Handel: Samson: Let the bright seraphim

The Armonico Consort return to disc on Signum (following their highly-regarded Naked Byrd CD series) with a new disc celebrating the glorious combination of soprano and trumpet in baroque music – featuring the soaring talents of Elin Manahan Thomas and Crispian Steele-Perkins.

Widely-praised for their imaginative and inventive programming, this disc features works by JS Bach (Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen), GP Telemann (Trumpet Concerto in D major), Alessandro Scarlatti (Su le sponde del Tebro) and a special compilation of works by Handel devised by Crispian Steele-Perkins.

This new album recollects and celebrates some of the choral music heard on royal occasions during the lifetime of HM Elizabeth II. The music chosen reflects the personal choices and commission by the Royal Family for weddings, funerals, and anniversaries.

Featuring John Rutter’s celebratory royal wedding anthem This is the day, written for the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in 2011. Newly orchestrated exclusively for this recording, it reminds us of the event that captivated the attention of the nation last year. The CD also includes a new arrangement for unaccompanied choir of the Londonderry Air to the text I would be true, and an orchestration of Schubert’s beautiful Psalm 23 - The Lord is my Shepherd by John Rutter for this recording.

Since her early success in Glyndebourne’s now famous production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Danielle de Niese has become most closely associated with the music of the Baroque. The New York Times commented: “A voice seductive enough to woo gods as well as mortals”.

With her third solo album, Danielle de Niese embodies the Beauty of the Baroque with an album of arias from the English, German, and Italian traditions, accompanied by the leading European Baroque orchestra, The English Concert, under Harry Bicket. Many popular arias feature, including Handel’s, ‘Ombra mai fu’, and highlights from JS Bach’s Cantatas are contrasted with much loved solo songs by Purcell and Dowland.

Decca’s star countertenor Andreas Scholl joins Danielle de Niese for duets including the ravishing duet “Pur ti miro” from Monteverdi’s L’Incoronazione di Poppea.

Some of the most celebrated recordings from Harry Christophers and his award-winning ensemble. Equally appealing to fans of The Sixteen and those who are new to the group, this disc provides a definitive collection of familiar classics and lesser-known treasures.

Johann Sebastian Bach’s great cantata ‘Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen’ provides the title of this 1982 recording by the distinguished soprano Lucia Popp, which also includes sacred works by Telemann and Handel.

The recordings derive their very special attractiveness from the interaction of two quite exceptional artists. At this time Lucia Popp was at the height of her powers and among the most sought-after sopranos in the world, whilst the trumpeter Carole Dawn Reinhardt had become the first woman to be awarded the Vienna Music Academy’s coveted “Diploma for brass instruments”. The great Finnish baritone Jorma Hynninen took the baritone part in this production, which also features the conductor Marinus Voorberg and the Amsterdam Chamber Orchestra with a group of specially selected instrumental soloists.

A special new collection of famous opera arias. Many of today's most celebrated singers in signature roles. Artists include, Cecilia Bartoli, Renée Fleming, Anna Netrebko, Kiri Te Kanawa, Anne Sofie von Otter, Danielle de Niese, Magdalena Kožená, and others. Special Price 2 CD collection with over 2 hours of glorious music.

This stunning program of Baroque choral masterpieces comprises the best-loved moments from Handel’s oratorios and anthems, including ‘Zadok the Priest’ and the Hallelujah chorus. Solos from Alexander’s Feast and Athalia are sung by renowned Handel specialists Carolyn Sampson and Robin Blaze. The Bach Choir (which gave performances in Australia in 2008) is an institution in the golden British oratorio tradition, its musical directors including Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sir David Willcocks, and now David Hill, who conducts on this recording.

“the Bach Choir sing with appropriate vigour and spirit under David Hill’s enthusiastic direction…producing the obligatory tingle down the spine.” Gramophone