BaL - 24.09.11 at 9.30 a.m. Purcell's The Fairy Queen

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Simon Heighes with a personal recommendation from the available recordings of Purcell's The Fairy-Queen on CD and DVD.

[B]Available versions:-[/B]

CD
Barbara Bonney, Sylvia McNair, Elisabeth von Magnus, Michael Chance, Laurence Dale, Robert Holl, Concentus musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Scholars Bartoque Ensemble
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
Armonico Consort, Christopher Monks
John Eliot Gardiner
Cantillation, Orchestra of the Antipodes, Pinchgut Opera, Antony Walker
Accademia Bizantina, Ottavio Dantone
Ann Murray, Lorna Anderson, Gillian Fisher, John Mark Ainsley, Michael Chance, Richard Suart, Ian Partridge, Michael George, The Sixteen, Harry Christophers
Les Arts Florissants, William ChristieLorraine Hunt Lieberson, Susan Bickley, Howard Crook, David Wilson-Johnson, Mark Padmore, London Classical Players, Roger Norrington

DVD
Glyndebourne Chorus & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, William Christie
Yvonne Kenny, Thomas Randle, Simon Rice, Richard Van Allan
English National Opera, Nicholas Kok, stage direction by David Pountney

[verismissimo]

Generally, for me, a little Purcell goes a long way, but I enjoyed greatly the 2009 Glyndebourne production, which I see is out on DVD. Some outstanding singers in it - Lucy Crowe, Carolyn Sampson and others. Desmond Barrit quite brilliant. Fine playing from OAE under William Christie.

The only recording I've ever had is the 1957 Anthony Lewis one on L'Oiseau-Lyre with the delectable Elsie Morison together with Thomas Hemsley, Jennifer Vyvyan, Peter Pears etc.

Time for a new one?

[pilamenon]

Barbara Bonney, Sylvia McNair, Elisabeth von Magnus, Michael Chance, Laurence Dale, Robert Holl, Concentus musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Delighted to see the Fairy Queen up for consideration. Harnoncourt's is the only version I know, and its beauty totally bowled me over. Probably the only recording of H's that I love, rather than admire. He often seems rather over-emphatic and deliberate, as today's reviewer suggested of his Haydn, but no such reservations about the Fairy Queen.

[Brassbandmaestro]

I have the JEG version, rather splendid, imo, but hopefully I be able to catch up on this one!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I have (and love) the Naxos recording: the Scholars Baroque Ensemble is (?was? are they still around?) a group whose work I always enjoyed, and their Purcell discs bring out the joy and fizz of this Music. I confess I "chose" this version when it first came out because it was the only one I could afford, but I've had no regrets: since then I've heard both the JEG (which I didn't get much from) and Christie (which I did) versions. The SBE more than hold their place in the catalogue. I also remember the Britten LPs with great affection: the first time I encountered this wonderful work - but isn't it "abridged"?

I shall look forward to hearing this BaL; many thanks for the pointer, Alpie.

Best Wishes.


(PS. I love the idea of a "Scholars Bartoque Ensemble": the Cantata Profana with OVpP, perhaps?)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

If I had to make a completely "blind" choice, I suspect it would be the Britten.

[Chris Newman]

I have (and love) the Naxos recording: the Scholars Baroque Ensemble is (?was? are they still around?) a group whose work I always enjoyed, and their Purcell discs bring out the joy and fizz of this Music. I confess I "chose" this version when it first came out because it was the only one I could afford, but I've had no regrets: since then I've heard both the JEG (which I didn't get much from) and Christie (which I did) versions. The SBE more than hold their place in the catalogue. I also remember the Britten LPs with great affection: the first time I encountered this wonderful work - but isn't it "abridged"?

I shall look forward to hearing this BaL; many thanks for the pointer, Alpie.

Best Wishes.


(PS. I love the idea of a "Scholars Bartoque Ensemble": the Cantata Profana with OVpP, perhaps?)

I have the Naxos (Scholars Baroque Ensemble) which as FHG says fizzes. I also have the Britten (more for sentimental than musical reasons) which is very unauthentic being his own arrangements abridged in four tableaux: I heard him do it at the Proms. My favourite, though I am tempted by the new DVD, is JEG, which like the Naxos bursts with humour and a sense of theatre. It is also a bargain on Archiv.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

One of the benefits of BaL is that it occasionally enables you to become familiar with works you don't know. This is such a work in my case.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A good BaL, overall, I thought: but did he mention the Naxos version at all? If so, I missed it (moving from one room to another, this isn't impossible; but it must've been a quick mention: my house isn't that big!) A shame if it was overlooked: for anyone on a limited budget or, indeed, anyone with money to spare - (Hello, how are you by the way) - it's a terrific performance.

Lots of goodies on offer, though - it's such a great piece, that even the weaker versions have their moments (Sylvie MacNair on the Harnoncourt caught my breath). I shall definitely be investing in the Christie DVD. (And, in response to Chris' enthusiasm and from what I heard this morning, I shall give JEGgers another hearing.

Best Wishes.

(PS: it was first thing in the morning for me, but just before BaL, in his survey of the Zinman Brahms cycle, did I really hear Andrew McGregor refer to "the F minor Symphony"?)

[LeMartinPecheur]

The Scholars got a very favourable mention early on (van Asch in particular as the Drunken Poet), and I didn't hear any reason why they got dropped. But my eyes did close briefly somewhere in the middle of the programme (shameful, but there it is...).