CD, Purcell (composer)
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The ensemble is a coterie of some of the finest early musicians on the scene today – friends who evidently relish the art of musical conversation, the guiding ethos of the English consort tradition. —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, June 2024, Editor's Choice
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Presto Recording of the Week, 24th May 2024
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BBC Music Magazine, July 2024, Chamber Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalists 2024
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International Classical Music Awards, 2025, Nominated - Baroque Instrumental
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Special offer. Purcell: Dido & Aeneas
RecommendedJoyce DiDonato (Dido), Michael Spyres (Aeneas), Fatma Said (Belinda), Beth Taylor (Sorceress), Hugh Cutting (Spirit), Laurence Kilsby (Sailor), Alena Dantcheva and Anna Piroli (Witches)
Il Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev
DiDonato is magnificent as Dido, fully understanding how badly her story will end in her first aria as Purcell slides from minor to minor, then sumptuously sorrowful in 'When I am laid in Earth',... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 29th August 2025
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BBC Music Magazine, October 2025, Opera Choice
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Gramophone Magazine, October 2025, Recording of the Month
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International Opera Awards, 2025, Shortlisted - Complete Recording
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International Classical Music Awards, 2026, Nominated - Opera
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2025
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The Times, Best Classical Albums of 2025
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2026, Winner - Opera Recording
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a maddening, fascinating and often bewitching disc —
Awards:
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2016
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Gramophone Awards, 2017, Finalist - Recital
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International Classical Music Awards, 2017, Winner - Baroque Vocal
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the most striking aspects of Podger’s playing throughout this recital (compared to most 20th-century ‘golden-agers’), is her enhanced range of tone and articulation, her vastly more flexible... —
Awards:
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Presto Editor's Choice, October 2022
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2022
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2023, Recording of the Year
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2023, Winner - Instrumental
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Opus Klassik Awards, 2023, Winner - Solo Instrumental
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Gramophone Awards, 2023 Finalists, Finalist - Instrumental
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Charlston's mezzo is as dark and full-bodied as a good claret, and she offers highly expressive readings of the texts, plumbing their depths with cut-glass diction and a glorious range of colours... —
Awards:
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Presto Editor's Choice, May 2022
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BBC Music Magazine, August 2022, Choral & Song Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2022
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BBC Music Magazine Awards, 2023, Winner - Vocal
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Gramophone Awards, 2023 Winners, Concept Album of the Year
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An English Coronation, 1902-1953
RecommendedEdward VII, George V, George VI, Elizabeth II
Gabrieli, Paul McCreesh
Some may find the extensive spoken liturgy excessive but such is Simon Russell Beale’s compelling delivery that the sheer beauty of the words offers a musical diversion of a different kind.... —
Awards:
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Gramophone Magazine, June 2019, Editor's Choice
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Presto Editor's Choice, May 2019
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Diapason d’Or, September 2019, Nouveauté
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2019
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Winner 2019
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Limelight Magazine Recordings of the Year, 2019, Nominated - Vocal
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International Classical Music Awards, 2019, Nominee - Choral
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Gramophone Magazine, December 2019, Critics' Choice
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Gramophone Awards, 2020, Finalist - Choral
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Victorious Love - Songs by Henry Purcell
RecommendedCarolyn Sampson (soprano), Laurence Cummings (harpsichord & spinet), Elizabeth Kenny (archlute / theorbo), Anne-Marie Lasla (bass viol), Sarah Sexton (violin I), Andrea Morris (violin II) & Jane Rogers (viola)
Her tone is extraordinarily beautiful: natural, warm and unforced, with almost superhuman vocal athleticism —
Awards:
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Building a Library, February 2014, Top Recital Recommendation
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Gramophone Magazine, December 2007, Editor's Choice
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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He uses the capabilities of the modern Steinway judiciously, maintaining some of the qualities of the spinet and harpsichord of Purcell’s time whilst using but not over-using the vast tonal... —
Awards:
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Presto Recording of the Week, 30th August 2024
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalists 2024
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International Classical Music Awards, 2025, Nominated - Solo Instrument
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Special offer. Henry Purcell: The Complete Suites and Other Music For Keyboard
RecommendedCristian Sandrin (piano)
In the first complete recording of Purcell’s eight keyboard suites on the modern piano, Romanian pianist Cristian Sandrin sets the bar impressively high. His accounts blend an instinctive grasp... —
Awards:
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BBC Music Magazine, July 2025, Instrumental Choice
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Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2025
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Treasures of Baroque Opera
RecommendedJanet Baker, Teresa Berganza, Catherine Bott, Luciano Pavarotti
Awards:
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Penguin Guide, Rosette
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