The Times called this Serse 'a spectacular treat for Handel lovers', and while reviewers have universally and deservedly heaped their praises on D’Angelo, the contrasting approaches of Lucy Crowe as a Romilda of 'steadfast purity' and Mary Bevan as a rather more flirtatious Atalanta have also drawn well-earned plaudits – as has the sheer liveliness that Bicket draws from his ensemble.
Recording of the Month
Handel: Serse
Emily D’Angelo (Serse), Lucy Crowe (Romilda), Paula Murrihy (Arsamene), Mary Bevan (Atalanta), Daniela Mack (Amastre), Ariodate (Neal Davies), William Dazeley (Elviro); The English Concert, Harry Bicket
'The superb cast is led by Emily D’Angelo, whose opening aria – beautifully controlled and rich in tone – will not disappoint...this new Serse is surely one of the most charismatic recordings now available.'
Available Formats: 3 CDs, Hi-Res+ FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Editor's Choices
Bacewicz: Concertos for 1 & 2 Pianos, Overture & Music for Strings, Trumpets & Percussion
Peter Jablonski and Elisabeth Brauß (piano), Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Nicholas Collon
'Bacewicz’s music certainly thrives on its high metabolic rate, its impatience, even, for which this brilliantly executed new album makes no apology.'
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Beethoven: Piano Concerto Nos. 1-5
Garrick Ohlsson (piano), Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, Sir Donald Runnicles
'A spacious, unrushed account of these canonic works, forthright and yet deeply personal...This is a bouquet of Beethoven concertos like no other.'
Available Formats: SACD, Hi-Res+ FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Britten & Bruch: Violin Concertos
Kerson Leong (violin), Philharmonia Orchestra, Patrick Hahn
'It is the coupling of the Britten Violin Concerto (gratifyingly becoming more and more core repertoire these days) which...sets this disc apart…I can’t recall a better account of the piece than this.'
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res+ FLAC/ALAC/WAV, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Franck & Martin: Piano Quintets
Martin Klett (piano), Armida Quartett
'Admirers of the Franck will not be disappointed, but ultimately it’s the Martin that makes the disc very special indeed.'
Available Formats: CD, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Piers Lane goes to town again
Piers Lane (piano)
'You can easily imagine the audience’s indulgent end-ofrecital smiles over Das Butterbrot (Litolff possibly, probably not Mozart).'
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Bruckner: Motets
St Albans Cathedral Choir, Dewi Rees (organ), Andrew Lucas
'Lucas’s three dozen singers are on impressive form, combining tonal beauty with sheer stamina...This splendid new release will take some supplanting.'
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Pavel Chesnokov: Sacred Choral Music
St. John's Voices, Cambridge University Chamber Choir, Graham Walker
'To my knowledge, this is the first recording dedicated exclusively to Chesnokov’s work by British singers, and it provides an excellent showcase for his work, in chronological order.'
Available Formats: CD, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
Bent Sørensen: St Matthew Passion
The Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, Ensemble Allegria, Grete Pedersen
'It’s a virtuoso account of a piece that takes the spirit of Bach and says something quite new.'
Available Format: SACD
Drop Not, Mine Eyes
Alexander Chance (countertenor), Toby Carr (lute)
'Chance’s tone is pellucid; notes fall round and clear as water drops...a recording in which Chance stakes serious claim to the title of his generation’s most exciting British countertenor.'
Available Formats: CD, Hi-Res FLAC/ALAC/WAV, FLAC/ALAC/WAV, MP3
DVD/Blu-ray of the Month
Puccini: Tosca (DVD)
Malin Byström (Tosca), Joshua Guerrero (Cavaradossi), Gevorg Hakobyan (Scarpia); Chorus of Dutch National Opera, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Barrie Kosky, Lorenzo Viotti
'Kosky and Viotto, closely allied in style, find fresh, sometimes truly shocking energy...This must be one of the bloodiest Toscas shown on stage, in a world where the characters’ Christian faith is clearly a personal defence against the horror of the tyranny under which they live.'
Available Format: DVD Video
