Handel: Finest Arias for Base Voice

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one to treasure both for the sensitive and well-sustained singing of Christopher Purves and for the wonderfully wide expressive range of Handel's music...Purves has an acute ear, serving well... — BBC Music Magazine, February 2013, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 3rd Dec 2012
Catalogue No: CDA67842
Label: Hyperion
Length: 70 minutes

BBC Music Magazine Awards

2014

Vocal Finalist
BBC Music Magazine

February 2013

Opera Choice
Gramophone Magazine

January 2013

Editor's Choice
Gramophone Awards

2013

Finalist - Vocal
Opera

May 2013

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Handel: Sibilar gli angui d'Aletto (from Rinaldo, HWV7a)

Work length4:49

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Accompagnato. I rage, I melt, I burn! (from Acis and Galatea, HWV49a)

Work length1:20

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

I rage, I melt, I burn! (from Acis and Galatea, HWV49a)

Track length1:20

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Handel: Air. O ruddier than the cherry (from Acis and Galatea, HWV49a)

Work length3:12

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

O ruddier than the cherry (from Acis and Galatea, HWV49a)

Track length3:12

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Handel: Fra l’ombre e gl’orrori (from Aci, Galatea e Polifemo)

Work length6:58

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: If I give thee honour due (L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato)

Work length0:11

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Mirth, admit me of thy crew (L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato)

Work length2:33

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Qual'insolita luce (from La Resurrezione, HWV47)

Work length1:09

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Caddi, è ver (from La Resurrezione, HWV47)

Work length4:14

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Tears, such as tender fathers shed (from Deborah)

Work length2:30

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: To pow'r immortal my first thanks are due (from Belshazzar)

Work length3:54

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Impari ognun da Orlando (from Orlando)

Work length1:11

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Sorge infausta una procella (from Orlando)

Work length4:35

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Racks, gibbets, sword and fire (from Theodora)

Work length3:55

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Volate più dei venti (from Muzio Scevola)

Work length3:23

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Vieni, o cara (from Agrippina)

Work length1:45

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Nel mondo e nell'abisso (from Riccardo Primo, Re d'Inghilterra)

Work length3:12

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Mie piante correte (from Apollo e Dafne)

Work length2:49

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Cara pianta (from Apollo e Dafne)

Work length7:27

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Revenge, Timotheus cries (from Alexander's Feast)

Work length7:54

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

Handel: Leave me, loathsome light (from Semele)

Work length3:40

$1.10

$1.50

$2.05

Christopher Purves (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen

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Favourites, Handel Operas

Katherine focuses on the hugely prolific composer's stage-works in this week's Favourites.

‘With his acting chops and weighty bass-baritone, Purves in full cry is a splendid and fearful spectacle’ (The Times)

The magnificent Christopher Purves performs a recital of Handel’s bass arias. This unique collection demonstrates the range and brilliance of Handel’s writing for this voice, featuring a selection from Italian and English operas, English classical drama, Biblical oratorios, literary odes and a masque. Handel’s endlessly imaginative gift for characterization is fully explored here, with Purves commanding an extraordinary emotional and technical range from the buffo blustering of Polyphemus in Acis and Gatalea to the loving musings of Abinoam in ‘Tears, such as tender fathers shed’ from the oratorio Deborah.

Reviews

February 2013

one to treasure both for the sensitive and well-sustained singing of Christopher Purves and for the wonderfully wide expressive range of Handel's music...Purves has an acute ear, serving well his intonation and lively feeling for characterisation...The pleasure of single-voice recitals can sometimes be tempered by repetitive mannerisms or exaggerated gestures. Purves avoids both, ensuring enjoyment

19th January 2013

Purves’ voice has a noble timbre and is informed by the keenest intelligence

January 2013

Possessing in effect two voices in one - a ringing, incisive high baritone with a sonorous bass extension...Purves's flair for specific characterisation enlivens every number on the disc...A counter...to the cliched notion that [Handel's] bass arias are all undifferentiated bluster.

January 2013

He relishes verbal dexterity, and the sound of his rolling consonants in Racks, gibbets, sword and fire from Theodora is not easily forgotten, He shakes the word ‘racks’ around his mouth like a dog savaging a toy doll...This outstandingly good disc offers a wide range of music, feeling, texture and mood. Singer and accompanying group are perfectly matched in a sympathetic church acoustic.

August 2014

Purves not only gives a masterclass in characterisation in this collection of opera and oratorio arias, but also showcases a formidable range of nearly three octaves in the fiendishly difficult scene from Aci, Galatea e Polifemo. Equally characterful support from young ensemble Arcangelo under Jonathan Cohen.

10th January 2013

Purves is a fine vocal actor, and we're continuously aware of the variety of Handel's style and the sharpness of his characterisation. The great moments are those in which the singing reveals the depths of Handel's psychological insight, above all in a scene from Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, in which the monster Polifemo is suddenly shown to have immense nobility of soul.

Early Music Today

Christopher Purves gives us masterful, dazzling and powerful performances of scenes from 15 of the composer’s dramatic works, lithely and splendidly supported by up-and-coming ensemble Arcangelo and conductor Jonathan Cohen. In short, this is the most outstanding album of its kind I’ve ever heard from any singer.

Videos

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Favourites, Handel Operas

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