Music of Henry Purcell
The Complete Vanguard Recordings Volume 2
Mary Thomas (soprano), Honor Sheppard (soprano), Ellen Dales (soprano), Helen Watts (contralto), Robert Tear (tenor), Maurice Bevan (baritone), April Cantelo (soprano), Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), Peter Salmon (counter-tenor), Wilfred Brown (tenor), John Frost (bass), George Eskdale (solo trumpet),...
This second volume of Vanguard's reissued recordings of Alfred Deller and his consort comprises works by Purcell, the composer most closely associated with Deller, and consists of six CDs, well...
Music of Henry Purcell
The Complete Vanguard Recordings Volume 2
Mary Thomas (soprano), Honor Sheppard (soprano), Ellen Dales (soprano), Helen Watts (contralto), Robert Tear (tenor), Maurice Bevan (baritone), April Cantelo (soprano), Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), Peter Salmon (counter-tenor), Wilfred Brown (tenor), John Frost (bass), George Eskdale (solo trumpet),...
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This second volume of Vanguard's reissued recordings of Alfred Deller and his consort comprises works by Purcell, the composer most closely associated with Deller, and consists of six CDs, well...
About
Musical Concepts is pleased to announce the second release in one of the most ambitious early music reissue projects of all time — Alfred Deller: The Complete Vanguard Recordings. The series brings together every recording made by Alfred Deller – as solo countertenor, ensemble member of the Deller Consort, and conductor – for the legendary, enterprising Vanguard record label. These recordings created a sensation with their initial release, and have influenced and inspired three generations of music lovers, from casual listeners to the top tiers of performing artists and scholars.
Music of England's greatest composer was a speciality of Alfred Deller. His artistry was particularly welll suited to Purcell and Deller's role in establishing the greatness of this music cannot be exaggerated.
This collection includes iconic performances of solo vocal works with groundbreaking recordings of operas, sacred music and theatical works which Deller performs and conducts. Being at the forefront of the re-birth of the early music movement, he naturally attracted many of the other supreme artists of the time, all of whom went on to become great figures in their own right.
Artists
Mary Thomas (soprano), Honor Sheppard (soprano), Ellen Dales (soprano), Helen Watts (contralto), Robert Tear (tenor), Maurice Bevan (baritone), April Cantelo (soprano), Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), Peter Salmon (counter-tenor), Wilfred Brown (tenor), John Frost (bass), George Eskdale (solo trumpet), Leonard Friedman (violin), Eli Goren (violin), Richard Taylor (treble recorder), Stanley Taylor (treble recorder), Peter Graeme (oboe), Edward Selwyn (oboe), Philip Jones (trumpet), Denis Clift (trumpet), Alan Taylor (tympani), Anna Shuttleworth (cello and basso continuo), Francis Baines (cello and basso continuo), Denis Vaughan (harpsichord), Eileen McLoughlin (soprano), Gerald English (tenor), Owen Grundy (baritone), Mark Deller (counter-tenor), Max Worthley (tenor), John Whitworth (counter-tenor)
Christopher Taylor (recorder), Richard Taylor (recorder), Anne Shuttleworth (cello) Walter Bergmann (harpsichord)
The Deller Consort, Oriana Concert Choir and Orchestra, Ambrosian Singers / Kalmar Chamber Orchestra of London, Kalmar Chamber Orchestra, Kalmar Orchestra of London, Oriana Concert Orchestra, Sir Michael Tippett
Contents and tracklist
- Mary Thomas (soprano), Honor Sheppard (soprano), Ellen Dales (soprano), Helen Watts (contralto), Robert Tear (tenor), Maurice Bevan (baritone)
- Oriana Concert Choir and Orchestra, The Deller Consort
- Alfred Deller, Alfred Deller
- April Cantelo (soprano), Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), Peter Salmon (counter-tenor), Wilfred Brown (tenor), Maurice Bevan (baritone), John Frost (bass), George Eskdale (solo trumpet), Leonard Friedman (violin), Eli Goren (violin), Richard Taylor (treble recorder), Stanley Taylor (treble recorder), Peter Graeme (oboe), Edward Selwyn (oboe), Philip Jones (trumpet), Denis Clift (trumpet), Alan Taylor (tympani), Anna Shuttleworth (cello and basso continuo), Francis Baines (cello and basso continuo), Denis Vaughan (harpsichord)
- Ambrosian Singers / Kalmar Chamber Orchestra of London, The Deller Consort
- Sir Michael Tippett, Alfred Deller
- Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), April Cantelo (soprano), Eileen McLoughlin (soprano), Gerald English (tenor), Owen Grundy (baritone), Maurice Bevan (baritone)
- Kalmar Chamber Orchestra, The Deller Consort
- Alfred Deller, Alfred Deller
- Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), Mark Deller (counter-tenor), Mary Thomas (soprano), Maurice Bevan (baritone)
- Oriana Concert Choir and Orchestra, The Deller Consort
- Alfred Deller, Alfred Deller
- Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), April Cantelo (soprano), Gerald English (tenor), Maurice Bevan (baritone)
- Kalmar Orchestra of London, The Deller Consort
- Alfred Deller, Alfred Deller
- Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), Mary Thomas (soprano), Honor Sheppard (soprano), Max Worthley (tenor), Robert Tear (tenor), Maurice Bevan (baritone)
- Oriana Concert Orchestra, The Deller Consort
- Alfred Deller, Alfred Deller
- Alfred Deller (counter-tenor), John Whitworth (counter-tenor), Christopher Taylor (recorder), Richard Taylor (recorder), Anne Shuttleworth (cello) Walter Bergmann (harpsichord)
- The Deller Consort
- Alfred Deller
Awards and reviews
2010
This second volume of Vanguard's reissued recordings of Alfred Deller and his consort comprises works by Purcell, the composer most closely associated with Deller, and consists of six CDs, well packaged and with a CD-Rom giving access to more detailed information. The first two present a mixed programme of songs, duets and instrumental pieces. The third has a complete performance of Dido and Aeneas conducted by Deller and recorded in 1965. The remaining discs include the Odes to St Cecilia, Come, ye Sonsof Art and music for the Masque in Dioclesian, the whole collection ending with Blow's Ode on theDeath of Mr Henry Purcell.
In his middle and later years Deller habitually lightened notes above the centre of his range, so that his style became somewhat predictable and the evenness of his production somewhat impaired. That accounts for main differences between these later performances of such 'signature' pieces as 'Music for a While' and 'Sweeter than Roses': the purity of tone, the extraordinary resonance of lower and middle notes, the technical skill and sensitivity of his singing all remain. As a conductor, he had difficulties, and it cannot be claimed that the Dido is a success.
Some stodgy speeds and sluggish rhythms, a pantomime coven of witches, a Dido lacking nobility of tone and an Aeneas out of oratorio make it hard for other contributions (most notably Helen Watts's sorceress) to have their due effect. Still, no doubt the best way of avoiding disappointment is to be prepared for it.
That Deller could conduct well, holding his place along with the highly professional Harnoncourt in his Dioclesian and the very personally involved Tippett in Hail, bright Cecilia, is evident in the Odes. Stylish playing by George Malcolm and other instrumentalists (including the young violinist Neville Marriner) gives further pleasure. The album celebrated not only Deller himself but his generation who did so much to bring Purcell out of the text books, the full range of his genius revealed.
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