Prices shown exclude VAT. (UK tax is not payable for deliveries to United States.)
See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Director: Luc Bondy,
Designer: Richard Peduzzi,
Costumes: Rudy Sabounghi &
Lighting: Dominique Bruguière
“Among the best DVDs ever made of a Handelian production.” Opera News “…it's the grand portrait of Dejanira that holds the attention in a marvellously evocative performance from Joyce DiDonato… Les Arts Florissants responds to William Christie's firm yet subtle conducting with immaculate playing, while Luc Bondy's modern-dress production searches out the work's truth in a considered, finely-honed dramatic realisation.” BBC Music Magazine, March 2006 **** “Luc Bondy's Aix-en-Provence production, here captured at a later Paris performance, confirms that Hercules is superb theatre. Many of Bondy's ideas about detail and stagecraft are impressive and convincing. In Sophocles, Hercules is a serial adulterer; but in Handel's drama it is transparent that he and lole are innocent. Instead, Bondy portrays Dejanira as an innocent victim, lole as a scheming greedy hypocrite, and Hercules as a thoroughly unpleasant cad. All three characterisations grind against Handel's music. But if you accept that this is a distorted invention based on Handel's drama, it becomes an accomplished and powerful experience. Joyce DiDonato's finest moment as the nervously twitching Dejanira is a penetrating, tearful performance of 'Cease, ruler of the day to rise'... Swedish soprano Ingela Bohlin has striking looks and a lovely clear voice: Iole's 'My father!' and 'My breast with tender pity swells' are highlights. Toby Spence's articulate singing makes him a potent Hyllus... The chorus of Les Arts Florissants sings with clarity, precision and a good sense of the libretto's meaning...” Gramophone Magazine, April 2006 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  | Handel: Delirio
Standard Version “Emmanuelle Haïm and Natalie Dessay are very much equal partners in two of Handel's Italian cantatas which display the virtuosity of solo instrumentalists every bit as much as that of the human voice.” BBC Music Magazine, February 2006 **** “Haïm and Dessay are equal partners in two of Handel's Italian cantatas.” BBC Music Magazine, May 2007 “Handel created his cantata Il delirio amoroso while in Rome in early 1707. Its text was written by Cardinal Benedetto Pamphili. The unusual inclusion of some dance movements suggests that it might have been presented in a simple sort of staging. Emmanuelle Haïm directs a performance that is relaxed and breezy, although Le Concert d'Astrée – featuring two harpsichords and two lutes – is bigger than some orchestras used on recent Baroque opera recordings. There are lovely contributions from oboist Patrick Beaugiraud, and the violinist Stéphanie-Marie Degand provides finely executed solos during the first aria, 'Un pensiero voli in ciel'. Natalie Dessay's coloratura is honey-toned and sweet.
While amiable and technically impressive, proceedings are curiously superficial. There is emotional depth in this cantata that the resolutely frothy approach fails to reach. Dessay does not convey the ramblings of 'delirious love', unlike Ann Murray's poetic interpretation with Harry Christophers (Coro).
The lush beauty of Dessay's impressive tuning, clear timbre and fine technique is beyond doubt in the aria 'Qui l'augel da pianta' from the Naples serenata Aci, Galatea e Polifemo. Haïm chooses a bizarrely slow tempo whereby Handel's 6/8 becomes a very lethargic 3/4. Not much of Handel's vocal part is left intact during repeats, when Dessay and Haïm carry out some brutally overelaborate re-composition. Dessay plucks out stratospheric notes at every opportunity, but there is more that could and should have been said in accordance to the parameters of Handel's notation. Nice though this disc is, it brings little depth or substance to Handel's music.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 “…Emmanuelle Haïm directs a performance that is relaxed and breezy… There are lovely contributions from oboist Patrick Beaugiraud, and the violinist Stéphanie-Marie Degand provides finely executed solos during the first aria, 'Un pensiero voli in ciel'. Natalie Dessay's coloratura is honey-touched and sweet.” Gramophone Magazine, July 2006 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  |
Flavio Oliver (Cesare), Elena de la Merced (Cleopatra), Ewa Podles (Cornelia), Maite Beaumont (Sesto), Jordi Domènech (Tolomeo) Orquestra Simfónica i Cor del Gran Teatre del Liceu, Michael Hofstetter, stage direction by Herbert Wernicke | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  |
“…the lovely sound and supreme musicality of this performance… The authoritative David Thomas relishes every moment; Carolyn Watkinson brings tender dignity to 'He was despised'; Emma Kirkby has less to do than Judith Nelson but steals the show with her 'refiner's fire'. Despite minor reservations, this is an engrossing experience.” Gramophone Magazine, March 2006 “an enjoyably fresh 'traditional-period' performance which is beautifully sung and a pleasure to watch but one can hear every word and the backcloth of Westminster Abbey is well used by the camera to provide a visual treat.” Penguin Guide, 2010 edition **** | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  | Opera Proibitaincludes arias from Handel, A Scarlatti & Caldara
“Bartoli is on marvellous form in these arias - a truly wonderful disc” BBC Music Magazine, 1st November 2005  BBC Music Magazine
Opera Choice - November 2005 |
| | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  | Maurice André - Music for Trumpet
Albinoni: | Adagio for Strings and Organ in G minor (arr. Jean-Michel Defaye) Concerto Op. 7 No. 3 for oboe & strings in B flat major Concerto Op. 7 No. 6 for oboe & strings in D major Trumpet Concerto in D minor (from Violin Sonata Op. 6 No. 4) | Bach, J S: | Gavotte (Rondeau) from Partita No. 3 in E major BWV1006 Cantata BWV68 'Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt: Mein glaubiges Herze Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV1068: Air ('Air on a G String') Cello Suite No. 4 in E flat major, BWV1010: Bouree Cantata BWV147 'Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben': Jesu, bleibet meine Freude | Charpentier, M-A: | Te Deum, H146: Prélude | Clarke, Jeremiah: | Trumpet Voluntary 'Prince of Denmark's March' | Gounod: | Ave Maria | Handel: | Largo from Xerxes (instrumental arrangement) Gloria in Excelsis Deo Concerto in D minor for Trumpet & Organ | Haydn: | Trumpet Concerto in E flat major, Hob. VIIe:1 | Hertel, J W: | Trumpet Concerto in E flat | Marcello, A: | Trumpet Concerto in C minor | Mozart: | Exsultate, jubilate, K165 - Alleluia | Purcell: | Queen's Dolour in A minor, Z670 | Schubert: | Ave Maria, D839 | Senaillé: | Allegro spiritoso | Stanley, J: | Trumpet Voluntary in D major | Telemann: | Concerto TWV 51:D7 in D major for trumpet, strings & b.c. Trumpet Concerto in F minor |
| | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  |
| | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  |
| | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  | Cathedral Voices
and movements of works by Mozart, Bach, Verdi et al.
| | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |  |
| | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
|
|
| |
|
Penguin Guide
Gramophone Magazine