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The Complete Odes and Welcome Songs of Henry Purcell / Kings Consort

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This set will delight any lover of Purcell. Ideally, you will want all 8 CD's; but if you must pick and choose, get at least Vols 1, 2 & 8 (these contain, between them, Welcome to all the pleasures, Hail Bright Cecilia and Come ye sons of art). Volume 1, entitled Royal and Ceremonial Odes, was probably recorded before King knew for sure that his idea of producing the complete chamber vocal works of Purcell would be commercially viable. Hence, the separate title and no mention of the volumes still to come. But by the time the second volume was made, the future of the project was already mapped out. The purpose of the project was to record all 24 surviving odes and welcome songs of Purcell. (This project was later followed by a similar undertaking: an 11-CD set of all surviving Purcell's anthems and services - of those, get at least vols 3 & 9). By the time King was entrusted with this massive and ambitious project, he was still in his twenties. But King knew what he was doing. His assumption of the project was backed by years of research. He even prepared his own performing editions of the works he intended to record, and furnished sleeve notes for each of the CD's in his Purcell series (Later, he also wrote a book about the composer). King's notes are insightful, although his choice of vocabulary is somewhat peculiar and repetitive. The musical results are wonderful, by all accounts. I am especially pleased that King was able to assemble such an outstanding cast of singers. For me, the highlights of the series include: Arise my muse from vol 1 (an alto solo sung by Charles Daniels); Bowman's 'Tis Nature's Voice from vol 2 (although my all time favorite version of this air is on the Herreweghe); alto-high tenor duet Let Caesar and Urania live from vol 3 (you should hear Bowman and Covey-Crump blend in this one!); The sparrow and the gentle dove from vol 4 (Charles Daniels); alto-high tenor duet Sweetness of nature from vol 6 (Bowman and Padmore); an ornate tenor duet And now when the renowned Nassau from vol 7 (Daniels and Covey-Crump); and the glorious high tenor solo O how blest is the isle from vol 8 (Padmore).

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(5 stars) - Purcell Complete Odes & welcome songs - Kings Consort
First class performances by the Kings Consort and recordings by Hyperion. The Kings Consort employs the best singers and players to undertake this ambitious project, and the results are stunning. Having personally sung many of the pieces featured, I know how difficult it is to make the perfect performance. The Kings Consort comes close in this collection - well done. Excellent value for 9 CDs

(1 stars) - Infinite Felicity - Not
One of the greatest disappointments I have ever had in my life was listening to the recordings of Purcell's music that were made in the 1990s by Robert "Everything He Touches Turns To Dross" King. The physical impact of the recordings was comparable to a strand of wet spaghetti and it takes real talent in a conductor to make James Bowman sound so ordinary so much of the time. Particular scorn must be reserved for the casting of Michael George. (What is the difference between Michael George and George Michael ? Answer: George Michael has a voice that is pleasing to listen to.) Michael George has a tolerable light baritone provided the dynamic never gets above mezzo-forte and provided the coloratura never gets out of first gear. (It can be heard to good effect on Hyperion's recordings of Bruckner's and Faure's Requiems.) However, John Gosling, Purcell's miraculous basso profundo of the seventeenth century, he most emphatically is *not*. If David Thomas (the only man for the job) was unavailable then the recordings should not have been attempted.

The problem is that these dreadful recordings have Hyperion's imprimature and so this divine music will probably have to endure a purgatorial wait of at least a generation for a new complete recording.

I'm sorry to see that King has finished with Vivaldi's sacred music. This is a pity, because the amount of damage he can do in this field is limited; let's face it people, once you've got the Four Seasons and the Glorias you've got everything.

A new project for King is clearly required along the same lines. May I suggest a complete recording of the Telemann cantatas ? Then we can all sleep peacefully in our beds until the time comes to sleep peacefully in our graves.

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The Complete Odes and Welcome Songs of Henry Purcell / Kings Consort

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