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Purcell / Blow - Odes & Songs | Mirare MIR109

Purcell / Blow - Odes & Songs

£15.42

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Label: Mirare

Cat No: MIR109

Barcode: 3760127221098

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Genre: Vocal/Choral

Release Date: 18th October 2010

Contents

Artists

Carlos Mena (countertenor)
Damien Guillon (countertenor)
Ricercar Consort

Conductor

Philippe Pierlot

Works

Blow, John

Ode on the Death of Mr Henry Purcell

Purcell, Henry

A Song in the Prophetess
Arise my Muse, Z320
» But ah, I see Eusebia drown'd in tears
Celestial music did the gods inspire, Z322
» Her charming strains expel tormenting Care
Chaconne
Come ye Sons of Art, Z323
» Strike the viol, touch the lute
» Sweetness of Nature
If ever I more riches did desire, Z544
I loved fair Celia, Z381
Symphony for the Flutes
The Maid's Last Prayer or Any Rather Than Fail, Z601
» No, resistance is but vain

Artists

Carlos Mena (countertenor)
Damien Guillon (countertenor)
Ricercar Consort

Conductor

Philippe Pierlot

About

There is no record of how Purcell's unprecedented youthful genius was received by his contemporaries, though it seems logical that it must have caused considerable wonder in the musical world centred around Westminster. The reality of London musical life was in fact difficult, frenetic and grossly underfunded, and, along with the whole city, was thrown into confusion with the outbreak of the plague, the war with the Dutch and the catastrophic fire of London. Suffice it to say that a lifelong friendship developed with John Blow, who relinquished his post as organist at Westminster Abbey to the 20-year old Purcell in 1679.

Blow's music in the Ode on Purcell's Death is probably his most coherent, melodious and inventive, outside his beloved Church music. It is also his most Purcellian. The choice of two countertenor voices was fundamental in this respect, and this conscious evocation of the Purcellian sound world is extended in the use of the two recorders, stressing both the funerary and other-worldly associations of the instrument. With this collaboration in memory of Purcell however, he achieves the highest level of expression. In his time, early death was unremarkable and commonplace, and Dryden and Blow are deploring something rather different - the catastrophe of losing a friend who represented both their own hopes, and the energy and potential of English music in full flood.

Carlos Mena trained at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel, where his teachers were Richard Levitt and René Jacobs. His operatic performances have included Radamisto, L’Orfeo (Speranza), Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, Oberon in Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream and Death in Venice from Salzburg to Barcelona.

His recital De Aeternitate (Mirare) won a Diapason d’Or of the Year in 2002; Et Jesum (HM) was awarded the CD Compact Prize for the year 2004; his recording of Vivaldi’s and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater (Mirare, again with the Ricercar Consort), La Cantada española en America (HM), Paisajes del Recuerdo (HM) and Sances’ Stabat Mater (Mirare) received awards such as Internet Classical Award, 10 Repertoire, Choc du Monde la Musique, Scherzo, etc.

Damien Guillon studied with Andreas Scholl at the Schola Cantorum in Basel. His vocal and musical qualities have led to regular invitations to appear with such well known conductors as Hervé Niquet, Jérôme Correas, Philippe Pierlot, Jean-Claude Malgoire, Christophe Rousset, William Christie, Masaaki Suzuki and Philippe Herreweghe.

Celebrate Purcell’s 350th Birth anniversary in the best possible company!

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