Choral, Oratorios & Passions
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Handel: Theodora
RecommendedLisette Oropesa (Theodora), Joyce DiDonato (Irene), Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian (Didymus), Michael Spyres (Septimius), John Chest (Valens), Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev
This is now the benchmark Theodora; it is optimally cast, dramatically intense and luminously beautiful. Its world-class principals use their fine vocal qualities to deepen their characters.... — More…
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 28th October 2022
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2022
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BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2022, Recording of the Month
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Sunday Times, 10 Best Classical Albums of 2022
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2023, Winner - Choral
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2023, Nominated - Female Singer of the Year (Oropesa & DiDonato)
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2023, Nominated - Male Singer of the Year (Spyres)
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2023, Nominated - Conductor of the Year
3 CDs
$29.25Downloads
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JS Bach: Matthäus-Passion
RecommendedJulian Prégardien (Evangelist), Stéphane Degout (Christus), Sabine Devieilhe & Hana Blažiková (sopranos), Lucile Richardot (mezzo), Tim Mead (countertenor), Reinoud Van Mechelen & Emiliano Gonzalez Toro (tenors), Christian Immler (bass-baritone)
Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon
The choirs are razor-sharp in their ensemble, and if they seem initially soft-grained (in keeping with Pichon’s essentially intimate approach), their incisiveness eventually locates real venom... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, April 2022, Recording of the Month
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Presto Recording of the Week, 15th April 2022
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Gramophone Awards, 2022, Winner - Choral
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Building a Library, October 2022, Also Recommended
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International Classical Music Awards, 2023, Nominated - Baroque Vocal
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2022
3 CDs
$28.75Downloads
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Elgar: The Apostles, Op. 49
RecommendedRebecca Evans (The Angel Gabriel/The Blessed Virgin Mary), Alice Coote (Mary Magdalene/Narrator 2), Paul Groves (Narrator 1/John), Jacques Imbrailo (Jesus), David Kempster (Peter) & Brindley Sherratt (Judas)
Hallé & Hallé Youth Choir & Hallé Choir, Sir Mark Elder
It has all the tension and excitement of live performance, rising to incandescence in the closing pages, and Mark Elder has perfect control of the large forces and dramatic pacing. Brindley... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, November 2012, Editor's Choice
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BBC Music Magazine, November 2012, Choral & Song Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2013, Winner - Choral
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2013, Recording of the Year & Choral Award Winner
2 CDs
$21.25Downloads
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New,
Michael Tippett: A Child of Our Time RecommendedPumeza Matshikiza (soprano), Dame Sarah Connolly (mezzo), Joshua Stewart (tenor), Ashley Riches (bass-baritone)
BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Sir Andrew Davis
Bass Ashley Riches shines particularly as the narrator, bringing a terrif ic clarity and command to the role. The BBC Symphony Orchestra give a fine performance, but the real star of the show... — More…
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 3rd May 2024
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Offer,
Schumann: Das Paradies und die Peri, Op. 50 RecommendedSally Matthews (Peri), Mark Padmore (narrator), Kate Royal (soprano), Bernarda Fink (alto), Andrew Staples (tenor), Florian Boesch (bass), Soloists from Guildhall School (Quartet)
London Symphony Orchestra & London Symphony Chorus, Sir Simon Rattle
Vivid detail and clear choral textures come over quite stunningly on both formats, but the Blu-ray has the edge...Sally Matthews doesn't quite catch the ethereal quality Gardiner's Barbara Bonney... — More…
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 9th October 2015
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BBC Music Magazine, January 2016, Choral & Song Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2015
2 SACDs + Blu-ray Audio
Original price ($13.25) Reduced price $10.50Downloads
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Bach, J S: St Matthew Passion, BWV244
RecommendedJames Gilchrist (Evangelist), Stephan Loges (Jesus), Hannah Morrison, Zoë Brookshaw, Charlotte Ashley (soprano), Reginald Mobley, Eleanor Minney (alto), Hugo Hymas (tenor), Ashley Riches, Alex Ashworth, Jonathan Sells (bass)
English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir, Trinity Boys Choir, Sir...
James Gilchrist is among the most communicative of storytellers and his lightly articulated, subtly nuanced declamation and, where required, sense of urgency are eloquent and dependable…the... — More…
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 17th March 2017
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Gramophone Magazine, April 2017, Disc of the Month
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Gramophone Awards, 2017, Finalist - Baroque Vocal
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2017
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Record Review, 15th April 2017, Recording of the Week
2 CDs
$23.50Downloads
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Offer,
Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3 & other works for solo instrument and orchestra Jean-Jacques Kantorow (violin) & Heini Kärkkäinen (piano)
Tapiola Sinfonietta, Jean-Jacques Kantorow & Kees Bakels
Right from the opening appassionato phrase on the G string, Jean-Jacques Kantorow goes for broke… Kantorow can be delicate too, while his brisk speeds… ensure that nothing sags - the second... — More…
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2008, Orchestral Finalist
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Gramophone Awards, 2007, Finalist - Concerto
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BBC Music Magazine, March 2007, Disc of the month
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Gramophone Magazine, April 2007, Editor's Choice
CD
Original price ($15.00) Reduced price $12.00Downloads
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Mendelssohn: Elijah, Op. 70
Recommended(sung in English)
Rosemary Joshua (soprano), Jonty Ward (treble), Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano), Robert Murray (tenor) & Simon Keenlyside (baritone)
Wroclaw Philharmonic Choir, Gabrieli Young Singers' Scheme & Gabrieli Consort & Players, Paul McCreesh
Connolly sings with mellifluous tone and Simon Keenlyside is an Elijah of spirit and intelligence: he may not have the sheer weight of a Bryn Terfel, but he's alive to every shift of meaning... — More…
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 27th August 2012
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Gramophone Magazine, November 2012, Editor's Choice
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Diapason d’Or de l’Année, 2013, Winner - Oratorio
2 CDs
$22.75Downloads
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JS Bach: St Matthew Passion RecommendedBenjamin Bruns (Evangelist), Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Aki Matsui (soprano), Damien Guillon (counter-tenor), Clint van der Linde (baritone), Makato Sakurada (tenor), Zachary Wilder (tenor), Christian Immler (baritone), Toru Kaku (bass), Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki
It’s fascinating how much his two recordings have in common…what principally differentiates the two sets are the solo singers…Benjamin Bruns’s Evangelist and Christian Immler’s Christus are... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, April 2020, Recording of the Month
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Gramophone Awards, 2020, Winner - Choral
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Building a Library, October 2022, Recommended Recording
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Handel: Semele
RecommendedLouise Alder (Semele), Hugo Hymas (Jupiter), Lucile Richardot (Juno/Ino), Carlo Vistoli (Athamas), Gianluca Buratto (Somnus/Cadmus), Emily Owen (Iris), Angela Hicks (Cupid), Peter Davoren (Apollo)
English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir, Sir John Eliot Gardiner
Alder is riveting in the title role as she mutates from soft seductress to vain brat to crushed victim, applying a range of styles to develop her character...Richardot’s intensity equals Alder’s,... — More…
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, September 2020, Editor's Choice
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Presto Recording of the Week, 2nd October 2020
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BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2020, Opera Choice
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The Times Records of the Year, 2020
3 CDs
$32.25Downloads
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