Handel - An Ode for St. Cecilia's Day (2004)

1. Overture: Larghetto, e staccato -
2. Allegro -
3. [Minuet]
4. Recitative: From harmony, from heav'nly harmony
5. Aria: When Nature underneath a heap
6. Chorus: From harmony, from heav'nly harmony
7. Aria: What passion cannot music raise and quell!
8. Aria and Chorus: The trumpet's loud clangour
9. March
10. Aria: The soft complaining flute
11. Aria: Sharp violins proclaim
12. Aria: But oh! What art can teach
13. Aria: Orpheus could lead the savage race
14. Accompagnato: But bright Cecilia rais'd the wonder higher
15. Solo and Chorus: As from the pow'r of sacred lays
16. Recitative: Cecilia, volgi unsguardo
17. Aria: La Virtute e un vero nume
18. Recitative: Tu, armonica Cecilia
19. Aria: Splenda l'alba in oriente
20. Recitative: Carco sempre di gloria
21. Aria: Sei cara, sei bella -
22. Un puro ardor -
23. Sei cara
24. Recitative: E ben degna di lode
25. Duetto: Tra amplessi innocent

Carolyn Sampson - Soprano
James Gilchrist - Tenor
Rachel Brown - Flute
Jonathan Cohen – Cello
Matthew Halls – Organ
Lynda Sayce – Lute
Crispian Steele-Perkins - Trumpet
King's Consort
Robert King – Conductor

This is a splendid new recording of one of Handel's better works, the Ode for St. Cecilia's Day under the direction of the indomitable Robert King who continues to record the vast majority of the baroque repertoire although his pace has slightly slowed down in recent years. An interesting addition to the repertoire is the rather unknown cantata, 'Cecilia volgi un sguardo' that takes us into the realm of Italian music that was one of Handel's stronger points in his early years.

The ode opens with an overture that is marked Larghetto e staccato then develops into a wonderful Allegro that leads into the opening recitatives. Notable parts include the rousing chorus 'From harmony, from heav'nly harmony' and the lovely March that arrives promptly in the middle of the work. James Gilchrist and Carolyn Sampson are excellent soloists and the wonderful rush to the finish that concludes the work is surely a testament to the King's Consort prowess.

I was not so enthused at the prospect of listening to a half hour cantata in Italian but must say that I enjoyed 'Cecilia' which includes some fine solo parts, again exquisitely sung by both soloists. However the music rarely rises above the inspired although it does make for a pleasant listen. Hyperion's presentation is as usual, exquisite with a stunning cover painting and detailed notes by Anthony Hicks. If you don't have this work in your collection, then this is the ideal version to own. --- Gerald Fenech, classical.net

download: uploaded anonfiles yandex 4shared solidfiles mediafire mega filecloudio

back