Purcell: King Arthur
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CD Details
Performer: Stephen VarcoeComposer: Henry Purcell
Conductor: John Eliot Gardiner
Performer: English Baroque Soloists
Performer: Elisabeth Priday
Performer: Gilian Ross
Performer: Gillian Fisher
Performer: Jennifer Smith
Performer: Paul Elliott
Edition: Music CD
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 1995-05-02
Music Label: Warner Music France
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Overture
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Air
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Overture
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: First Act: Woden, First To Thee/The White Horse Neigh'd Aloud/To Woden Thank
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: First Act: The Lot Is Cast
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: First Act: Brave Souls
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: First Act: I Call You All To Woden's Hall
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: First Act: Symphony - "Come If You Dare"
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Second Act: Hither, This Way
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Second Act: Let Not A Moonborn Elf
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Second Act: Hither, This way
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Second Act: Come, Follow Me
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Second Act: How Blest Are Shepherds
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Second Act: Symphony - Shepherd, Leave Decoying
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Second Act: Hornpipe/Come, Shepherds
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Second Act Tune: Air
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Third Act: (The Frost Scene)/What Ho! Thou Genius Of This Isle
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Third Act: What Power Art Thou
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Third Act: Thou Doting Fool
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Third Act: Great Love
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Third Act: No Part Of My Dominion
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Third Act: Prelude
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Third Act: Tis I That Have Warm'd Ye
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Third Act: Sound A Parley
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Third Act: Third Act Tune: Hornpipe
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Fourth Act: Two Daughters Of The Aged Stream
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Fourth Act: Passacaglia - How Happy The Lover
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Fourth Act Tune: Air
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Fifth Act: Trumpet Tune
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Fifth Act: Ye Blust'ring Brethren
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Fifth Act: Symphony
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Fifth Act: Song Tune/Round Thy Coast
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Fifth Act: For Folded Flocks
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Fifth Act: Ritornello - Your hay It Is Mow'd/Ritornello
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Fifth Act: Fairest Isle
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Fifth Act: You Say 'tis Love
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Fifth Act: Trumpet Tune [Warlike Consort]
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Fifth Act: St George/Our Natives Not Alone Appear
- King Arthur, or, The British Worthy, semi-opera, Z. 628: Fifth Act: Chaconne
Music reviews of Purcell: King Arthur
Music Review: Wonderful, but just slightly outclassed
Rating: 4 Stars
I own this recording but was loaned a copy of the William Christie/Les Arts Florisants CD. Although my review is not complete, I hope to give some guidance by comparing this recording with the Christie, which appears to be the top contender.
Both are so good as to make it difficult to have a clear preference, but I give the Christie the edge, for its slightly more natural approach (also rather more realistic audio), and his superb soprano, V?ronique Gens (outstanding in "Fairest Isle"); on the other hand, I like some of the male singers in the Gardiner version better. I'd characterize Les Arts Florisants as sounding as if they're more involved (underline that), in both the emotional highs and lows. They sound relaxed without slackness, while the English Baroque Soloists have more decorum without stuffiness. The latter tend to punch out the musical line with more accents and more staccato, but with an effect that occasionally verges on phony. Gardiner's group performs with a little more precise orchestral ensemble. Both adopt similar (peppy) tempi. Christie employs a noticeably lower pitch. The final chaconne in the Christie seems more festive and conclusive than Gardiner's, aided by a better balance between the strings and other instruments.
In sum, the Gardiner is a fine performance; but do not despair that it has been discontinued; the Christie is better, if only by a little. Purcell - King Arthur / Gens, McFadden, Piau, S. Waters, J. Best, Padmore, Paton, Salomaa, Les Arts Florissants, Christie
General CDs
- Styles > Classical
- Featured Composers, A-Z > ( P ) > Purcell, Henry
- Forms & Genres > Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music > Incidental Music
- Historical Periods > Baroque (c.1600-1750) > Composers > Purcell, Henry
- General
- Opera & Vocal > General
- Operettas
- Pop > Vocal Pop > General
- Classical - Historical Periods - Baroque (c.1600-1750) - Composers - Purcell, Henry - General
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