Arne: The Judgment of Paris

Expert in British esoterica, John Andrews secures generally cheerful and passionate performances from his cast and The Brook Street Band that certainly tickle the ear. But this is a curio, not... — BBC Music Magazine, September 2019, 3 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 24th May 2019
Catalogue No: CDLX7361
Label: Dutton
Series: Epoch

Presto Editor's Choice

May 2019

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Arne: The Judgment of Paris

Mary Bevan (Venus), Susanna Fairbairn (Pallas), Gillian Ramm (Juno), Ed Lyon (Paris), Anthony Gregory (Mercury), Andrew Mahon (bass)
Brook Street Band
John Andrews

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Interview, John Andrews on Arne's The Judgment of Paris

10th June 2019

The conductor talks to David about his new recording of Thomas Arne's long-forgotten work, inspired by the contest of the three goddesses in Greek mythology.

Thomas Arne’s opera The Judgment of Paris (1742), a setting of William Congreve’s libretto of the same name, is known only from the printed score, but in this world premiere recording is performed with panache and authority by The Brook Street Band and a scintillating young cast led by sopranos Mary Bevan (Venus), Susanna Fairbairn (Pallas) and Gillian Ramm (Juno), with tenors Ed Lyon as the shepherd Paris and Anthony Gregory as Mercury, all under the expert direction of conductor John Andrews. By the end of the opera we are not surprised when Venus’s softly, softly appeal to her shepherd judge succeeds over the more demonstrative blandishments of her competitors, Pallas and Juno. This is a lovely discovery, with all the cast joining in the spirit of this fable to give it a stylish and compelling revival.

Reviews

September 2019

Expert in British esoterica, John Andrews secures generally cheerful and passionate performances from his cast and The Brook Street Band that certainly tickle the ear. But this is a curio, not a masterpiece.

August 2019

It’s an engaging if occasionally uneven piece, by turns coolly erotic and quietly ironic…The performance is lovely. John Andrews conducts with flair and style, and there’s some delectable playing from The Brook Street Band. Ed Lyon makes an ardent Paris…Mary Bevan sounds ravishing as Venus…It’s very entertaining, and great fun.

May 2019

There’s not a dull moment in Arne’s sunny score; the three rival goddesses are vividly characterised by both composer and singers, but the stand-outs for me were Susanna Fairbairn’s imperious 'The glorious voice of war' (capped with a rock-solid high D) and Mary Bevan’s indolently voluptuous ‘Nature fram’d thee sure for loving’. Ed Lyon’s in virile voice as the hero, whetting the appetite for his debut solo disc on Delphian later this year.

14th July 2019

If Mary Bevan’s Venus wins the golden apple with her ravishing Nature fram’d thee, Susanna Fairbairn and Gillian Ramm provide strong competition as Athene and Juno...Andrews’s stylish conducting makes a strong case for this English baroque discovery.

16th June 2019

It’s all sung with a suitable lightness of touch, with sparkling accompaniment from the Brook Street Band, all artfully directed by John Andrews.

Arne: The Judgment of Paris

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Interview, John Andrews on Arne's The Judgment of Paris

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