet understood what he could do with contraltos and countertenors. The female contralto is the sorceress and the male countertenor is some spirit and false messenger, in other words both are secondary characters. We will have to wait for Handel who will make the countertenor, or male alto the main hero in some of his operas like Saul for instance. Moreover the instruments are light, very light and splendidly full of genius and great art, the best mention having to be addressed to the archlute that is fingerpicked as if it were prefiguring the yet to come guitars, thus contrasting with the traditional use of the other strings with a bow. Purcell is a great composer that can bring together many instruments who remain, each one of them, perfectly free and particular, never getting merged into some kind of mash. This art is supposed to serve the drama, the tragedy. The escaping Aeneas arrives shipwrecked in Carthage. He accepts and uses Dido's love for him to reconstruct his fleet and try to fly away. Dido is naive and does not count on the sorceress's hatred for her and these infamous witches are going to plan Aeneas departure. And yet Dido will grant Aeneas his leave just before flinging herself into a pyre and dying in the flames. We can imagine the feelings at the time. The Puritans were finally forgotten and rejected and we could celebrate love affairs, ancient pagan fables, suicides, witches and sorceresses, spirits and other supernatural beings. And what's more we could enjoy it, dance and get thrilled with this story. Dances are even punctuating the tragedy, furies, sailors and witches don't hesitate to spin a couple of measures for our pleasure. And Dido as a mezzosoprano reminds us of the dramatic and tragic plot that lurks behind the beautiful front with a deep and grave lamenting coloration of her words and her voice contrasts so well with the egoistic and vain tenor that Aeneas is. Purcell managed to stage the revival of English music and drama with the saddest of all love drama. Irony of the artist in times of woe and joy at the same time. We must not forget how Queen Mary only reigned six years, ravaged and killed by some disease, uncurable in those days. Dido first produced at the very time of the Glorious Revolution will be reproduced some six years or so after Queen Mary's death, conveying thus some mourning, some dirge in remembrance of this deeply loved Queen.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University of Paris Dauphine & University of Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne

What the hell.......2006-05-25

Look at the prices on the Used section. It is ridiculous. This is a great recording. Get it quick.

A Performance Resonating With Emotional Intensity.......2005-11-26

Janet Baker's performance of Dido's Lament is absolutely stunning in its emotional intensity and would be enough to make this performance unforgettable. But there is more to commend this recording. Baker's vocal clarity, and of all of the other characters, is another outstanding feature of this CD. The chorus is first-rate throughout this recording, especially at the end, as they sing, "With drooping wings ye Cupids come, and scatter roses on her tomb . . . " Although another reviewer has commented that he finds Raimund Herincx's voice as Aeneas too gruff, I find powerful, moving, and thoroughly convincing, as when he lowers his voice and sings in a voice that is anything but gruff, "but with more ease could die."

It's true, as one of the other reviewers comments, that there is something about Monica Sinclair's voice and enunciation as the Sorceress that reminds one a bit of the Wicked Witch of the West and gives her performance an air of contrived theatricality, making her supposed malevolence less than convincing. But the other aspects of this performance are so outstanding that this one reservation is not enough to lower my rating below a 5.

The performance of the English Chamber Orchestra and of Thurston Dart on harpsichord are also of the highest quality.

The quality of the sound from this analog recording made in 1961 is outstanding; the sound engineers who have made this 24-bit digital remastering are truly to be commended.

The CD booklet contains photos of Janet Baker and Raimund Herincx, the entire libretto, and two well-written and informative essays, the first by Alan Blyth on Janet Baker, with an analysis of her singing, and the second by one of the original performers on this recording, Thurston Dart (harpsichord), on the story and music of this beautiful opera.
Very highly recommended.

INFANDUM, REGINA, IUBES RENOVARE DOLOREM (Aeneid 2/3).......2001-10-03

I can't recommend this strongly enough to music-lovers who, like me, are not very well up in 17th century composers.

First, this opera has a good strong, clear libretto. The story moves fast, the characters and situations are strongly delineated and contrasted, the sense of developing tragedy is powerful and moving. Purcell's Dido has has the stature of Virgil's
--- regina graui iamdudum saucia cura ---
--- the queen long since wounded with a heavy care
a queen and a strong woman driven to suicide by a betrayed love, the part grandly realised by Baker. Herincx has the right idea of Aeneas too, big and 'heroic' despite needing only token prompting from the powers above to abandon Dido and anything she might have meant to him. Virgil's malevolent Juno is replaced by a stagy cast of witches and whatnot, and rightly so for greater theatricality. (I'm OK by staginess and exaggeration here.)

Tracks:

Willow
Un Bel Di
Secret Tear
Dido
Pace Pace
Pamina Blue
Habanera
Home

Customer Reviews:

Horrible Techno Muzak with Beautiful Singing.......2007-06-21

This is a Dr. Jeckal and Mr. Hyde CD. The singing is so incredibly beautiful but it's totally ruined with synthetic background "music". The drum machine parts are so bad it's like listening to a joke from Saturday Night Live.

Not for the Opera purest..........2007-05-19

A doctor buddy of mine and I were working the ER one weekend and he put this CD on. Now, I love just about any kind of music EXCEPT Opera and Country music depresses me after a few songs. Now, this CD sure smacked of opera but I was not offended. In fact, the longer I listened, the more I liked it. I didn't much care for the treatment of Bizet's "Carmen" but that was the only song I didn't care for just because I loved the original classical and just didn't like this arrangement. I guess I was primed for this sound through Yanni's "Aria" from his Dare to Dream CD. Thus the blending of contemporary instrumental music with an operatic voice or voices was born.

As for the disappointed opera fan/reviewer, this IS NOT opera and it was never intended to replace or even imitate true opera. Paul Schwartz was exposed to the opera, orchestral symphonies, rock music and dance clubs that were all within walking distance from his home as a young man. He simply took the sounds that appealed to him and put them together. Thus this, his first effort, leans heavily on traditional classical music that is familiar to a great number of people. I personally found his second release, "Aria, Vol. 2: New Horizon", to be much more enjoyable. "Aria 3: Metamorphosis" was released five years after "New Horrizon" and shows a more matured sound and is highly enjoyable. Paul embarked on another venture through the "State of Grace" series during those five years which I haven't heard, yet. I love listening to all three Cd's with #2 and #3 being my favorites of the three. So if you are an opera purest, Paul Schwartz's "Aria" compositions are NOT what you are looking for. But, if you're a New Age enthusiast with even a little appreciation for classical music, then you'll probably enjoy this CD along with his other works.

Opera meets contemporary music for sophisticated listeners.......2006-11-12

I listen to this CD over and over again. Traditional opera voices backed by modern instruments makes for distinct music that appeals to sophisticated adult ears. You don't need to be an opera fan to enjoy this beautiful, unique style of music. A true opera fan below was disappointed, but after buying Aria, I became interested in opera and added a couple of authentic aria CDs to my collection.

buy this cd!.......2006-10-08

When i first heard this CD i hated it. i had heard about it from several people and decided to buy it. i actually bought the box set that has all three Aria cd's. As i checked this cd out, the woman ringing me up said this was the most beautiful thing she'd ever heard and told me i'd love it. i told her i was more of a metal fan. Here i was, a fan of Metallica and Danzig and Tool, buying opera!? i did like the programming on this cd. the drum beats are clean and accompany the music just right; not too loud and not too quiet. the vocals, which at first i didn't like, are really endearing and beautiful. Rebecca Luker sings many of the songs here. i enjoyed this cd more and more with each listen. I like the fact that the lyrics were translated in the booklet so i could understand the words. Bottom line: this is an excellent CD! i would recommend this to anyone. give it a few listens and let it take you. Ignore what you think you know about opera and let his music enter you and enchant you and speak to you. your heart and soul will thank you. let the vocals of Rebecca Luker wash over you and show you the true emotional range of the human voice.

Incredible music from opera's master composers.......2006-03-04

If I could give this CD 10 stars, I would certainly do so. Five stars is not sufficient to describe this wonderful work of art. I am an opera fan but I am certainly not offended by these contemporary arrangements which brings these wonderful works to a modern audience.

The selection "Willow" from Verdi's Otello is haunting and mystical. "Un Bel Di" from Puccini's Madama Butterfly soars. Other works from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas; or Mozart's The Magic Flute; or Bizet's Carmen are arranged to be unique and evoke the context of the original opera.

Rebecca Luker's voice is superb. The electonic approach to these classics updates them, but never replaces the originals. They were not meant to replace only to offer a unique approach to classics.

A - Z of Opera (includes 762 page booklet)

Average customer rating:

AN OPERA OPUS THAT'S A MUST!
The Best
Superb Modestly Priced Favorite Arias Collection!!!
Wonderful introduction to opera

A - Z of Opera (includes 762 page booklet)
Puccini , Thomas Harper , Ingrid Kertesi , Scholars Baroque Ensemble , and Hungarian State Opera Orchestra
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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A to Z of Classical Music
The Most Famous Opera Duets
The Most Famous Opera Arias
Amor--Opera's Great Love Songs
The Best of Italian Opera

ASIN: B00004YYRR
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

L'Orfeo: Sinf/Ecco Pur Ch'a Voi - Cappella Musicale Di S. Petronio Di Bologna/Sergio Vartolo
Dido And Aeneas: When I Am Laid In Earth - Kym Amps
Rinaldo: Lascia Ch'io Pianga - Ingrid Kertesi
Serse: Ombra Mai Fu (Largo) - Ingrid Kertesi
Orfeo Ed Euridice: Dance Of The Blessed Spirits - Slovak State PO/Johannes Wildner
Alceste: Ombre Larve - Theresa Ringhoz/Drottningholm Theatre Chor
Don Giovanni: Madamina! (Catalogue Aria) - Andrea Martin
Cosi Fan Tutte: Soave Sia Il Vento (Terzetto) - Joanna Borowska/Rohangiz Yachmi/Peter Mikulas
The Marriage Of Figaro: Non Piu Andrai - Natale De Carolis
Die Zauberflote: Der Holle Rache (Aria Of The Queen Of The Night) - Helen Kwon/Hungarian Festival Chor
Fidelio: Abscheulicher! - Inga Nielsen/Hungarian Radio Chor
Der Freischutz: Huntsmen's Chor - Slovak Phil Chor
The Barber Of Seville: Largo Al Factotum - Roberto Servile
L'Elisir D'Amore: Una Furtiva Lagrima - Vincenzo La Scola
I Puritani: Qui La Voce Sua Soave - Luba Orgonasova
La Traviata: Un Di Felice (Love Duet) - Monika Krause/Yordy Ramiro
Nabucco: Va Pensiero (Chor Of The Hebrew Slaves) - Slovak Phil Chor (Bratislava)
Aida: Grand March - Nat SO Of Ireland/Rico Saccani
Falstaff: E Sogno? O Realita - Roberto Servile

Tracks:

Rigoletto: La Donna E Mobile - Yordy Ramiro/Slovak Phil Chor
Die Walkure: Ride Of The Valkyries - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Uwe Mund
Tannhauser: Begluckt Darf Nun Dich (Pilgrims' Chor) - Slovak Phil Chor
La Wally: Ebben, Ne Andro Lontana - Miriam Gauci
Rusalka: O, Silver Moon (Song To The Moon) - Jana Valaskova
Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro - Luba Orgonasova
La Boheme: Che Gelida Manina - Jonathan Welch
Madama Butterfly: Un Bel Di Vedremo - Miriam Gauci
Tosca: E Lucevan Le Stelle - Giorgio Lamberti
Turandot: Nessun Dorma - Thomas Harper/Slovak Phil Chor
Lakme: Dome Epais (Flower Duet) - Adriana Kohutkova/Denisa Slepkovska
Thais: Meditation - Janos Selmeczi
Carmen: L'Amour Est Un Oiseau Rebelle (Habanera) - Graciela Alperyn/Slovak Phil Chor/Bratislava Children's Chor
The Pearl Fishers: Au Fond Du Temple Saint (Duet) - Janez Lotric/Igor Morozov
Pagliacci: Recitar!... Vesti La Giubba - Nicola Matinucci/Slovak Phil Chor
Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo - Czecho-Slovak RSO/Alexander Rahbari
Andrea Chenier: Come Un Bel Di Di Maggio - Thomas Harper
King Roger: Roxana's Aria - Barbara Zagorzanka
Die Tote Stadt: Gluck, Das Mir Verblieb (Marietta's Lied) - Katarina Dalayman/Thomas Sunnegardh/Tomtberga School Children's Chor/Royal Swedish Opr Chor

Album Description

A-Z of Opera is a 762-page, illustrated book, accompanied by two-and-a-half hours of opera's most glorious and moving moments on two CDs, and reflects the ever-growing Naxos catalog of recordings ranging from Monteverdi to the contemporary. A-Z of Opera provides a wide range of information on operas and their composers, from Handel's Rinaldo to Mozart's Die Zauberflote, and beyond. It features plot synopses, background details and cast lists for hundreds of operas including well-known standards as well as opera rarities. In addition, there is a wealth of information about all the great composers and a glossary of key musical and operatic terms.

Customer Reviews:

AN OPERA OPUS THAT'S A MUST!.......2003-01-19

Oh, such letter-perfect perfection! This marvel features a two-hour-plus showcase of well-known arias from "Cosi Fan Tuti," "Aida," "Carmen," "Madame Butterfly" and "The Barber of Seville." It also comes with a book --- 762 pages of remarkable facts, figures and illustrations.Encore!

The Best.......2002-06-09

This is, by far, the best introduction to opera on the market. It also contains some gem performances for anyone who already has a serious opera collection. Several tracks on this collection of mostly Eastern European singers rival those of their Western counterparts. This is a collection for EVERYONE - from the opera novice to the person who has long collected all the major Western stars. At this price, it's the best opera bargain in the world. GET IT NOW!!! Thank you, Naxos! I hope that some of these Eastern European singers at last get the attention they deserve.

Superb Modestly Priced Favorite Arias Collection!!!.......2001-02-12

I received this as my 20th birthday gift from my bestfriend and I was amazed at the quality and the content of this CD. Some of the arias which I am immensely fond of are included, i.e. "Habanera" from Bizet's "Carmen." And who would have guessed that the soprano on track 10 performing Queen of the Night's Aria from Mozart's "Die Zauberflote" was none other than Hellen Kwon? Amazing!

I really love this gift from my bestfriend for it was thoughtful and well, what can I say that this makes an excellant gift for opera neophytes (though I am not an opera neophyte).

The highlight of this CD is track 13, Rossini's "Largo al Factotum" from "The Barber of Seville." When I first heard this, I was contemplating to myself as to where have I heard this before. Then it hit me: Michigan J. Frog's signature tune! (In case people are wondering who on earth is Michigan J. Frog is, he is the Warner Brother's frog; the frog can be seen on WB network channel). I love this track! Buy this for yourself if not this makes a perfect gift for your opera neophyte friend(s)! This track brings joy and smiles on my face everytime I hear this piece!

Wonderful introduction to opera.......2000-12-16

More than just a promotional sampler, the Naxos (8.555037-38) contains not only 2 CDs crammed with 39 excerpts from that company's seemingly bottomless catalogue, but also a 762 page book. The text offers plot summaries of almost every important opera and many of far lesser renown (Delius' "The Magic Fountain," Mascagni's "Iris," for example), a brief biography of the composers, a glossary, and finally a discography. The recorded examples are in chronological order from Monteverdi to Korngold. The entries in the book, however, are in alphabetical order--so be careful to look for "Zauberflote," not "Magic Flute," and so on.

Of course, Big Names do not appear on many Naxos opera sets; but this set is an introduction to that vast area of culture and is meant to be an educational (and of course a promotional ) device. Nevertheless, many of the selections on the CDs are beautifully sung, a very few lack characterization (the arias from"Don Giovanni" and "Nozze di Figaro" for two). But at this incredibly low budget price, who can complain?

As soon as I saw what this set had to offer, I immediately ordered a copy as a seasonal gift for a friend who wants to "get into" opera. I could think of no better gift.

Tracks:

Overture
Shake The Cloud From Off Your Brow
Banish Sorrow, Banish Care
Ah! Belinda, I Am Pressed With Torment
Grief Increases By Concealing
When Monarchs Unite, How Happy Their State
Whence Could So Much Virtue Spring?
Fear No Danger To Ensue
See, Your Royal Guest Appears
Cupid Only Throws The Dart
If Not For Mine, For Empire's Sake
To The Hills And The Vales
The Triumphing Dance
Wayward Sisters, You That Fright
The Queen Of Carthage, Whom We Hate
Ruined Ere The Set Of Sun? Ho Ho Ho!
But Ere We This Perform
In Our Deep Vaulted Cell
Echo Dance Of Furies
Ritornelle
Thanks To These Lonesome Vales
Oft She Visits This Lone Mountain
Behold, Upon My Bending Spear
Haste, Haste To Town
Stay, Prince, And Hear Great Jove's Command
Come Away, Fellow Sailors
The Sailors' Dance
See The Flags And Streamers Curling
Our Next Motion
Destruction's Our Delight
The Witches' Dance
Your Counsel All Is Urged In Vain
Great Minds Against Themselves Conspire
Thy Hand, Belinda; Darkness Shades Me
When I Am Laid In Earth
With Drooping Wings

Amazon.com

This new, period instrument version of Purcell's wonderful, brief Dido and Aeneas shows up in a very crowded field. There are close to two dozen other versions available, many of them also historically informed. Here we have a dignified, beautifully sung reading, with instrumentalists performing with a similar sense of loveliness and reserve; indeed, the only time true overt emotionalism shows up is when the witches appear: Felicity Palmer is a nasty handful as the Sorceress. Susan Graham's Dido is elegant and, note-for-note, probably gives us among the best Didos on disc. Ian Bostridge's Aeneas is good without being outstanding; David Daniels and Paul Agnew make remarkable cameos. I prefer the performance led by René Jacobs or starring Janet Baker to this one for sheer drama, but you can't go wrong with Graham, et al, under Emmanuelle Haim's intensely musical leadership either. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Perfect.......2007-03-09

This CD is part of a Journey to the roots of beautiful music. The polyphony of the voices is almost hurting. When I Am Laid In Earth is so compelling. This is a must in the CD collection of Bach , Palestrina and Pärt lovers.

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2007-02-21

Henry Purcell's 'Dido and Aeneas' was first performed at a girl's school in 1689. The librettist, Nahum Tate, was a playwright and poet with connections at the universities and with writers of educational books and works of moral instruction. From the moment the overture begins, the opera tells of tragedy and violence. The desertion of Dido by Aeneas and her subsequent death is related in Book IV of Virgil's 'Aenid'. Aeneas's dalliance with Dido distracts him from what ought to be his purpose: the foundation of Rome. He finally sails from Carthage to fulfill his destiny, and by her own hand, Dido dies. Tate represents Aeneas' Roman objective as an illusion, his instructions to embark for Italy as a device by the Sorceress to achieve her malign objective: the destruction of Queen Dido and her Kingdom. Therefore, this is the tragedy of Dido; her feelings, not Aeneas' mechanical obedience to orders (which are false; he is as much mislead as Othello), are what signify.

As to the performance on this disc, I must say that it's got some merit, that being the renditions of Ian Bostridge as Aeneas (actually a very brief part vocally speaking) and David Daniels as the Spirit (an even more brief part). They are both perfect in their performance and I would certainly have wished that they could have had more to sing!!!!I am not endeared by the female voices in their respective roles. To say that they were poor is not true, for they are all skilled singers, but just did not convey to me ,personally, what each was all about. Dido (Susan Graham) was not tragic, and Belinda (Camille Tilling) was not empathic. The minor roles were well-done; especially that of the Sorceress (Felicity Palmer) and I've already menioned Bostridge and Daniels (the real stars on this disc).

My Favorite Rendition: The 1992 recording with Bott-Kirkby-Ainsley under the direction of Christopher Hogwood. Just a great listen!!!!!!!

DIDO AND AENEAS.......2006-10-30

"Dido and Aeneas" is one of my favorite operas. I only wish that I could see it in, preferably, a venue intimate enough to capture its beauty and passion. I own 5 different cd versions and only the one with Von Otter and the one with Hunt Lieberson come close to this one. This is a truly magnificent accomplishment: Every singer is perfect for his or her role, the chorus is wonderful and the orchestra under Haim cannot be topped. Some, I've read here, find the tempos too fast or even rushed. I find them brisk and exciting. Graham and Bostridge cannot be beaten.

Rushed rendition, strange guitar dance.......2005-03-01

This is my third Dido and Aeneas recording, and I was struck by how rushed some of the parts are, in particular Belinda's parts. It turns out that this recording is 52:54 long, against EMI's 58:33, for instance. Another disturbing element of this recording is the guitar dance at the end of the first act, which threatens to turn into a Paco de Lucia flamenco.

I do find the chorus in this recording stronger and more nuanced than any other I have heard. I also think the Sorceress is just fine without the usual distortion prescribed for the part.

DIDO AND AENEAS IS BROUGHT TO LIFE IN THIS GREAT RECORDING!.......2005-01-26

Dido and Aeneas is really a rare gem among the Baroque operas. Even if it doesn't offer a great chance to the singers to show off their virtuoso singing in the same way Alcina, Giulio Cesare and many other operas do, it has been sung by many great artists and is still one of the most successful operas from the Baroque era. So, why would so many great singers be interested in singing this brief masterpiece? The answer for that lays in the pure and sincere drama of his music and in the deep and meaningful way Purcell used the English text to its most dramatic effect.

With an amazing cast headed by Susan Graham and Ian Bostridge and the fantastic Baroque expert conductor, Emanuelle Haïm, this recording has really surprised me. With such recordings sung by legends like Flagstad, Baker and Norman, I thought there were just good versions enough. I was wrong! This one impressed me mostly, particularly because of the lively and intelligent conducting and the inspiring atmosphere.

The role of Dido has been a challenge for some of the most legendary voices of the 20th century: Kirsten Flagstad, Janet Baker, Victoria de los Angeles, Jessye Norman and many others. Here Susan Graham joins the intensity of Flagstad, the feminineness of De los Angeles and the technical aplomb of Baker in one of the best interpretations of Dido ever. Her ''Ah! Belinda, I am prest" is an example of velvety singing and perfect breath control. Her final monologue ''When I am laid'' is sung with a tearful and lush tone. I thought her Dido was perfectly accurate, both in her singing and in her dramaticism. Her creamy voice evokes feminineness, sadness and tragedy very properly. This is certainly one of the most amazing Dido you'll ever hear!
Camilla Tilling, unlike many of her predecessors in the role of Belinda, is not a thin-voiced or unexpressive Belinda, but a vivid interpreter with a beautiful and steady tone. The great tenor Ian Bostridge may be an unusual Aeneas. However, his is a flesh-and-blood but nevertheless heroic characterization, and it's sung with a beautiful and darker tone. There's also the luxurious casting of David Daniels as the spirit, and it's no surprise his brief appearence is sung with aplomb and his usual rounded voice. In overall, it seemed everybody in the cast knew this opera isn't about a majestic Queen and an unsensitive Hero. In fact, the extremely human, sentimental melodies of Purcell must be sung with intimacy and feeling.
However, the achievement of this recording wouldn't be complete without the outstanding conducting of Emmanuelle Haïm. Its faster tempo helps us to listen the rich and exotic sounds that Purcell could create with a simple orchestra. Listen to the aria ''Oft she visits'' and compare it with the other versions: here it's lively, dramatic and rich, while in other recordings it may sound too placid. The same happens in all the opera, and you'll be amazed by so many lively rhythms that simply disappear in other recordings

Well, as a great fan of Dido and Aeneas, I wouldn't tell you to own just one version of it, since each recording has its own amazing qualities. However, if you want to know this opera, I'd recommend it as the most enchanting recording ever made! And if you just want to listen to some great singing, then you really need to buy it!

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