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Excerpts from the documentary by Olivier Simonnet, "Lully l'Incommode", broadcast on Arte TV in France in December 2009, have been posted on Youtube: Playlist

New Releases

New Releases in 2009

Vivaldi. Armida al campo d'Egitto. (RV 699, Venice 1718). Naïve / Opus 111 OP 30492 (3 CDs, March 2010). Rinaldo Alessandrini, Concerto Italiano. Erminia: Raffaella Milanesi, soprano; Armida: Sara Mingardo; contralto; Adrasto: Romina Basso, mezzo-soprano; Osmira: Monica Bacelli, mezzo-soprano; Emireno: Marina Comparato, mezzo-soprano; Tisaferno: Martín Oro, countertenor; Califfo: Furio Zanasi, baritone. Alessandrini and Frédéric Delaméa reconstructed Act II, for which the music was lost. UK | FR | DE
André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry. Andromaque (Tragédie lyrique. Paris 1780). Glossa (2 CDs, April 2010.) Concert review. Hervé Niquet, Le Concert Spirituel. Andromaque: Judith van Wanroij, soprano; Hermione: Maria-Riccarda Wesseling, mezzo-soprano; Pyrrhus: Sébastien Guèze, tenor; Oreste: Tassis Christoyannis, baritone. UK | FR | DE
Alessandro Scarlatti. San Filippo Neri. Brilliant Classics (2 CDs, April 2010.) Estevan Velardi, Alessandro Stradella Consort. Carità: Rosita Frisani, soprano; Fede: Marco Lazzara, countertenor; Speranza: Manuela Custer, mezzo-soprano; San Fillippo: Mario Nuvoli, tenor. UK | FR | DE
Haydn. Arianna à Naxos. Ambronay (1 CD, April 2010.) Stephanie d'Oustrac, soprano. Aline Zylberajch, fortepiano. UK | FR | DE
Monteverdi. L'incoronazione di Poppea. Glossa GCD 920916 (3 CDs, April 2010). Claudio Cavina, La Venexiana. Emanuella Galli, soprano; Roberta Mameli, soprano; Xenia Meijer, soprano; Josè Maria Lo Monaco, mezzo-soprano; Ian Honeyman, tenor; Raffaele Costantini, bass. Cavina's L'Orfeo may be the finest recording to date of a Monteverdi opera. UK | FR | DE
Handel. Giulio Cesare in Egitto. (HWV 17, London 1724). MDG 609 1604-2 (3 CDs, January 2010). Details. George Petrou, Orchestra of Patras. Giulio Cesare: Kristina Hammarström, mezzo-soprano; Cleopatra: Emanuela Galli, soprano; Sesto: Mary-Ellen Nesi, mezzo-soprano; Cornelia: Irini Karagianni, mezzo-soprano; Tolomeo: Romina Basso, mezzo-soprano; Achilla: Tassis Christoyannis, baritone; Curio: Petros Magoulas, bass; Nireno: Nikos Spanatis, countertenor. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Handel. Orlando. (HWV 31, London 1733). K617221 (3 CDs, March 2010). Details. Jean-Claude Malgoire, La Grande Écurie et la Chambre du Roy. Orlando: Christophe Dumaux, countertenor; Angelica: Elena de la Merced, soprano; Dorinda: Rachel Nicholls, soprano; Medoro: Jean-Michel Fumas, countertenor; Zoroastro: Alain Buet, bass. UK | FR | DE
Handel. Brockes Passion. (HWV 48, Hamburg 1719). Carus 83.428 (January, 2010). Peter Neumann, Collegium Cartusianum, Kölner Kammerchor. Tochter Zion: Nele Gramß, soprano; Gläubige Seele: Johanna Winkel, soprano; Evangelist: Markus Brutscher, tenor; Jesus: Markus Flaig, bass; Petrus: James Oxley, tenor; Maria: Elvira Bill, mezzo-soprano; Judas: Jan Thomer, countertenor; Michael Dahmen, bass. This is easily the best recording to date of Handel's Brockes Passion. The two sopranos are easy to distinguish, yet both sing with excellent early music technique. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Handel. Judas Maccabaeus. (HWV 63, London 1747). Ambronay AMY 024 (2 CDs, March 2010). Details. Leonardo García Alarcón, Ensemble Les Agrémens, Choeur de Chambre de Namur. Judas Maccabaeus: Makoto Sakurada, tenor; Israelite Woman: María Soledad de la Rosa, soprano; Israelite Man: Mariana Rewerski, mezzo-soprano; Priest / Messenger: Fabián Schofrin, countertenor; Simon: Alejandro Meerapfel, baritone. UK | FR | DE
Charpentier. David & Jonathan H.490 (1688). Tragédie biblique. Livret du Père Bretonneau. ABC Classics 4763691 (2 CDs, December 2009). Details / Libretto (pdf) (Dyslexic, right-justified English version.) Anthony Walker, Cantillation, Orchestra of the Antipodes. David: Anders Dahlin, tenor; Jonathan: Sara Macliver, soprano; Saül: Dean Robinson, bass; Achis: Richard Anderson, bass; Joabel: Simon Lobelson, baritone; La Pythonisse: Paul McMahon, tenor; L'Ombre de Samuel: David Parkin, bass. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Pietro Antonio Cesti (1623-1669). Le Disgrazie d'Amore (Vienna 1667). Hyperion CDA 67771/2 (2 CDs, January 2010). Details / Sleeve notes & libretto (pdf). Carlo Ipata, Auser Musici. Allegria: Cristiana Arcari, soprano; Venere: Maria Grazia Schiavo, soprano; Amicizia: Elena Cecchi Fedi, soprano; Amore: Paolo Lopez, sopranist; Adulazione: Gabriella Martellacci, contralto; Avarizia: Martín Oro, countertenor; Cortigiano: Francisco Ghelardini, countertenor: Inganno: Carlos Natale, tenor; Amante: Anicio Zorzi Guistiniani, tenor; Vulcano: Furio Zanasi, baritone; Bronte: Antonio Abete, bass; Sterope: Enea Sorini, bass; Piragmo: Luigi De Donato, bass. "[T]his set is not only an artistic triumph in its own right, but also one of the most important additions to the catalogue we're likely to see this year." Brian Robins, EMR 134:25 (February 2010). I agree. Indeed, this is one of the best recordings to date of a 17th Century Italian opera. I recommend printing out and reading the interesting libretto before listening. Amazingly, a reader advises that it was panned by Gramophone, which usually publishes favorable reviews of anything released by advertisers. This is such a fine performance of great music that even a Gramophone twit with a short attention span should have been able to appreciate brief excerpts, unless he sold his unopened review copy for a couple of quid. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Telemann. Die Tageszeiten TVWV 20:39 (1757)/ Nun danket alle Gott TVWV 1:1166. Carus 83.439 (1 CD, January 2010). Fritz Näf, L'arpa festante, Basler Madrigalisten. Monika Mauch, soprano; Gerhild Romberger, contralto; Hans Jörg Mammel, tenor; Gotthold Schwarz, bass. While the 1991 Max recording of Die Tageszeiten was certainly adequate, this fine new version clearly surpasses it. Die Tageszeiten is comprised of four cantatas for the four times of the day, morning, noon, evening and night, for soprano with trumpet, alto with viola da gamba, tenor with 2 flutes & bass with 2 oboes & bassoon respectively. The short (9:41) festive work, Nun danket alle Gott, which I had not heard previously, is scored for 3 trumpets and 2 horns. There is only one surviving copy which does not indicate the date of composition (probably early) or the occasion for which it was composed. Both the performance and recording are excellent. UK | DE
Haydn. Applausus (Jubiläum Virtutis Palatium). Cantata Hob XXIVa:6 (1768). Capriccio C5036 (2 CDs, 2010). Andreas Spering, Capella Augustina. Temperantia: Anna Palimina, soprano; Prudentia: Marina de Liso, mezzo-soprano; Justitia: Donát Havár, tenor; Fortitudo: Johannes Weisser, bass; Theologia: Andreas Wolf, bass. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Haydn. Die wüste Insel - 1802 German version of L'isola disabitata. dhm 88697579852 (1 CD, January 2010). Track list / Details (pdf). Michi Gaigg, L'Orfeo Barockorchester. Constanze: Ulrike Hofbauer, soprano; Silvia: Barbara Kraus, soprano; Fernando: Christian Zenker, tenor; Enrico: Reinhard Mayr, bass. Fine performance and recording. Haydn composed a new final quartet for the German version. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Samuel Arnold (1740-1802). Polly. Naxos 8.660241 (1 CD, April 2010). Kevin Mallon, Aradia Ensemble. Laura Albino, soprano; Bud Roach, tenor; Jason Nedecky, baritone. UK | FR | DE | CA
J.S. Bach. Matthäus Passion BWV 244. Challenge Classics CC 72357 (3 CDs, January 2010). Details / "A barefooted, vulnerable St Matthew Passion of sky-high perfection" -- Because of construction in Leuven, recording had to be done at night. "During the first night a full live recording was made. And during daytime [producer] Bert [van der Wolf] did his production work, so that the next three nights he knew exactly what parts still had to be done. It was a very intense and unique process." Sigiswald Kuijken, La Petite Bande. Choir I: Gerlinde Sämann, soprano; Petra Noskaiová, contralto; Christoph Genz, tenor; Jan van der Crabben, baritone. Choir II: Marie Kuijken, soprano; Patrizia Hardt, contralto; Bernhard Hunziger, tenor; Marcus Niedermeyr, bass. A fine performance and recording that I can recommend. I haven't heard John Butt's recording and thus have no basis for comparison. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
J.S. Bach. Passio Secundum Johannem. Zig-Zag Territoires (2 CDs, March 2010). Details. Benoît Haller, La Chapelle Rhénane. Evangelist: Julian Prégardien, tenor; Jesus: Benoît Arnould, baritone; Peter & Pilate: Dominik Wörner, bass; Salomé Haller, soprano; Tanya Aspelmeier, soprano; Julien Freymuth, countertenor; Pascal Bertin, countertenor; Michael Feyfar, tenor. This appears to be an OVPP performance. UK | FR | DE
J.S. Bach. Markus-Passion. Carus 83.244 (1 CD, February 2010). Performance review / Malcolm Bruno, Towards a Markus-Passion. Choir & Organ, Nov/Dec 2005 (pdf). Michael Willens, Kölner Akademie. Anja Zügner, soprano; Dorothea Wagner, soprano; Clare Wilkinson, mezzo-soprano; Silvia Janak, mezzo-soprano; Ensemble Amarcord: Wolfram Lattke, tenor; Martin Lattke, tenor; Frank Ozimek, baritone; Daniel Knauft, bass; Holger Krause, bass. Dominique Horwitz, Speaker. Hellmann reconstruction revised by Andreas Glöckner (Carus 2001). UK | FR | DE
Johann Christoph Rothe (1653-1700). Matthäus-Passion (1697). cpo (2 CDs, April 2010). Bernhard Klapprott, Cantus Thuringia, Capella Thuringia. Hans Jörg Mammel, tenor; Wolf Matthias Friedrich, bass; Gudrun Sidonie Otto, soprano; Margaret Hunter, soprano; Christoph Dittmar, countertenor; Beat Duddeck, countertenor. DE | CA
Francesco Feo (1691-1761). Passio secundum Joannem. Passacaille (1 CD, March 2010). Details. Lorenzo Ghielmi, La Divina Armonia. Barbara Schmidt-Gaden, mezzo-soprano; Doron Schleifer, countertenor; Mirko Guadagnini, tenor; Krystian Adam, tenor. UK | FR | DE
Benedetto Marcello. Cassandra (Odi, o Troia) / Concerto for violin arranged for solo harpsichord by J.S. Bach, BWV 981. Aeon (1 CD, March 2010). Kai Wessel, countertenor. David Blunden, harpsichord. J.C.F. Bach later set the same Cassandra libretto for alto, strings and continuo in a galant style, with mostly accompanied recitative and arioso, but concluding with two long, da capo arias. An excellent recording by Max et al. is available on cpo. UK | FR | DE
Jean Gilles. Lamentations / Motet "Diligam te, domine" (1701). Ligia Digital (1 CD, March 2010). Jean-Marc Andrieu, Orchestre Les Passions, Choeur de chambre Les Éléments (Joël Suhubiette). Anne Magoüet, soprano; Vincent Lièvre-Picard, haute-contre; Bruno Boterf, tenor; Alain Buet, baritone, Volny Hostiou, serpent. As with the fine 2008 recording of the Gilles Requiem and a different grand motet by the same forces, the serpent is restored to its rightful place in French baroque sacred music. FR | DE
Pergolesi. Dixit Dominus; Salve Regina in A minor; Confitebor tibi, Domine; Chi non ode e chi non vede. DG-Archiv 477 8465 (1 CD, March 2010). Details. Claudio Abbado, Orchestra Mozart, Coro della Radiotelevisione Svizzera. Rachel Harnisch, soprano; Rosa Bove, contralto; Julia Kleiter, soprano; Lucio Gallo, baritone. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Pergolesi. Missa S. Emidio, Salve Regina in F minor, Manca la guida al piè, Laudate pueri Dominum. DG-Archiv 477 8463 (1 CD, February 2010). Details. Claudio Abbado, Orchestra Mozart, Coro della Radiotelevisione Svizzera. Rachel Harnisch, soprano; Sara Mingardo, contralto; Verónica Cangemi, soprano; Teresa Romano, soprano. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Alessandro Scarlatti. Cantatas & Chamber Music. Chandos Chaconne 0768 (1 CD, April 2010). Clara Rottsolk, soprano. Tempesta di Mare Chamber Players. "Quella pace gradita", "Non sò qual più m'ingombra" (Cantata pastorale), "Bella dama di nome Santa", Concerto IX. UK | FR | DE
Alessandro Scarlatti & Francesco Durante. Umana e inumana: Cantatas. Arion (1 CD, March 2010). Jay Bernfeld, Fuoco e Cenere. Isabelle Poulenard, soprano; Guillemette Laurens, mezzo-soprano. UK | FR | DE
Purcell. Love Songs. Carus 83.435 (1 CD, March 2010). Dorothee Mields, soprano.  Wolfgang Katschner, Lautten Compagney. UK | FR | DE
Frescobaldi. Frescobaldi Edition vol. 7: Arie musicali - Complete. Brilliant Classics (2 CDs, March 2010.) Details. Bettina Hoffmann, Modo Antiquo. Elena Cecchi Fedi, soprano; Silvia Vajente, soprano; Lucia Sciannimanico, mezzo-soprano; Paolo Fanciullacci, tenor; Gabriele Lombardi, baritone. UK | FR | DE
Lodovico Giustini da Pistoia (1685-1743). 12 Sonate da Cimbalo di piano e forte. Brilliant Classics (3 CDs, March 2010.) Andrea Coen, fortepiano. UK | FR | DE
M-A Charpentier. L'Orgue historique de Nay (1673). Pierre Verany PV 709101 (1 CD, November 2009). Details. Jean-Paul Lécot, organ. Dominique Visse, countertenor. Ouverture de Médée, Suite de Noëls, Récit et Air d'Orphée descendant aux enfers, Suite du IIe ton, Air de David et Jonathas, Chaconne du Rendez-vous des Tuileries, Gloria de la Messe pour les instruments, Salve Regina des Jésuites, Suite du Ier ton. UK | FR | DE
Reinhold Keiser. Passion Music. cpo (1 CD, April 2010). Thomas Ihlenfeldt, Capella Orlandi Bremen. Eeva Tenkanen, soprano; Doerthe Maria Sandmann, soprano; Olivia Vermeulen, mezzo-soprano; Knut Schoch, tenor; Julian Podger, tenor; Raimonds Spogis, bass. Motet: "Ich liege und schlafe ganz mit" & fragment of the Lukas-Passion "Wir gingen alle in die Irre". DE | CA
Reinhard Keiser. Markuspassion. Chrismon 2035 (1 CD, February 2010). Details. Ralf Popken, Capella Sancti Georgi, Musica Alta Ripa. Georg Poplutz, tenor. Possibly by Nikolas Bruhns rather than Keiser. UK | FR | DE
Frescobaldi. Il Regno d'Amore. Ricercar (1 CD, April 2010). Leonardo Garcia-Alarcòn, Ensemble Clematis. Mariana Florès, soprano. UK | FR | DE
Pachelbel. Vespers. Signum SIGCD 198 (1 CD, March 2010). Kah-Ming Ng, Charivari Agréable, The King's Singers. UK | FR | DE
Handel. Handel in Darmstadt. Analekta CD-29121 (1 CD, March 2010). Details. Geneviève Soly, harpsichord by Matthias Griewisch after Mietke. Pieces by Handel and Graupner from a manuscript copied in Darmstadt around 1720. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
John Dowland. Clear or Cloudy - Lute Songs. Musica Ficta MF 8009 (1 CD, February 2010). Details / Performers' website. Valeria Mignaco, soprano. Alfonso Marín, lute. UK | FR | DE
Allegri, Biber, Capezzuto, Cazzati, Ferrari, Gragnaniello, Guissani, Legrnzi, Mealli, Merula, Monteverdi, Luigi Rossi, Sances. Via Crucis - Rappresentazione della Gloriosa Passione della Cristo. Virgin 5099969457708 (1 CD + 1 DVD, March 2010). Chrisitna Pluhar, L'Arpeggiata & Ensemble Barbara Fortuna (Corsican Choir). Núria Rial, soprano; Philippe Jaroussky, countertenor. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Le Jeune, de Castro, Costeley, Regnard, Segni da Modena, Goudimel, Coste, Bassano, Pevernage, Michael Praetorius, du Caurroy, Bonnet. Les Amours de Mai - Love Songs in the Age of Ronsard. MSR Classics  MS 1304 (1 CD, December 2009). Details. Parthenia. Julianne Baird, soprano. Robert Mealy, violin. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Monteverdi. Vespro della beata vergine. K617220 (2 CDs, January 2010). Details. Gabriel Garrido, Ensemble Elyma, Les Sacqueboutiers de Toulouse, Coro Antonio Il Verso, Coro Madrigalia. Emanuela Galli & Adriana Fernández, sopranos; Martín Oro & Fabian Schofrin, coutertenors; Mario Cecchetti, Rodrigo del Pozo, Pablo Pollitzer, Fracesc Garrigosa, tenors; Furio Zanasi, baritone; Daniele Carnovich & Ivan Garcia, basses. UK | FR | DE
Giovanni Felice Sances (c.1600-1679). Dulci Amor Iesu. Ricercar RIC 292 (1 CD, January 2010). Nicholas Achten, Scherzi Musicali. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Telemann. Cantatas. J.S. Bach & Hertel. Organ works. NCA 60209 (1 CD, April 2010). Details. Musica Angelica: Robin Johannsen, soprano; Gonzalo Ruiz, oboe; Jeremy Joseph, organ. DE
Handel. Neun Deutsche Arien HMV 202-210 / Gloria / Trio Sonata HWV 392. BIS 1615 (1 CD, December 2009). Emma Kirkby, soprano. London Baroque. These are new recordings and not reissues of the Kirby/London Baroque German Arias on EMI and the Kirkby/London Baroque Gloria on BIS. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
André Raison (c.1650-1719). Messes d'Orgue des 3° et 8° tons. Plain-chant alterné d'Henry Du Mont. Psalmus PSAL 009 (2 CDs, February 2010). Jean-Patrice Brosse, organs of Cintegabelle and Prytanée militaire de La Flèche. Ensemble Vox Cantoris, director Jean-Christophe Candau. UK | FR | DE
Musique Française des XVIIe et XVIIIe Siècles. Hortus 076 (1 CD, March 2010). Motets by Jean-François Lalouette (1651-1728); Titelouze, Ave Marie Stella; Boyvin, selections from his livre d'orgue; Leclair, violin sonata; F. Couperin, La Sultane; Gaspard Corrette, organ music. Benjamin Alard, organ at St-Ouen de Pont-Audemer; Thomas van Essen, baritone; Marie Rouquié, violin; Julien Léonard, viol. UK | FR | DE
Armand-Louis Couperin (1727-1789). Les Claviers Expressifs de Pascal Taskin. Lyrinx LYR 2262 (1 CD, March 2010). Works for two claviers. Pierre Goy & Nicole Hostettler, Taskin fortepiano & Ruckers-Taskin harpsichord. UK | FR | DE
Tesoros de Aránzazu Vol. 1: Arias with Organ Obligato. Verso VRS 2077 (1 CD, February 2010). Details. Elena López Jáuregui, soprano. Norberto Broggoni, organ. FR | DE
Lully, Purcell. Amours impossibles. Triton (1 CD, February 2010). Details (pdf). Françoise Masset, soprano. Michel Alabau, 2001 Freytag/Tricoteaux North German organ at Saint-Vaast de Béthune. Transcriptions and opera arias. FR
Muzio Clementi (1752-1832). Early Piano Sonatas. Susan Alexander-Max, fortepiano.
Vol. 3. Details. Naxos 8.570475 (1 CD, April 2010). UK | FR | DE | CA
Vol. 2. Details. Naxos 8.557695 (1 CD, 2007). US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Vol. 1. Details. Naxos 8.555808 (1 CD, 2002). US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
J.S. Bach. Das wohltemperirte Clavier BWV 846-893. Triton TRI 331164 (4 CDs, November 2009). Frédéric Desenclos, performing on four different organs: 1726 Garrels organ at Oud-Katholieke Kerk in The Hague; 1996 Felsberg-Aubertin organ at Église Notre-Dame Saint-Vincent in Lyon; 1999 Rémy Mahler organ at Saint-Étienne de Baïgorry; 1783 Wolfferts-Heyneman organ at Sint-Maartenskerk, Zaltbommel. UK | FR | DE | JP
Buxtehude. VII Suonate, Op.1. Chandos Chaconne CHAN 0766 (1 CD, January 2010). Details. The Purcell Quartet. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Tunder, Meder, Weckmann, Biber, Bernhard, Buns. Harmoniae Sacrae - 17th Century German Sacred Cantatas. Ramée 0905 (1 CD, February 2010). Details. Mieneke van der Velden, L'Armonia Sonora. Hana Blažíková, soprano; Peter Kooij, bass. François Fernandez & Sayuri Yamagata, violin; Kaori Uemura & Ricardo Rodriguez Miranda, viola da gamba; Peter Rikkers, violone; Leo van Doeselaar, organ. UK | FR | DE
Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672). Symphoniae Sacrae I (1629). dhm 88697524182 (2 CDs, March 2010). Details. Roland Wilson, Musica Fiata. Monika Mauch, soprano; Hans-Jörg Mammel, tenor; Markus Brutscher, tenor. Wilson previously recorded Symphoniae Sacrae II & III. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672). Musikalische Exequien / Bußpsalmen. cpo 777 410-2 (1 CD, March 2010). Manfred Cordes, Weser-Renaissance. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Carissimi. Oratorios: Jonas, Ezechia, Jephte, Job. ATMA 2622 (1 CD, February 2010). Alexander Weimann, Les Voix Baroques. Susie LeBlanc, soprano; Maria Keohane, soprano; Catherine Webster, soprano; Josée Lalonde, contralto; Matthew White, countertenor; Lawrence Wiliford, tenor; Colin Balzer, tenor; Sumner Thompson, baritone; Tyler Duncan, baritone. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Handel. Israel in Egypt. (HWV 54, London 1739). BR Klassik (2 CDs, March 2010). Details. Peter Dijkstra, Concerto Köln. Rosemary Joshua, soprano; Atsuko Suzuki, soprano; Gerhild Romberger, contralto; Kobie van Rensburg, tenor; Simon Pauly, bass; Thomas Hamberger, bass. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Alessandro Scarlatti. Opera omnia for keyboard - vol. III. Tactus TC 661913 (1 CD, March 2010). Details. Francesco Tasini, organ. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Alessandro Scarlatti, Francesco Mancini, Domenico Sarri. Manoscritto di Napoli 1725. Sony 88697564082 (1 CD, February 2010). Details. Bart Coen, recorder and director, Ensemble Per Flauto. Ryo Terakado & An Van Laethem, violins; Mika Akiha, viola; Ronan Kernoa, cello; Herman Stinders, harpsichord & organ. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Handel. Mezzo-soprano Opera Arias. Virgin 5099969457401 (1 CD, February 2010). Details. Max Emanuel Cencic, countertenor. Diego Fasolis, I Barocchisti. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Rosenmüller (1619-1684). Deutsche Geistliche Konzerte - German Sacred Concertos. Christophorus CHR 77319 (1 CD, January 2010). Arno Paduch, Johann Rosenmüller Ensemble. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Handel. Duets. Chandos Chaconne CHAN 0767 (1 CD, March 2010). Harry Bicket, The English Concert. Rosemary Joshua, soprano; Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Giovanni Legrenzi (1626-1690). Concerti musicali per uso di Chiesa Op. 1 - Musica & Vespera. Dynamic CDS 653 (2 CDs, February 2010). Details (pdf). Riccardo Favero, Oficina Musicum. UK | FR | DE
Haydn. 12 London Symphonies. Naïve V5176 (4 CDs, March 2010). Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre - Grenoble. UK | FR | DE | JP
Vivaldi. Complete Music for Plucked Instruments. Brilliant Classics (2 CDs, April 2010). L'Arte dell'Arco. DE
Haydn. Concertos for Harpsichord & Violin. Decca (1 CD, April 2010). Ottavio Dantone, Accademia Bizantina. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Haydn. Violin Concertos. Brilliant Classics (1 CD, March 2010). Federico Guglielmo, violin & director, L'Arte dell'Arco. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Haydn. Concertini & Divertimenti for Keyboard Trio. Brilliant Classics (1 CD, February 2010). Roberto Loreggian, fortepiano & director, L'Arte dell'Arco. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
J.S. Bach. Clavier-Übung I - Partitas. Alpha (2 CDs, March 2010). Benjamin Alard, harpsichord. UK | FR | DE
Michelle Corrette (1707-1795). Les Délices de la solitude - 6 sonatas for violoncello & b.c. Coviello Classics 21001 (1 CD, January 2010). Bassorum vox: Seung-Yeon Lee, cello; Se-Hee Lee, cello; Fernando Reyes Ferrón, theorbo & guitar; Mami Kurumada, harpsichord. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Leonardo Leo, Giuseppe de Majo (1697-1771); Nicola Ugolino (late 18th Century); Niccolò Grillo (18th Century); Nicola Fiorenza (c.1700-1764). Cantate Napoletane del '700. Eloquentia EL 0919 (1 CD, May 2009). Details / Review by Johan Van Veen. Antonio Florio, Cappella della Pietà de'Turchini. Pino de Vittorio, tenor; Alessandro Ciccolini, violin; Tommaso Rossi, flute; Ugo Di Giovanni, archlute. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Antonio Bertali (1605-1669). La Strage Degl'Innocenti / Carissimi. Historia Divitis. ORF (1 CD, March 2010). Details. Christoph Hammer, Neue Hofkapelle München. Ulrike Hofbauer, soprano; Kristine Jaunalksne, soprano; Ulrike Andersen, contralto; Alex Potter, countertenor; Robert Sellier, tenor; Manuel Warwitz, tenor; Dominik Wörner, bass; Manfred Bittner, bass. UK | FR | DE
Henri Du Mont. Cantica Sacra. Ricercar (1 CD, February 2010). Bruno Boterf, Choeur de Chambre de Namur, Les Solisites. UK | FR | DE
Matthias Weckmann. Wie liegt die Stadt so wüste - Sacred Motets. Harmonia Mundi HMC 902034 (1 CD, February 2010). Konrad Junghänel, Cantus Cölln, Concerto Palatino. UK | FR | DE
Francesco Cavalli. Magnificat and other sacred works. Dynamic (1 CD, January 2010). Bruno Gini, Ensemble La Pifarescha, Coro Claudio Monteverdi. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Handel, Marcello, Porpora, Sartorio, Scarlatti. Rosso - Italian Baroque Arias. DGG 477 8763 (1 CD, April 2010). Details. Patricia Petibon, soprano. Andrea Marcon, Venice Baroque Orchestra. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Manuscrit de Vaudry de Saizenay (1668-1742). AS Musique ASM 004 (1 CD, September 2009). Details. Claire Antonini, 11-course baroque lute by Paul Thomson. This is a superb recording, in every respect -- the music, the richly ornamented performance, the lute, the recording engineering and the room acoustics. Claire Antonini has chosen 32 pieces, mostly dances, from the 450 collected and copied by Vaudry de Saizenay. From the liner note by Claude Chauvel: "His book ... is full of technical details and interpretative signs such as fingering, tenues (held notes), ornaments, harpégements (arpeggiated chords), and separations. In this unique source for many pieces, he sometimes corrects the text or clarifies the attributions." From the liner note by Claire Antonini: "This selection not only reflects my musical affinities but also satisfies two important criteria: * Fidelity to the manuscript's spirit and to its organisation of the modes, richness of musical forms, and multitude of composers - be they renowned lutenists like Gaultier or de Visée, others represented by only a few pieces, like Emond or Jacquesson, or simply anonymous musicians. * Clarity of the musical discourse.... [T]he alteration of dance suites and individual pieces, enriched by the play of changing keys, allows the composers to respond one to another, to assert their personalities and richness of their styles - Gaultier's boldness and originality, Gallot's melancholy, or de Visée's nobility, for example." FR | DE
Charles Mouton (1626-1699). The Mystery of Sign. Mouthon - Concerti à 5. Challenge Classics (1 CDs, January 2010). Details (pdf). Gunnar Letzbor, Ars Antiqua Austria. These apparently include arrangements of Mouton lute pieces. DE
Rameau. Opera Airs Transcribed for Organ. Alpha (1 CD, February 2010). Details. Yves Rechsteiner, Moucherel organ of Cintegabelle. From Rechsteiner's arrangements of Rameau works for organ, published by Le Chant du Monde. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
J.S. Bach, Buxtehude, Froberger, Reincken, Kerll. Die Quellen des jungen Bach. Alpha 149 (1 CD, January 2010). Céline Frisch, harpsichord. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Handel, Pranzer, Kreutzer, Blumenthal, Stark. Clarimonia en Suite: Evolution of the Clarinet and its Music. Cavalli CCD 287 (1 CD, January 2010). Details. Clarimonia: Jochen Seggelke, Bernhard Kösling, Ekkehard Sauer. Guest: Joaqim Palet. DE
Haydn. Opera at Esterháza -- Arias for La Circe (pasticcio) and for insertion in operas by other composers. BIS SACD-1811 (1 CD, December 2009). Manfred Huss, Haydn Sinfonietta Wien. Miah Persson, soprano; Bernard Richter, tenor; Kristin Chávez, mezzo-soprano; Iván Paley, baritone; Manfred Hemm, bass; Christoph Genz, tenor. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Telemann. "O woe! O woe! My canary is dead!" - Secular cantatas and orchestral suites. Accent ACC 24199 (1 CD, January 2010). Ewald Demeyere, Bach Concentus. Dorothee Mields, soprano. Vinciane Baudhuin, oboe. The recording of the suites is exceptional. In the cantatas, the soloist sounds more reverberant than the orchestra. It's a fine performance nonetheless of two previously unrecorded secular cantatas. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Lobt Gott ihr Christen allzugleich - Baroque Bass Cantatas from the Mügeln Archive. cpo 777 298-2 (1 CD, February 2010). Klaus Mertens, bass-baritone. Shalev Ad-El, Accademia Daniel. Emanuel Kegel: Nichts ist süßer als die Liebe; Christian Wolff: Mit Fried und Freud fahr ich dahin; Johann Theodor Römhild: Es geht kein andrer Weg zum Himmel & Meine Sonne stehet stille; Hoffmann: Lobt Gott ihr Christen allzugleich; Johann Donati: Mein Hertzens-Hauß bereite dich; Telemann: Kaum ist der Heyland auf der Erden. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Handel. Handel with Care - Opera and Oratorio Arias. dhm 88697526952 (1 CD, April 2010). Wolfgang Katschner, Lautten Compagney. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Handel, Alessandro Scarlatti, Corelli. Travelogues of Italy. Winter & Winter 910 158-2 (1 CD, February 2010). Details (pdf). Susanne Rydén, soprano. Die Freitagsakademie. Includes the Handel cantatas Mi palpita il cor (HWV 132) & Il Delirio Amoroso (HWV 99). UK | FR | DE
Handel & Giuseppe Sammartini. Sonatas for a German Flute. Accent ACC 24191 (January, 2010). Les Buffardins -- Frank Theuns & Marc Hantaï, flutes; Rainer Zipperling, cello; Siebe Henstra, harpsichord. FR | DE
J.C.F. Bach. Concerti - Bach-Söhne III. Carus 83.306 (1 CD, January 2010). Gottfried von der Goltz, Freiburger Barockorchester. Christine Schornsheim, harpsichord. UK | DE
Handel. Alexander's Feast HWV 75 & Ode for St. Cecilia's Day HWV 76. Naxos (1 CD, February 2010). Joachim Carlos Martini, Barockorchester Frankfurt, Junge Kantorei. Gerlinde Sämann, soprano; Knut Schoch, tenor; Klaus Mertens, bass. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Froberger. Suites 1649 & 1656. Naïve Ambroisie AM 148 (1 CD, February 2010). Christophe Rousset, harpsichord (Couchet 1652). UK | FR | DE | CA
Haydn. Haydn and the Art of Variation. Metronome METCD 1085 (1 CD, January 2010). Carole Cerasi, fortepiano & clavichord. Sonata in C major HobXVI/48. Sonata in G major HobXVI/40. Sonata in D major HobXVI/19. Sonata in D major HobXVI/42. Andante and Variations in F minor HobXVII/6. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Handel. Venus & Adonis: Cantatas & Sonatas. dhm 88697630232 (1 CD, January 2010). Details. Gemma Bertagnolli, soprano. Alfredo Bernardini, Ensemble Zefiro. Venus & Adonis (HWV 85) apparently was Handel's first setting of an English text. Also includes Mi palpita il cor (HWV 132) and the German aria "Meine Seele hört im Seh". US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Charpentier, Lambert, Rameau. Ombre de mon amant - French baroque arias. DG-Archiv 477 8610 8 (1 CD, January 2010). Details. Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano. William Christie, Les Arts Florissants. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Handel. Apollo e Dafne HWV 122 / Dafne Suite HWV 4 / Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 4. Avi 4260085532001 (1 CD, February 2010). Bernhard Forck, Händelfestspielorchester Halle. Myrsini Margariti, soprano; Nikolay Borchev, bass. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Alessandro Scarlatti. Cantatas. Naxos Germany 8.551283 (1 CD, December 2009). Details. Susanna Crespo Held, soprano. Musica Poëtica. Io son pur solo; Il Rossignuolo; Sento nel core; No marirei contento; Lascia, deh, lasica. Booklet in German and Italian only. UK | FR | DE
Leo, Pegolesi, Scarlatti. Sacred Music from Naples. dhm 88697539442 (1 CD, February 2010). Details. Alan Curtis, Il Complesso Barocco. Mary-Ellen Nesi, mezzo-soprano; Catherine Jones, cello. Includes 2 Salve Reginas by Leo, 2 by Pergolesi, 1 by Scarlatti, and a cello concerto by Leo. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP
Buxtehude, Telemann, J.S. Bach. Jesu meine Freude - German Baroque Cantatas vol. 2. Sony Vivarte 88697627402 (1 CD, January 2010). Details. Stephan MacLeod, director & bass, Gli Angeli Genève. Hana Blažíková, soprano; Julia von Landsberg, soprano; Pascal Bertin, countertenor; Jan Kobow, tenor. Buxtehude: Jesu, meine Freude BuxWV 60; Telemann, Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele TWV 1:1253-54; Bach: Jesu, meine Freude BWV 227; Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen BWV 81; Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele BWV 180. US | FR | DE | CA | JP
Buxtehude. Complete Organ Works vol. 2. Hyperion CDA 67809 (1 CD, January 2010). Details / Sleeve notes (pdf). Christopher Herrick, organ of Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway (1739-41, restored in 1994). US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Reissues of Particular Interest

Alessandro Scarlatti. Humanità e Lucifero. Biondi. Opus 111. UK | FR | DE

Vivaldi. Bajazet. Biondi. Virgin 4564592 (2 CDs). US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

The Handel Collection. Coro 16080 (12 CDs, March 2010). Harry Christophers, The Sixteen. Samson, Israel in Egypt, Esther, Alexander's Feast, and aria/cantata recordings with Sarah Connolly, Ann Murray and Elin Manahan Thomas. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Lully. Les Premiers Opéras Français: Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, Les Fêtes de l'Amour et de Bacchus, Isis, Amadis. Accord 480 2871 (10 CDs). Hugo Reyne, La Simphonie du Marais. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

J.S. Bach. English Suites, French Suites, Klavierbüchlien für Wilhelm Friedemann. Ambroisie (6 CDs). Christophe Rousset, harpsichord. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

J.S. Bach. Complete Organ Works. Ricercar (16 CDs? The last issue contained 18 CDs). Bernard Foccroulle. Budget reissue of this excellent set performed on historical North German organs. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Handel Opera Collection. dhm 88697489402 (22 CDs, April 2009). Details. This reissue includes the S. Kuijken recording of Alessandro, which has been out of print for many years. The best of the remaining opera recordings are Lotario (Curtis), Partenope (Kuijken) & Rodelinda (Schneider). Of these, only Schneider's Rodelinda has been superseded by a clearly superior recording. The others are of little or no interest: Malgoire's lackluster Rinaldo, Serse & Tamerlano and the comically incompetent old Rudel recording of Giulio Cesare. No librettos are included or available online. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Handel. 6 Operas: Rodrigo, Radamisto, Admeto, Fernando, Arminio, Deidamia. Virgin 6958622 (15 CDs & 1 CD-ROM with booklet texts). Alan Curtis, Il Complesso Barocco. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Handel. Operas. Harmonia Mundi (9 CDs & 1 CD-ROM with pdf librettos of the operas only). René Jacobs. Guilio Cesare, Flavio, Rinaldo, & Duetti e Cantate da camera from HM 1004. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Telemann. Ino (Dramatic Cantata) / Overture in D (both c.1765). DG-Archiv. Barbara Schlick, soprano. Goebel, MAK. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Vivaldi Opera Edition. Naïve/Opus 111 OP 30470. Reissues of the first six Opus 111 Vivaldi opera recordings & Juditha Triumphans, plus the Alia Vox recording of Farnace. 27 CDs + 1 DVD + 208-page book. Recommended for the book and the recordings, of L'Olimpiade, Orlando Fïnto Pazzo, and Juditha Triumphans. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Vivaldi. Vespri per l'Assunzione di Maria Vergine. Opus 111/Naïve. Alessandrini. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Handel. Il Trionfo / Teseo / Amadigi. Warner (Erato), 6 CDs. Minkowski. Improved with new typeset librettos with new aria translations (pdf).. US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Handel. La Resurrezione (Koopman). Semele et al. (Gardiner). Warner (Erato). Libretto (pdf). US | UK | FR | DE | CA | JP

Vivaldi. Dorilla in Tempe. Pierre Verany. Bezzina. Better performance than all but two of the disappointing Naïve Vivaldi Edition opera recordings. The original release included a libretto with an English translation, but there is no libretto in the reissue. UK | FR | DE

In the Studio / Forthcoming CDs

Vivaldi. Ercole su'l Termodonte. (RV 710, Rome 1723). Virgin Classics 94545 (2 CDs, April 2010). Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante. Antiope: Vivica Genaux, mezzo-soprano; Diana Damrau, soprano; Patrizia Ciofi, soprano; Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano; David Daniels, countertenor; Philippe Jaroussky, countertenor; Rolando Villazón, tenor; Francesco Meli, tenor.
Jean-Baptiste Lully. Atys. Musique à la Chabotterie (3 CDs, May 2010). Details. Hugo Reyne, La Simphonie du Marais. Lully ou le Musicien du Soleil, Volume XI. Atys: Romain Champion, haute-contre; Sangaride: Bénédicte Tauran, soprano; Cybèle: Amaya Domínguez, mezzo-soprano; Célénus: Aimery Lefévre, baritone; Idas: Matthieu Heim, bass; Doris: Maud Ryaux, soprano; Mélisse: Maïlys de Villoutreys, soprano; Le Sommeil: Vincent Liévre-Picard, haute-contre.
J.S. Bach. Mass in B Minor BWV 232. Linn Records (2 CDs, May 2010). John Butt, Dunedin Consort.
Domènec Terradellas (1713-1751). Sesostri (Rome, 1751). RCOC. Forthcoming. Details. Juan Bautista Otero, Real Compañía Ópera de Cámara (RCOC). Sesostri: Sunhae Im, soprano; Amasi: Anders J. Dahlin, tenor; Nitocri: Verónica Cangemi, soprano; Artenice: Robin Johannsen, soprano; Orgonte: Judith van Wanroij, soprano; Fanete: Robin Tritschler, tenor. (Terradellas apparently was murdered in Rome in 1751, 21 years after Vinci met the same fate.)
Vicente Martín y Soler (1754-1806). Il Sogno / La Dora Festeggiante. RCOC. Forthcoming. Details. Juan Bautista Otero, Real Compañía Ópera de Cámara (RCOC). Nice: Sunhae Im, soprano; Egle: Verónica Cangemi, soprano; Fileno: Magnus Staveland, baritone.
Alessandro Scarlatti. Carlo, rè d'Allemagna (Naples 1716). Forthcoming. Fabio Biondi, Europa Galante. Magnus Staveland, baritone. Review by Carlo Vitale of a 2003 performance.
Telemann. Käpitansmusik 1738. cpo 777 386-2 (2 CDs, 2010). Hermann Max, Rheinische Kantorei, Das Kleine Konzert. Veronika Winter, soprano; Cornelia Samuelis, mezzo-soprano; Jan Kobow, tenor; Immo Schröder, tenor; Ekkehard Abele, bass; Gregor Finke, bass.
Antonio Caldara. La Conversione di Clodoveo, Rè di Francia (1715). ATMA (2 CDs 2010-11? Recorded in 2005). Alexander Weimann, Les Voix Baroques. Clodoveo: Allyson McHardy, mezzo-soprano; Clotide: Nathalie Paulin, soprano; San Remigio: Susie LeBlanc, soprano; Uberto: Matthew White, countertenor.
Antonio Caldara. Il più bel nome (1708). Glossa. Forthcoming. Details (pdf). Emilio Moreno, El Concierto Español. Venere: María Espada, soprano; Paride: Robin Blaze, countertenor; Giunone: Raquel Andueza, soprano; Ercole: Marianne Beate Kielland, mezzo-soprano; Il Fato: Augustín Prunell-Friend, tenor.

Recommended Interviews from Goldberg

Vincent Dumestre by Yutha Tep, Issue 37.

Martin Gester by Brian Robins, Issue 36.

Sigiswald Kuijken by Brian Robins, Issue 34, in which he discusses the violoncello da spalla and holeless natural trumpet, among other matters.

Christophe Rousset by Brian Robins, Issue 33.

Also:

Jean-François Madeuf by Jeffrey Nussbaum on the Historic Brass Society website (2006). J-FM: "I never play [natural trumpet] with holes. I only did that when I was learning this very difficult (but so wonderful) instrument."

Early Music World - new website by Brian Robins

A note about web browsers.

ORF and Philips included opera libretto files on multi-session CDs, a now obsolete technology. The non-audio files can't be opened in Windows 7 x64 Explorer, but you can open and extract them with the free version of IsoBuster.

"If one is to believe the historians of the seventeenth century, stage directors did not yet exist. What a fortunate age! One could attend an opera without having to close one's eyes. One could take delight in it, listen to it and watch it at the same time, without feeling welling up within oneself, scene by scene, crescendo, rinforzando, that dull anger which is very bad for one's peace of mind." Philippe Beaussant (La Monde de la Musique, April 2005), English translation in "Vivaldi in Scena: Thoughts on the Revival of Vivaldi's Operas" by Frédéric Delaméa in Vivaldi, Motezuma and the Opera Seria, Michael Talbot (ed.) at 171-2 (Brepols 2008).

I'm still waiting for even one of the many conductors of baroque Italian opera performances with organ, guitar, or harp continuo to cite one solitary source in support of an obnoxious fad. At one time, scholars were prominent in the historical performance movement, but increasingly they have been replaced by copycats and greedy salesmen.

http://www.newolde.com

Copyright © 2002-2010 John Wall