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See Terms & Conditions for p&p rates. | |  | Purcell: The Fairy Queen, Z629
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| |  | Purcell: The Fairy Queen, Z629Recorded live at Glyndebourne Opera House, Lewes, East Sussex, on 17th & 19th July 2009.
Lucy Crowe (Juno/Mystery), Claire Debono (Spring/First Fairy), Anna Devin (Second Fairy), Helen-Jane Howells (Eve), Carolyn Sampson (Night), Robert Burt (Mopsa), Sean Clayton (Summer), Ed Lyon (Secrecy/Adam), Adrian Ward (Autumn), Lukas Kargl (Phœbus), Desmond Barrit (Drunken Poet), Andrew Foster-Williams (Winter/Sleep/Coridon/Hymen) Actors: Sally Dexter (Titania), Joseph Millson (Oberon), Desmond Barrit (Bottom), Susannah Wise (Hermia), Oliver Le Suer (Demetrius), Oliver Kieran Jones (Lysander), Jotham Annan (Puck) The Glyndebourne Chorus & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, William Christie (conductor) & Jonathan Kent (stage director) Jonathan Kent’s spectacular production of Purcell’s huge semi-opera is joyous, imaginative and witty. Glyndebourne, with its intimate auditorium, provides the perfect setting for a drama which is partly spoken and partly sung. Based on an adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the story is lavished with a brilliance that justifies this production’s acclaim. Paul Brown’s inventive designs, Kim Brandstrup’s exquisite choreography, an excellent cast of actors and singers and outstanding playing by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under William Christie combine to make a seamless theatrical experience, here recorded in High Definition and true surround sound. “There are too many highlights to mention in this varied and infinitely delightful entertainment. Glyndebourne has a triumph on its hands.” The Stage Extra features: Interview with William Christie Interview with Jonathan Kent Running time 3 hours 41 mins Region code All regions Picture format 16:9 Anamorphic Sound format 2.0 LPCM & 5.1 DTS digital Menu language EN Subtitles EN/FR/DE/ES “Jonathan Kent's joyous Glyndebourne production burst[s] with opulent stagecraft...Kent is abetted by William Christie in the pit, a man of the theatre down to his gainfully-employed fingertips...Altogether a riotously funny, ravishingly intelligent production.” BBC Music Magazine, November 2010 ***** “Kudos to director Jonathan Kent and the entire production team of Glyndebourne's fabulous 2009 reincarnation of the music and play reunited...the production is a treat to watch...this DVD conveys an exceptionally spectacular event in the theatre.” Gramophone Magazine, October 2010  BBC Music Magazine
DVD Choice - November 2010 |
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| |  | Purcell: The Fairy Queen, Z629
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| |  | Purcell: The Fairy Queen and Dido & Aeneas
Purcell: | The Fairy Queen, Z629 Jennifer Vyvyan, Mary Wells, Alfreda Hodgson, James Bowman, Peter Pears, Ian Partridge, Charles Brett, John Shirley-Quirk, Owen Brannigan English Chamber Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Benjamin Britten Dido and Aeneas Janet Baker (Dido), Peter Pears (Aeneas), Norma Burrowes (Belinda), Anna Reynolds (Sorceress), Felicity Lott (Second Woman), Robert Tear (Sailor), Timothy Everett (Spirit) Aldeburgh Festival Strings, London Opera Chorus, Steuart Bedford |
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| |  | Purcell: The Fairy Queen, Z629
“The Fairy Queen hardly an 'opera' in the conventional sense: its musical virtues lie in the composer's uncanny ability to summon a discrete, potent atmosphere whose capacity to move the listener lies outside a sustained dramatic context.
The masques draw heavily on vernacular situations and a form of tragicomedy which requires a crafty hand in performance.
Harry Christophers allows the music to breathe with a warm spontaneity, encouraged by a strong and diverse vocal cast. Gillian Fisher is a touch disappointing, but the likes of Ann Murray (who's both radiant and a misfit in one), Michael Chance, John Mark Ainsley, Ian Partridge, Richard Suart and Michael George present a greater array of characterisation than any other extant reading. Just sample the wonderful slapstick between Mopsa and Coridon. Christophers strikes most imploringly at the heart of Purcell's native sensibilities (Partridge's Phoebus sums it up) for a satisfying performance capturing the indigenous humour, grandeur and poignancy of Purcell's exquisite score.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010 | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Purcell: The Fairy Queen, Z629
“This Finlandia Double brings an extensive survey of Sallinen's music and provides an inexpensive entry into the composer's world...The performances under Okko Kamu are very impressive and the recording quite exemplary. Overall, excellent value.” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition | | | In stock - usually despatched within 1 working day. |
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| |  | Purcell: The Fairy Queen, Z629
Thomas Hemsley (bass), Harold Jackson (trumpet), Trevor Anthony (bass), Peter Boggis (counter-tenor), Elsie Morrison (soprano), Jennifer Vyvyan (soprano), John Whitworth (counter-tenor), Granville Jones (violin), Peter Pears (tenor) Boyd Neel Orchestra, St. Anthony Singers, Anthony Lewis | |
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| |  | Purcell: The Fairy Queen, Z629
The Fairy Queen is one of Purcell’s most popular operas, based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It contains some of his best music, both vocal and instrumental, giving proof of Purcell’s theatrical genius. A strong English cast is supported by the brilliant and zesty ensemble of Accademia Bizantina, conducted by Ottavio Dantone, a leading specialist in the Early Music scene. New addition to the Brilliant Classics Opera Collection. Prior to Handel’s arrival in London, and the influence of Italian opera that he brought with him, English opera was known as ‘semi opera’ – a blend of drama, music, spoken word, elaborate stage sets, costumes and special effects. Roger North, a contemporary observer, described the genre rather disparagingly, complaining: ‘Some come for the play and hate the musick, others come onely for the musick, and the drama is penance to them, and scarce any are well reconciled to both’. However,‘semi opera’ nevertheless inspired Purcell to compose some remarkable theatre music, with The Fairy Queen his masterpiece in the genre. This semi-opera is based somewhat freely on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and was given its premiere at the Dorset Garden Theatre, London in 1692. The performance was a huge success, and went through a successful revision, before the score mysteriously vanished. In 1701, six years after Purcell’s death, a reward was announced for its return. However, it was 200 years before the music was finally recovered in the library of the Royal Academy of Music in 1903. The Fairy Queen contains some of Purcell’s finest music, and the masques at the end of each act stand out as masterpieces of Baroque opera.The magical world of Titania and Oberon is superbly evoked by the music – night, winter, sleep, love, magic and comedy are all brilliantly realised in highly atmospheric settings. “Dantone's sparkling playing is matched by anglophone singers and Italian isntrumentalists. Carolyn Sampson stands out among fine-grained soloists.” BBC Music Magazine, September 2012 **** | | | Usually despatched in 4 - 5 working days. |
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| |  | Purcell: The Fairy Queen, Z629Recorded live at Glyndebourne Opera House, Lewes, East Sussex, on 17th & 19th July 2009.
Lucy Crowe (Juno/Mystery), Claire Debono (Spring/First Fairy), Anna Devin (Second Fairy), Helen-Jane Howells (Eve), Carolyn Sampson (Night), Robert Burt (Mopsa), Sean Clayton (Summer), Ed Lyon (Secrecy/Adam), Adrian Ward (Autumn), Lukas Kargl (Phœbus), Desmond Barrit (Drunken Poet), Andrew Foster-Williams (Winter/Sleep/Coridon/Hymen) Actors: Sally Dexter (Titania), Joseph Millson (Oberon), Desmond Barrit (Bottom), Susannah Wise (Hermia), Oliver Le Suer (Demetrius), Oliver Kieran Jones (Lysander), Jotham Annan (Puck) The Glyndebourne Chorus & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, William Christie (conductor) & Jonathan Kent (stage director) Jonathan Kent’s spectacular production of Purcell’s huge semi-opera is joyous, imaginative and witty. Glyndebourne, with its intimate auditorium, provides the perfect setting for a drama which is partly spoken and partly sung. Based on an adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the story is lavished with a brilliance that justifies this production’s acclaim. Paul Brown’s inventive designs, Kim Brandstrup’s exquisite choreography, an excellent cast of actors and singers and outstanding playing by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under William Christie combine to make a seamless theatrical experience, here recorded in High Definition and true surround sound. “There are too many highlights to mention in this varied and infinitely delightful entertainment. Glyndebourne has a triumph on its hands.” The Stage Extra features: Interview with William Christie Interview with Jonathan Kent Running time 3 hours 41 mins Region code All regions Picture format 16:9 Anamorphic Sound format 2.0 LPCM & 5.1 DTS digital Menu language EN Subtitles EN/FR/DE/ES “Jonathan Kent's joyous Glyndebourne production burst[s] with opulent stagecraft...Kent is abetted by William Christie in the pit, a man of the theatre down to his gainfully-employed fingertips...Altogether a riotously funny, ravishingly intelligent production.” BBC Music Magazine, November 2010 ***** “Kudos to director Jonathan Kent and the entire production team of Glyndebourne's fabulous 2009 reincarnation of the music and play reunited...the production is a treat to watch...this DVD conveys an exceptionally spectacular event in the theatre.” Gramophone Magazine, October 2010 “a most imaginative production from Jonathan Kent that is gorgeous visually and most entertaining to watch; and the Purcell masques fit readily with the spoken narrative. The whole presentation combines charm and period musicality (with the admirable William Christie in charge)...In most respects visually and dramatically this is a triumph.” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition BBC Music Magazine DVD Choice - November 2010 |
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| |  | Purcell: The Fairy Queen, Z629
Eiddwen Harrhy, Jennifer Smith, Judith Nelson, Elisabeth Priday, Timothy Penrose, Wynford Evans, Martyn Hill, Stephen Varcoe, David Thomas, Ashley Stafford Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner “This disc highlights Gardiner's flair for drama. Airy dances and languishing sighs are but two of many effects that he calls forth. Pristine sound reproduction.” BBC Music Magazine, April 2008 **** “Purcell’s Grandest Achievement, His Most Colourful Score, With An Emotional Range From Wit To Mystery And Much In Between. “vintage Purcell, In A Performance That Shows No Signs Of Age, Conveys Everything But The Elaborate Stage Directions” Gramophone Magazine “a delight from beginning to end for, though authenticity and completeness reign, scholarship is worn lightly and the result is consistently exhilarating, with no longueurs whatsoever...The fresh-toned soloists are first-rate” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition | | | Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. |
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Gramophone Awards 2010
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