Purcell Songs & Aris / Andreas Scholl

Andreas Scholl returns to Decca with a recording of vocal jewels by the great baroque composer Henry Purcell, including 'When I Am Laid In Earth' from Dido and Aeneas. This is Andreas Scholl's first ever recording of the music of Purcell and his uniquely beautiful voice is perfectly suited to the English composer's plangent melodies. The album includes pieces written for the stage, the church and the private chamber, some of which Andreas Scholl has sung in recital for many years, and some he sings here for the first time.

"It is some serious testament to the beauty of Andreas Scholl's voice that he has succeeded in securing a huge following and being a regular high-scorer in the classical charts, because the counter-tenor, to modern ears, can be a difficult sound to come to terms with... Here, soaring through some of the British composer Henry Purcell's greatest hits, the extent of his immense vocal control is revealed once more, from the desolate When I Am Laid in Earth, from Dido & Aeneas, through the chilling Cold Song from the semi-opera King Arthur, to the fa-la-la frolics of The Fairy-Queen (Purcell's musical version of A Midsummer Night's Dream). A delight throughout."-The National

"Andreas Scholl boasts a perfect complement of skills for singing the music of Purcell: fluid dynamic control, elegantly flawless diction, and vocal tone that can sound simultaneously ethereal and earthbound. This new release marks Scholl's first Purcell recording, and it's a winner. Scholl gives the composer's melodies their full measure of elegance, but at the same time there's an air of dramatic urgency and even physicality about these performances that gives weight to Purcell's theatrical sensibilities." -SFGate

"that famously otherworldly tone [is] often breathtakingly in evidence...His decision to tackle Dido's lament has generated controversy: in fact, his performance is extraordinarily haunting...O Dive Custos is arguably the disc's high point. The Academia Bizantina, meanwhile, are on fine form for Stefano Montanari"-The Guardian

"Ethereal yet visceral, Scholl's voice is the dream vehicle for Purcell...Stefano Montanari coaxes thrilling playing from Accademia Bizantina, who dance and swagger, throb and pulsate with true Latin passion. Their continuo realisations - here delicate and intimate, there audaciously jazzy - are an unceasing delight."-BBC Music

“Scholl understands the importance of words and remains the countertenor of choice: it’s not so much the intelligence and grace that make his artistry so instantly recognisable, as the hypnotically soothing quality of his voice...Among the many joys of this exceptional recital are the accompaniments by Accademia Bizantina.”-Financial Times

“Few counter-tenors maintain the width of repertoire or vocal acumen of this artist...his Cold Song from “King Arthur” [is] a shivering, juddering triumph, and the entire package pleases.”-The Times

“his way with words has strengthened...the two countertenors combine marvellously in O dive custos”-Gramophone

“There's no doubt about the theatrical intent driving Scholl's interpretations and the flamboyant work of Italian period instrument band, Accademia Bizantina. The latter's lively continuo group and multi-hued sounds certainly catch the full flavour...few singers...can match him for style and intelligent musicianship in this repertoire.”-Classic FM Magazine

Notes & Reviews:

Recording information: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010).

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Works Details

Purcell, Henry : Fairy Queen, Z 629

Performer: Andreas Scholl (Countertenor)
Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 2 min. 15 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1692-1775

Purcell, Henry : Come, ye sons of art, away, Z. 323 :: 3. Sound the trumpet

Performers: Andreas Scholl (Countertenor); Christophe Dumaux (Countertenor)
Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 3 min. sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1694

Purcell, Henry : Come, ye sons of art, away, Z. 323 :: 5. Strike the viol

Performer: Andreas Scholl (Countertenor)
Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 4 min. 18 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1694

Purcell, Henry : King Arthur, or The British Worthy, Z, 628 :: Chacony

Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 3 min. 36 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1691

Purcell, Henry : King Arthur, or The British Worthy, Z. 628 :: Fairest isle

Performer: Andreas Scholl (Countertenor)
Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 4 min. 54 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1691

Purcell, Henry : King Arthur, or The British Worthy, Z. 628 :: What power art thou (Cold Song)

Performer: Andreas Scholl (Countertenor)
Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 3 min. 9 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1691

Purcell, Henry : Chacony for Strings in G minor, Z 730

Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 4 min. 7 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: circa 1678

Purcell, Henry : The Fairy Queen, Z. 629 :: One charming night

Performer: Andreas Scholl (Countertenor)
Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 2 min. 24 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1689

Purcell, Henry : Pausanias, the Betrayer of his Country, Z. 585 :: 1. Sweeter than roses

Performer: Andreas Scholl (Countertenor)
Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 3 min. 17 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1695

Purcell, Henry : Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626 :: When I am laid in earth (Dido's Lament)

Performer: Andreas Scholl (Countertenor)
Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 4 min. 4 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Form: Opera/Operetta
Written: 1689

Purcell, Henry : The Gordian Knot Unty'd, incidental music, Z. 597

Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 10 min. 46 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1691

Purcell, Henry : Welcome to all the pleasures, Z. 339 :: 3. Here the deities approve

Performer: Andreas Scholl (Countertenor)
Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 4 min. 35 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1683

Purcell, Henry : Oedipus, King of Thebes, Z. 583 :: 2. Music for a while

Performer: Andreas Scholl (Countertenor)
Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 4 min. 13 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: circa 1692

Purcell, Henry : O dive custos

Performers: Andreas Scholl (Countertenor); Christophe Dumaux (Countertenor)
Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 6 min. 59 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1694-1695

Purcell, Henry : O solitude, my sweetest choice, Z 406

Performer: Andreas Scholl (Countertenor)
Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 5 min. 32 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: 1687

Purcell, Henry : Pavan for 3 Violins and Basso Continuo in G minor, Z 752

Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 4 min. 49 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Written: circa 1680

Purcell, Henry : An Evening Hymn to the Ground, "Now that the sun hath veiled his light"

Performer: Andreas Scholl (Countertenor)
Conductor: Stefano Montanari
Ensemble: Accademia Bizantina
Notes: Chiesa di San Girolamo, Bagnacavallo, Italy (07/17/2010-07/22/2010)
Running Time: 4 min. 33 sec.
Period Time: Baroque
Form: Choral
Written: circa 1687

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