CD-Charts Position 1
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Haydn - The Creation / Piau, Persson, Massey, Harvey, Padmore, Davies, Gabrieli Consort & Players, McCreesh

by: Sandrine Piau Miah Persson Ruth Massey Mark Padmore Peter Harvey Neal Davies Gabrieli Consort & Players Paul McCreesh, Miah Persson, Mark Padmore, Joseph Haydn, Paul McCreesh, Gabrieli Consort & Players, Chetham's Chamber Choir, Peter Harvey, Neil Davies, Ruth Massey

Release Date March 17, 2008
It has become `de rigueur' for choral works to be performed in their original languages: For example, where once Brahms' German Requiem or Haydn's Creation were regularly sung in English- often by large northern choirs - nowadays it seems that no-one dares to sing them in anything other than German.

The fact is that, in the case of The Creation, the English version has as much validity as the German, and it would appear that Haydn had both languages in mind when setting his text: all the more reason to have a recording in English.

Similarly, where once works such as Bach's B Minor Mass would have been given by huge choirs, modern `historically informed' practise tends towards paring down the forces, even to the extreme ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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M Haydn: Sacred Choral Music

from: BIS

Release Date March 30, 1998
It has become `de rigueur' for choral works to be performed in their original languages: For example, where once Brahms' German Requiem or Haydn's Creation were regularly sung in English- often by large northern choirs - nowadays it seems that no-one dares to sing them in anything other than German.

The fact is that, in the case of The Creation, the English version has as much validity as the German, and it would appear that Haydn had both languages in mind when setting his text: all the more reason to have a recording in English.

Similarly, where once works such as Bach's B Minor Mass would have been given by huge choirs, modern `historically informed' practise tends towards paring down the forces, even to the extreme ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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Handel - Rinaldo

from: Harmonia Mundi

Release Date April 07, 2003
Generally a fan of Rene Jacobs, I have to say that this is very frustrating recording of Rinaldo. A generally excellent cast has been assembled for a recording full of quirks, some interesting but mainly irritating. When played 'straight' Jacobs' characteristic mastery shines through but ultimately, he has tinkered too much this time.

In the title role, Vivica Genaux is something of a mixed bag. Her 'Cara sposa' is, frankly, ugly but later on - particularly in the faster, more dramatic arias she is much more impressive and certainly more dramatic than the sweeter toned David Daniels for Hogwood. As her beloved Almirena, Miah Persson is entirely delightful and a vast improvement on Hogwood's choice of Cecilia Bartoli whom I thought very ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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Bach: Cantatas, Vol 10 (BWV 105, 179, 186) /Bach Collegium Japan · Suzuki

from: Bis

Release Date September 27, 1999
Generally a fan of Rene Jacobs, I have to say that this is very frustrating recording of Rinaldo. A generally excellent cast has been assembled for a recording full of quirks, some interesting but mainly irritating. When played 'straight' Jacobs' characteristic mastery shines through but ultimately, he has tinkered too much this time.

In the title role, Vivica Genaux is something of a mixed bag. Her 'Cara sposa' is, frankly, ugly but later on - particularly in the faster, more dramatic arias she is much more impressive and certainly more dramatic than the sweeter toned David Daniels for Hogwood. As her beloved Almirena, Miah Persson is entirely delightful and a vast improvement on Hogwood's choice of Cecilia Bartoli whom I thought very ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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Soul and Landscape

from: Hyperion

Release Date March 03, 2003
Generally a fan of Rene Jacobs, I have to say that this is very frustrating recording of Rinaldo. A generally excellent cast has been assembled for a recording full of quirks, some interesting but mainly irritating. When played 'straight' Jacobs' characteristic mastery shines through but ultimately, he has tinkered too much this time.

In the title role, Vivica Genaux is something of a mixed bag. Her 'Cara sposa' is, frankly, ugly but later on - particularly in the faster, more dramatic arias she is much more impressive and certainly more dramatic than the sweeter toned David Daniels for Hogwood. As her beloved Almirena, Miah Persson is entirely delightful and a vast improvement on Hogwood's choice of Cecilia Bartoli whom I thought very ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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Bach: Cantatas, Vol 10 (BWV 105, 179, 186) /Suzuki - 30th Anniversary Edition

from: 30th Anniversary Edition

Release Date July 07, 2003
Generally a fan of Rene Jacobs, I have to say that this is very frustrating recording of Rinaldo. A generally excellent cast has been assembled for a recording full of quirks, some interesting but mainly irritating. When played 'straight' Jacobs' characteristic mastery shines through but ultimately, he has tinkered too much this time.

In the title role, Vivica Genaux is something of a mixed bag. Her 'Cara sposa' is, frankly, ugly but later on - particularly in the faster, more dramatic arias she is much more impressive and certainly more dramatic than the sweeter toned David Daniels for Hogwood. As her beloved Almirena, Miah Persson is entirely delightful and a vast improvement on Hogwood's choice of Cecilia Bartoli whom I thought very ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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Fernström - Songs of the Sea; Symphony No 12

from: BIS

Release Date July 01, 1999
Generally a fan of Rene Jacobs, I have to say that this is very frustrating recording of Rinaldo. A generally excellent cast has been assembled for a recording full of quirks, some interesting but mainly irritating. When played 'straight' Jacobs' characteristic mastery shines through but ultimately, he has tinkered too much this time.

In the title role, Vivica Genaux is something of a mixed bag. Her 'Cara sposa' is, frankly, ugly but later on - particularly in the faster, more dramatic arias she is much more impressive and certainly more dramatic than the sweeter toned David Daniels for Hogwood. As her beloved Almirena, Miah Persson is entirely delightful and a vast improvement on Hogwood's choice of Cecilia Bartoli whom I thought very ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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Bach: Cantatas, Vol 10 (BWV 105, 179, 186) /Suzuki

from: BIS

Release Date June 30, 2003
Generally a fan of Rene Jacobs, I have to say that this is very frustrating recording of Rinaldo. A generally excellent cast has been assembled for a recording full of quirks, some interesting but mainly irritating. When played 'straight' Jacobs' characteristic mastery shines through but ultimately, he has tinkered too much this time.

In the title role, Vivica Genaux is something of a mixed bag. Her 'Cara sposa' is, frankly, ugly but later on - particularly in the faster, more dramatic arias she is much more impressive and certainly more dramatic than the sweeter toned David Daniels for Hogwood. As her beloved Almirena, Miah Persson is entirely delightful and a vast improvement on Hogwood's choice of Cecilia Bartoli whom I thought very ... Read More: