Music of Henry Purcell

The Complete Vanguard Recordings Volume 2

This second volume of Vanguard's reissued recordings of Alfred Deller and his consort comprises works by Purcell, the composer most closely associated with Deller, and consists of six CDs, well... — Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 More…

Release Date: 17th Nov 2008
Catalogue No: MC194
Label: Vanguard Classics

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Purcell: Dido and Aeneas

Mary Thomas (soprano), Honor Sheppard (soprano), Ellen Dales (soprano), Helen Watts (contralto), Robert Tear (tenor), Maurice Bevan (baritone)
Oriana Concert Choir and Orchestra, The Deller Consort
Alfred Deller, Alfred Deller

Purcell: Hail! Bright Cecilia (Ode for St Cecilia's Day 1692), Z328

April Cantelo (soprano), Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), Peter Salmon (counter-tenor), Wilfred Brown (tenor), Maurice Bevan (baritone), John Frost (bass), George Eskdale (solo trumpet), Leonard Friedman (violin), Eli Goren (violin), Richard Taylor (treble recorder), Stanley Taylor (treble recorder), Peter Graeme (oboe), Edward Selwyn (oboe), Philip Jones (trumpet), Denis Clift (trumpet), Alan Taylor (tympani), Anna Shuttleworth (cello and basso continuo), Francis Baines (cello and basso continuo), Denis Vaughan (harpsichord)
Ambrosian Singers / Kalmar Chamber Orchestra of London, The Deller Consort
Sir Michael Tippett, Alfred Deller

Purcell: Welcome to all the pleasures (from Ode for St Cecilia's Day 1683), Z339

Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), April Cantelo (soprano), Eileen McLoughlin (soprano), Gerald English (tenor), Owen Grundy (baritone), Maurice Bevan (baritone)
Kalmar Chamber Orchestra, The Deller Consort
Alfred Deller, Alfred Deller

Purcell: Come ye sons of art (Ode for Queen Mary's birthday, 1694), Z 323

Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), Mark Deller (counter-tenor), Mary Thomas (soprano), Maurice Bevan (baritone)
Oriana Concert Choir and Orchestra, The Deller Consort
Alfred Deller, Alfred Deller

Purcell: My beloved spake, Z28

Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), April Cantelo (soprano), Gerald English (tenor), Maurice Bevan (baritone)
Kalmar Orchestra of London, The Deller Consort
Alfred Deller, Alfred Deller

Purcell: Rejoice in the Lord alway ('The Bell Anthem'), Z49

Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), Mary Thomas (soprano), Honor Sheppard (soprano), Max Worthley (tenor), Robert Tear (tenor), Maurice Bevan (baritone)
Oriana Concert Orchestra, The Deller Consort
Alfred Deller, Alfred Deller

Blow: Ode on the Death of Mr Henry Purcell

Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), John Whitworth (counter-tenor), Christopher Taylor (recorder), Richard Taylor (recorder), Anne Shuttleworth (cello) Walter Bergmann (harpsichord)
The Deller Consort
Alfred Deller

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Musical Concepts is pleased to announce the second release in one of the most ambitious early music reissue projects of all time — Alfred Deller: The Complete Vanguard Recordings. The series brings together every recording made by Alfred Deller – as solo countertenor, ensemble member of the Deller Consort, and conductor – for the legendary, enterprising Vanguard record label. These recordings created a sensation with their initial release, and have influenced and inspired three generations of music lovers, from casual listeners to the top tiers of performing artists and scholars.

Music of England's greatest composer was a speciality of Alfred Deller. His artistry was particularly welll suited to Purcell and Deller's role in establishing the greatness of this music cannot be exaggerated.

This collection includes iconic performances of solo vocal works with groundbreaking recordings of operas, sacred music and theatical works which Deller performs and conducts. Being at the forefront of the re-birth of the early music movement, he naturally attracted many of the other supreme artists of the time, all of whom went on to become great figures in their own right.

Artists

Mary Thomas (soprano), Honor Sheppard (soprano), Ellen Dales (soprano), Helen Watts (contralto), Robert Tear (tenor), Maurice Bevan (baritone), April Cantelo (soprano), Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), Peter Salmon (counter-tenor), Wilfred Brown (tenor), John Frost (bass), George Eskdale (solo trumpet), Leonard Friedman (violin), Eli Goren (violin), Richard Taylor (treble recorder), Stanley Taylor (treble recorder), Peter Graeme (oboe), Edward Selwyn (oboe), Philip Jones (trumpet), Denis Clift (trumpet), Alan Taylor (tympani), Anna Shuttleworth (cello and basso continuo), Francis Baines (cello and basso continuo), Denis Vaughan (harpsichord), Eileen McLoughlin (soprano), Gerald English (tenor), Owen Grundy (baritone), Mark Deller (counter-tenor), Max Worthley (tenor), John Whitworth (counter-tenor)

Christopher Taylor (recorder), Richard Taylor (recorder), Anne Shuttleworth (cello) Walter Bergmann (harpsichord)

The Deller Consort, Oriana Concert Choir and Orchestra, Ambrosian Singers / Kalmar Chamber Orchestra of London, Kalmar Chamber Orchestra, Kalmar Orchestra of London, Oriana Concert Orchestra, Sir Michael Tippett

Reviews

2010

This second volume of Vanguard's reissued recordings of Alfred Deller and his consort comprises works by Purcell, the composer most closely associated with Deller, and consists of six CDs, well packaged and with a CD-Rom giving access to more detailed information. The first two present a mixed programme of songs, duets and instrumental pieces. The third has a complete performance of Dido and Aeneas conducted by Deller and recorded in 1965. The remaining discs include the Odes to St Cecilia, Come, ye Sonsof Art and music for the Masque in Dioclesian, the whole collection ending with Blow's Ode on theDeath of Mr Henry Purcell.
In his middle and later years Deller habitually lightened notes above the centre of his range, so that his style became somewhat predictable and the evenness of his production somewhat impaired. That accounts for main differences between these later performances of such 'signature' pieces as 'Music for a While' and 'Sweeter than Roses': the purity of tone, the extraordinary resonance of lower and middle notes, the technical skill and sensitivity of his singing all remain. As a conductor, he had difficulties, and it cannot be claimed that the Dido is a success.
Some stodgy speeds and sluggish rhythms, a pantomime coven of witches, a Dido lacking nobility of tone and an Aeneas out of oratorio make it hard for other contributions (most notably Helen Watts's sorceress) to have their due effect. Still, no doubt the best way of avoiding disappointment is to be prepared for it.
That Deller could conduct well, holding his place along with the highly professional Harnoncourt in his Dioclesian and the very personally involved Tippett in Hail, bright Cecilia, is evident in the Odes. Stylish playing by George Malcolm and other instrumentalists (including the young violinist Neville Marriner) gives further pleasure. The album celebrated not only Deller himself but his generation who did so much to bring Purcell out of the text books, the full range of his genius revealed.

Music of Henry Purcell

6 CDs

Contents

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