CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

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Weihnachtsoratorium BWV 248 - Christmas Oratorio Part 1 To 6 [1999]

starring: Claron McFadden, Bernarda Fink, Christoph Genz, Dietrich Henschel, The Monteverdi Choir

Release Date October 31, 2005
Brilliant. Absolutely, stunningly, mind-blowingly brilliant. This was the kick-off concert for the Gardiner Bach cantata pilgrimage of 2000, performed in the Herderkirche, Weimar. I have Gardiner's CD of the Weihnachtsoratorium, which I previously regarded as the best version. Not any more. This knocks spots off it. Soloists (vocal and instrumental), the EBS and of course the marvellous Monteverdis are on top form and the whole thing crackles with excitement. Gardiner clearly has a ball; no routine music-making this, this is passionate with a capital P. He also has a feeling for the dance-like rhythms in much of the piece - just listen to the Monteverdis sizzle through the skittering opening chorale of Cantata 5 and see how long you can stop ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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Reves D'Un Marco Polo - Vivier [1980]

starring: Susan Narucki, Claron McFadden, Tomoko Makuuchi, James Ottaway, Harry Van Der Kamp
directed by: Pierre Audi

Release Date January 03, 2006
According to conductor Reinbert de Leeuw the virtually unknown Canadian composer Claude Vivier (championed by Ligeti) murdered at the age of 35 years developed in his last ten or so works and the short opera Kopernikus a unique use of voice and instruments creating a powerful modern music firmly based in melody.

This DVD comprises not only the opera Kopernikus but also a music drama hinted on by Vivier based on his late works, his music being related to death, and includes an hour long documentary.

The compositions are mainly vocal, plus an extraordinary extended piano work and the wonderful Zipangu (ancient name for Japan) for string orchestra which just demands to become part of mainstream repertoire.

Vivier ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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A Night With Handel [1999]

starring: John Mark Ainsley, Sarah Connolly, Rosa Mannion, Claron McFadden, Alastair Miles
directed by: Alexander Marengo

Release Date October 25, 1999
This was my first ever DVD and I have watched it and listened to it many times. This DVD takes the viewer on a nighttime journey through modern day London, putting the singers in modern day situations (railway station, coffee bar, underground garage!). All the arias are beautiful and are just as beautifully sung. I had heard none of these arias prior to purchasing the DVD, but it became a very enjoyable voyage of discovery. There is an interspersed commentary, succinct and informative, given by experts who obviously love the music of Handel, and who wouldn't? I hope that many people, who just know The Messiah, and other Handel pops, will get the chance to see this DVD and be persuaded to look into the world of Handelian opera more fully, I know I shall. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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L'Incoronazione Di Poppea - Monteverdi

starring: Cynthia Haymon, Brigitte Balleys, Ning Liang, Michael Chance, Harry van der Kamp
directed by: Hans Hulscher

Release Date August 01, 2005
This was my first ever DVD and I have watched it and listened to it many times. This DVD takes the viewer on a nighttime journey through modern day London, putting the singers in modern day situations (railway station, coffee bar, underground garage!). All the arias are beautiful and are just as beautifully sung. I had heard none of these arias prior to purchasing the DVD, but it became a very enjoyable voyage of discovery. There is an interspersed commentary, succinct and informative, given by experts who obviously love the music of Handel, and who wouldn't? I hope that many people, who just know The Messiah, and other Handel pops, will get the chance to see this DVD and be persuaded to look into the world of Handelian opera more fully, I know I shall. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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Monteverdi-L'incoronazione [2005]

starring: Cynthia Haymon, Brigitte Balleys, Ning Liang, Michael Chance, Harry van der Kamp
directed by: Hans Hulscher

Release Date August 01, 2005
This was my first ever DVD and I have watched it and listened to it many times. This DVD takes the viewer on a nighttime journey through modern day London, putting the singers in modern day situations (railway station, coffee bar, underground garage!). All the arias are beautiful and are just as beautifully sung. I had heard none of these arias prior to purchasing the DVD, but it became a very enjoyable voyage of discovery. There is an interspersed commentary, succinct and informative, given by experts who obviously love the music of Handel, and who wouldn't? I hope that many people, who just know The Messiah, and other Handel pops, will get the chance to see this DVD and be persuaded to look into the world of Handelian opera more fully, I know I shall. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Gluck - Orpheus and Eurydice: Opera in 3 Acts (Concert Version)

starring: Christoph Willibald Gluck, Jean-Claude Malgoire, James Bowman, Lynne Dawson, Claron McFadden

Release Date July 17, 2006
This was my first ever DVD and I have watched it and listened to it many times. This DVD takes the viewer on a nighttime journey through modern day London, putting the singers in modern day situations (railway station, coffee bar, underground garage!). All the arias are beautiful and are just as beautifully sung. I had heard none of these arias prior to purchasing the DVD, but it became a very enjoyable voyage of discovery. There is an interspersed commentary, succinct and informative, given by experts who obviously love the music of Handel, and who wouldn't? I hope that many people, who just know The Messiah, and other Handel pops, will get the chance to see this DVD and be persuaded to look into the world of Handelian opera more fully, I know I shall. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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Night With Handel (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Sarah Connolly, Alastair Miles, Rosa Mannion, John Mark Ainsley, Christopher Robson
directed by: Alexander Marengo

Release Date November 13, 2007
This was my first ever DVD and I have watched it and listened to it many times. This DVD takes the viewer on a nighttime journey through modern day London, putting the singers in modern day situations (railway station, coffee bar, underground garage!). All the arias are beautiful and are just as beautifully sung. I had heard none of these arias prior to purchasing the DVD, but it became a very enjoyable voyage of discovery. There is an interspersed commentary, succinct and informative, given by experts who obviously love the music of Handel, and who wouldn't? I hope that many people, who just know The Messiah, and other Handel pops, will get the chance to see this DVD and be persuaded to look into the world of Handelian opera more fully, I know I shall. ... Read More: