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Purcell well performed

Eytan Klausner | Chicagoland area | 06/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Henry Purcell is considered the best English composer of all times and if you disregard the lyrics you can find much of his finest music in his odes. The odes for St. Cecilia's Day are among his greatest and although the second ode for St. Cecilia's Day dating back from 1683 (Wellcome to all the pleasures) is more famous than this ode from 1692, this is still a masterpeace. Gardiner chose outstanding soloists to participate in this excellent recording and the result is very pleasing."

Let these amongst themselves contest

Caterina Sforza | Brooklyn, NY | 02/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"We must be living in a great time for Purcell lovers. Can there be too many good performances of a work available? This has long been the dilemma with the Beethovens and Bachs, but what a luxury to have three or four superb Purcell performances to choose from. This is my favorite of the current crop, but that's just my personal taste-- I don't think we get to hear enough of Paul Elliot's voice, which I've loved since Paul was in nappies in the David Munrow days. Lovers of the Purcellian high tenor art can now wallow in performances of "'Tis Nature's Voice," from Elliot (this one), Rogers Covey-Crump (Rooley and the Taverner Consort), Mark Padmore (Herreweghe), and Charles Daniels (McCreesh)-- each different, each absolutely breathtaking. Think about it-- it's a bit like having Derek Jacobi, Laurence Olivier and Ralph Fiennes all playing in Hamlet at the same time. How to choose? Get all of them!"