Georg Friedrich Händel: Saul - Cologne Chamber Choir / Collegium Cartusianum / Peter Neumann

George Frideric Handel (Performer), Peter Neumann (Performer), John Elwes (Performer), Matthias Koch (Orchestra), Gregory Reinhart (Orchestra), Cologne Chamber Choir (Artist), Collegium Cartusianum (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: George Frideric Handel, Peter Neumann, John Elwes
• Orchestra: Matthias Koch, Gregory Reinhart
• Audio CD (June 16, 1998)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: MD&G Records
• ASIN: B000007N9C
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #938,827 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Sym: Allegro - Collegium Cartusianum/Peter Neumann

2. Sym: Larghetto - Collegium Cartusianum/Peter Neumann

3. Sym: Allegro - Collegium Cartusianum/Peter Neumann

4. Sym: Andante Larghetto - Collegium Cartusianum/Peter Neumann

5. Part I: Chor. How Excellent Thy Name - Kolner Kammerchor/Peter Neumann

6. Part I: Air. An Infant Rais'd - Vasilika Jezovsek

See all 44 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Part II: Chor. Envy! Eldest Born Of Hell! - Kolner Kammerchor/Peter Neumann

2. Part II: Recitative. Ah, Dearest Friend - John Elwes

3. Part II: Air. But Sooner Jordan's Stream - John Elwes

4. Part II: Recitative. Hast Though Obey'd My Orders - Gregory Reinhart/John Elwes

5. Part II: Air. Sin Not, O King, Against The Youth - John Elwes

6. Part II: Air. As Great Jehovah Lives - Gregory Reinhart

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Part III: Accompagnato. Wretch That I Am - Gregory Reinhart

2. Part III: Recitative. Tis Said, Here Loves A Woman - Gregory Reinhart

3. Part III: Recitative. With Me What Would'st Thou? - Johannes Kalpers/Gregory Reinhart

4. Part III: Air. Infernal Spirits, By Whose Pow'r - Johannes Kalpers

5. Part III: Accompagnato. Why Hast Thou Forc'd Me - Michail Schelomjanski/Gregory Reinhart

6. Part III: Sym - Collegium Cartusianum/Peter Neumann

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent and dramatic rendering of Handels Saul, April 25, 2001

By 

R. Gard (Beacon Falls, CT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Georg Friedrich Händel: Saul - Cologne Chamber Choir / Collegium Cartusianum / Peter Neumann (Audio CD)

Conductor Peter Neumann and the MDG label of Germany have created a sonically beautiful recording and a very pleasing word-book for this CD. "Saul," first performed in 1735 in London's Covent Garden theater, is a milestone in musical drama. Handel obviously welcomed the opportunity to work in the oratorio format as opposed to the rigidly formal opera seria; he experimented with many new forms and effects during the fast moving two and one half hours of "Saul."

Arias that end in attempted murder, a murder during an aria, a giant's head carried in to joyful music, a witch and a dead man speaking, a duet that ends midstream when one of the characters flees - these are just a few of the things going on in "Saul." Noted Handelian Winton Dean stated "the amount of action that takes place while the music is in full flow (and not merely during the recitative) is astonishing when compared to contemporary operatic practice."

The performance is first rate, although it is a bit disturbing at times to hear the English text performed by a German chorus. Both Gregory Reinhart as Saul, and John Elwes as Jonathan turn in excellent performances while vividly developing the madness of King Saul. Vasilika Jezovsek and Simone Kermes easily fulfill their duties as the royal sisters Michal and Merab.

This performance uses the score and libretto that Handel revised for the 1738 performance in the Haymarket. It includes the Carillon and Harp Sinfonias as well as all airs for the High Priest. The set includes a complete libretto and notes. I highly recommend this CD.