Purcell - The Fairy Queen / Bonney · von Magnus · McNair · L. Dale · Holl · Michaels-Moore · Harnoncourt

Henry Purcell (Artist), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Artist), Barbara Bonney (Artist), Elisabeth von Magnus (Artist), Concentus musicus Wien (Artist), Arnold Schoenberg Chor (Artist), Sylvia McNair (Artist), Michael Chance (Artist), Laurence Dale (Artist), Robert Holl (Artist), Anthony Michaels-Moore (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 7, 1995)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000000SPV
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #273,758 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #34 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Bonney, Barbara

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Prld-Hornpipe - Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt

2. Air-Rondeau - Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt

3. Act I: Ov - Concentus Musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt

4. Act I, Duet: Come let us leave the town - Barbara Bonney/Anthony Rolfe Moore

5. Act I: Scene of the Drunken Poet - Sylvia McNair/Elisabeth von Magnus/Robert Holl/Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner

6. Act I, First Act Tune: Jig - Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner

7. Act II, Song: Come all ye songsters of the sky - Laurence Dale

8. Act II, Trio: May the God of Wit inspire - Michael Chance/Laurence Dale/Antohony Rolfe Moore

9. Act II, Chorus: Now join your warbling voices all - Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner

10. Act II, Song-Chorus: Sing while we trip it/Dance of Faeries - Barbara Bonney/Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Act IV: Symphony - Con Mus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt

2. Act IV, Solo-Chorus: Now the night is chased away - Sylvia Mc Nair/Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner

3. Act IV, Duet: Let the fifes and the clarions - Michael Chance/Laurence Dale

4. Act IV: Entry of Phoebus/Song: When a cruel long winter - Laurence Dale

5. Act IV, Chorus: Hail! Great parent of us all/Song: Thus the ever grateful Spring/Song: Here's the... - Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner/Anthony Rolfe Michaels/Barbara Bonny/Michael Chance...

6. Act V, Prld-Epithalamium: Thrice happy lovers - Elisabeth Von Magnus

7. Act V, The Plaint: O let me ever, ever weep - Sylvia McNair

8. Act V: Entry-Symphony/Song: Thus the gloomy world/Solo-Chorus: Thus happy and free/Song: Yes, Daphne - Michael Chance/Barbara Bonney/Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner

9. Act V: Monkey's Dance - Con Mus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt

10. Act V, Song: Hark! How all things/Song: Hark! the echoing air - Elisabeth von Magnus/Barbara Bonney/Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Erwin Ortner

See all 13 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan, March 7, 2006

By 

George Peabody "Ariel" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Purcell - The Fairy Queen / Bonney · von Magnus · McNair · L. Dale · Holl · Michaels-Moore · Harnoncourt (Audio CD)

THE BEST OF THE THREE RECORDINGS ON THE MARKET! AND IF YOU ARE A MICHAEL CHANCE FAN THIS RECORDING HAS HIM SINGING MANY MORE SOLO PARTS THAN IN GARDINER'S VERSION OR THAT OF THE SIXTEEN!

"What have we left untry'd to please this Age, To bring it more in liking with the Stage? We sunk to Farce, and rose to Comedy; Gave you high Rants, and well-writ Tragedy." Thus says the beginning of the 'Prologue to The Fairy Queen (1693).The stage music of Henry Purcell is part of a colorful period in England's history. "The Fairy Queen" was first performed in the Queen's Theatre on May 2nd,1692.It is in five acts each consisting of several songs some sung by the groups and some as solos.

Purcell eschewed Shakespeare's words in favor of an anonymous libretto loosely based on the situations of Shakespeare's. It would be difficult to deduce plot or characterizations from the libretto alone and although the music is a continuous joy, it is an imaginative feat to think of this work as a convincing dramatic narrative today. The First Act consists of of fairies pinching and tormenting a drunken poet, while the Second Act meditates on the misunderstandings of the lost pair of lovers in Shakespeare's play and rhapsodises on night, sleep and mystery. The Third Act is a bucolic romp in which the drunken poet(Robert Holl, bass) chases after Mopsa (Michael Chance,countertenor) begging for a kiss from him/her; you name it. Act Four is a panorama of the seasons and Act Five is an inexplicable Chinese Pantomime. Most of the songs in this semi-opera have been much recorded by singers on solo albums,especially countertenors.

Nikolaus Harnoncourt has assembled the perfect group of singers for this opera. I have the English Opera DVD of The Fairy Queen and it is delightful filled with humor and dancing and singing, and is much fun to watch, especially after listening to the CD. It has just been reissued at a very reasonable price.

The line-up on this recording reads like a "who's who" in the world of voice: Bonney-soprano,von Magnus-soprano,McNair-soprano,Chance-countertenor,Laurance Dale-tenor, Robert Hole-bass and Michael Moore-bass. In addition, the Arnold Schoenberg Choir and the Concentus Wien "ripped" out the songs in a jovial and upbeat manner that is sure to delight all lovers of Purcell's music. Since there is no visual involved the singers were not tied down to specific characters which allowed them to sing what was best for their voice type.

Some of the songs often individually recorded by singers of this genre from this opera are: "Come all ye Songsters"-"One Charming Night"- "A Thousand Thousand Ways"-"Thrice Happy Lovers"-"Hark!the echoing air". Just a great listening treat!!!!!