Purcell: Dido and Aeneas / the Fairy Queen

Eind jaren tachtig namen William Christie en Les Arts Florissants opwindende versies op van twee meesterwerken uit de vroege Engelse opera: Purcells Dido and Aeneas en The Fairy Queen. Deze twee baanbrekende interpretaties zijn nu weer beschikbaar, voor het eerst gekoppeld in één boxset. Aantrekkelijk geprijsd!

Purcell:
 Dido and Aeneas
 with Véronique Gens, Nathan Berg, Sophie Marin-Degor, Claire Brua, Sophie Daneman, Gaëlle Mechaly
 Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

"William Christie's reading of Dido is very much in terms of the reputed French influence on Purcell. Overdotting, reverse dotting and inégalité are used throughout; the lines are often heavily embellished in the manner of Lully. This is a perfectly justifiable approach to the music, since there's little direct evidence to say exactly how much the French style dominated in England. This version, with single strings, an excellent small choir and a slightly obtrusive harpsichord, stands well alongside what's available. Apart from a few moments' inattention in Belinda's 'Haste, haste to town', you'd hardly notice that most of the cast are Francophone, except in that Nathan Berg's imposing bass-baritone finds it slightly easier to exploit the colour and the meaning of Aeneas's words. Véronique Gens is a lucid and sensible Dido, partnered by a sprightly Belinda from Sophie Marin-Degor and a good Second Woman from Sophie Daneman. Claire Brua's Sorceress is a splendidly insinuating conception, with a slithering melodic style. Perhaps the main musical distinction of this version is the way Christie presents the final paragraphs. Up to this point he's taken generally quick speeds, and he runs the final confrontation of Dido and Aeneas at a headlong tempo, which works well. Then he comes almost to a standstill at the moment when Aeneas leaves the stage, choosing an unusually slow speed for the chorus'Great minds against themselves conspire'. This makes way for a dangerously slow Lament,which is heart-stopping, and the final chorus, which is not."
Gramophone Classical Music Guide - 2010

 The Fairy Queen
  with Nancy Argenta, Lynne Dawson, Veronique Gens, Sandrine Piau & Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

Vanwege het immense succes van zijn opera's "Dido & Aeneas" en "King Arthur", volgde Purcell dit in 1692 op met "The Fairy Queen", gebaseerd op Shakespeares "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Het is eigenlijk een "semi-opera" of "dialoog met opera", omdat alleen de cruciale scènes worden begeleid door muziek. Deze versie van A Midsummer Night's Dream door Orpheus Britannicus werd echter bijna net zo beroemd als het origineel. Met de liefdesscènes, de uitbundige verbeelding, het gevoel voor muzikale humor - met onkreukbare smaak en onweerstaanbare charme.

"...the Christie version seems more sharply characterized and succeeds in conveying the complete emotional range of Purcell's music, from wit to mystery with much in between, with great musicality, style and elegance. The result is a must for anyone with a serious interest in the music of England's finest baroque composer.'
Gramophone Magazine