BaL 30.11.19 - Purcell: Dido & Aeneas

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

09.30
Building a Library: Kirsten Gibson compares recordings of Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas and picks a favourite.
Uncertainty surrounds the origins Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. It's thought to be from the late 1680s, towards the end of Purcell's short life, and some evidence points to a Chelsea girls' school as the unlikely venue of its premiere. Unlikely because the exceptional quality of its music and drama make the English court a more probable location for one of the greatest of all English musical stage works. Based on part of Virgil's Aeneid, love, abandonment and despair are its eternal themes, all of which are devastatingly portrayed in its most famous number, Dido's lament 'When I am laid in earth', an aria which has always attracted some of the most starry singers.
The current catalogue shows Dido is an internationally acknowledged masterpiece and the preserve of period performance specialists, but its recorded history began in the 1930s, long predating both of those aspects.

Available recordings:-

Solenn’ Lavanant Linke, Alejandro Meerapfel, Yeree Suh, Fabián Schofrin, Mariana Flores, Magali Arnault, Christophe Carré, Valerio Contaldo, La Nouvelle Ménestrandie & Cappella Mediterranea, Leonardo García Alarcón *

Anna Reynolds, Dame Janet Baker, Timothy Everett, Robert Tear, Norma Burrowes, Dame Felicity Lott, Alfreda Hodgson, Peter Pears, Felicity Palmer, Aldeburgh Festival Strings, The London Opera Chorus, Steuart Bedford *

Raffaella Milanesi, Richard Helm, Stefanie True, Iason Marmaras, Michela Antenucci, Anna Bessi, La Risonanza & Coro Constanzo Porta, Fabio Bonizzoni (SACD)

Les Sophie Daneman, Sophie Marin-Degor, Véronique Gens, Nathan Berg, Claire Brua, Gaëlle Mechaly, Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Arts Florissants, William Christie

Simone Kermes, Dimitris Tiliakos, Deborah York, Oleg Ryabets, Margarita Mezentseva, Sofia Fomina, Yana Mamonova, Elena Kondratova, Valeria Safonova & Alexandre Zverev, New Siberian Singers (chamber choir of the Novosibirsk State Academic Opera, MusicAeterna. Teodor Currentzis

Josephine Veasey, John Shirley-Quirk, Helen Donath, Elizabeth Bainbridge, Delia Wallis, Gillian Knight, Sir Thomas Allen, Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, John Alldis Choir, Sir Colin Davis (SACD)

Teresa Berganza, Hanny Steffek, Danièle Millet, Gérard Souzay, Jane Berbié, Christiane Harbell, Edmée Sabran, Michael Lecocq, Choeur du Conservatoire de Paris & Orchestre de la Société des Concerts, Pierre Dervaux

William Purefoy, Rebecca Outram, Patricia Bardon, John Mark Ainsley, Sarah Connolly, Carys Lane, Sarah Tynan, Lucy Crowe, Gerald Finley, Age of Enlightenment Orchestra, Choir of the Enlightenment, Elizabeth Kenny, Steven Devine

Vivica Genaux, Henk Neven, Ana Quintans, Marc Mauillon, Vincent Dumestre (DVD)

Susan Graham, Ian Bostridge, Camilla Tilling, Cécile de Boever, Felicity Palmer, David Daniels, Paul Agnew, Le Concert d'Astrée, European Voices, Emmanuelle Haïm

Mary Thomas, Maurice Bevan, Honor Sheppard, Helen Watts, Robert Tear, Alfred Deller, Honor Sheppard, Sally Lesage, Philip Todd, Max Worthey, Maurice Bevan, Concentus Musicus Wien & Alfred Deller Consort, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Maria Ewing, Rebecca Evans, Patricia Rozario, Mary Plazas, Pamela Helen Stephen, Sally Burgess, James Bowman, Jamie MacDougall, Karl Morgan Daymond, Collegium Musicum 90, Richard Hickox *

Catherine Bott, Emma Kirkby, John Mark Ainsley, David Thomas, Elisabeth Priday, Sara Stowe, Julianne Baird, Daniel Lochmann, Michael Chance, Chorus and Orchestra of The Academy of Ancient Music, The Academy Of Ancient Music Chorus, Christopher Hogwood

Sarah Connolly, Lucas Meachem, Lucy Crowe, Sara Fulgoni, Anita Watson, Eri Nakamura, Pumeza Matshikiza, Iestyn Davies, Ji-Min Park, Dancers of The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera Extra Chorus & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Christopher Hogwood (DVD/Blu-ray)

Lynne Dawson, Rosemary Joshua & Gerald Finley, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Clare College Chapel Choir, René Jacobs

Kirsten Flagstad, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Eilidh McNab, Arda Mandikian, Sheila Rex, Anna Pollak, Thomas Hemsley, David Lloyd, The Mermaid Singers and Orchestra, Geraint Jones

Jennifer Lane, Meredith Hall, Ann Monoyios, Benjamin Butterfield, Russell Braun, Shari Saunders, Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Jeanne Lamon *

Jessye Norman, Sir Thomas Allen, Marie McLaughlin, Patricia Kern, Helen Walker, Della Jones, Elizabeth Gale, Patrick Power, Derek Ragin, English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard *

Tatiana Troyanos, Richard Stilwell, Felicity Palmer, Elizabeth Gale, Patricia Kern, Alfreda Hodgson, English Chamber Orchestra, English Chamber Choir, Raymond Leppard *

Janet Baker , Raimund Herincx, Patricia Clark, Monica Sinclair, English Chamber Orchestra, Anthony Singers, Anthony Lewis

Patricia Clark, Eileen Poulter, Monica Sinclair, Rhianon James, Catherine Wilson, Dorothy Dorow, Raimund Herincx , John Mitchinson, St. Anthony Singers & English Chamber Orchestra, Philomusica of London, Anthony Lewis

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Lisa Saffer, Paul Elliott, Donna Deam, Ellen Rabiner, Christine Brandes , Ruth Rainero, Choir of Clare College Cambridge & Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Nicholas McGegan *

Tatiana Troyanos, Sheila Armstrong, Barry McDaniel, Patricia Johnson (Sorceress), Paul Esswood, Sir Charles Mackerras

Rachael Lloyd, Elin Manahan Thomas, Robert Davies, Roderick Morris, Eloise Irving, Jenni Harper, Miles Golding, Harmonico Consort, Christopher Monks

Laura Pudwell, Peter Harvey, Salomé Haller, Marie-Louise Duthoit, Nicolas Maire (Sailor), Matthew White, Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet

Emily Van Evera, Ben Parry, Janet Lax, Haden Andrews, Hanne Mari Ørbaek, Taverner Choir & Players, Andrew Parrott

Emma Kirkby, Judith Nelson, David Thomas, Taverner Choir & Players, Andrew Parrott

Boston Baroque, Martin Pearlman

Anne Sofie von Otter, Stephen Varcoe, Lynne Dawson, Nigel Rogers, Sarah Leonard, Kym Amps, Carol Hall, Elisabeth Priday, The English Concert and Choir, Trevor Pinnock

Kym Amps, David van Asch, Anna Crookes, Scholars Baroque Ensemble

Rachel Ann Morgan, Camille van Lunen, Barbara Borden, Myra Kroese, Robert Coupe, David Barick, Academy of the Begynhof Amsterdam, Roderick Shaw *

Nicola Wemyss, Matthew Baker, Penni Clarke, Helene Rasker, Maaike Poorthuis, Yong-Hee Kim, Rowena Simpson, Richard Zook, Musica ad Rhenum, Musica ad Rhenum Choir, Jed Wentz

(* = download only)

[Wolfram]

Listening to the five recordings of Dido that I have, at least two of them start out as excellent performances, that you sit back and think this is good I really like this one, only to have to drive for the off button on the player as soon as the awful, hammy comedy witches pipe up.

[HighlandDougie]

Channelling William Mival in Mahler's 3rd and his devotion to Jessye Norman in, "Oh, mensch", Janet Baker singing, "Dido's lament", effaces everyone else for me, hammy witches notwithstanding.

[doversoul1]

I am perfectly happy with this, thank you
Catherine Bott, Emma Kirkby, John Mark Ainsley, Chorus and Orchestra of The Academy of Ancient Music, The Academy Of Ancient Music Chorus, Christopher Hogwood

I wonder how long (or short) the short list will be. Three?

[Lordgeous]

Much as I'm a huge fan of Janet baker, having discovered on YouTube Dido's Lament wonderfully sung by Simone Kermes makes me keen to explore the rest of the Currentzis version.

[doversoul1]

Just for fun: complete work on stage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSXE5JrGoLY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jweNnjeY-Q0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu-txz2vtwU

Purcell: Dido & Aeneas - Jessye Norman (Complete)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1-E-X78w2U

Vivica Genaux (Dido), Henk Neven (Aeneas), Ana Quintans (Belinda)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_8DzTkZiYo

[Wolfram]

Channelling William Mival in Mahler's 3rd and his devotion to Jessye Norman in, "Oh, mensch", Janet Baker singing, "Dido's lament", effaces everyone else for me, hammy witches notwithstanding.

I didn't think the witches were too bad on the Anthony Lewis recording, the conducting is a bit stodgy though. But they are totally over the top on Nicholas McGegan's recording, completely spoiling a version that is otherwise notable for the superb Dido of Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. She and Janet Baker are the stand out Didos among the recordings I own.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I used to have Barbirolli's version on LP.
nla

[BBMmk2]

I have Richard Hickox’s recording. So be good to see who comes out tops.

[doversoul1]

Sarah Connolly, Lucas Meachem, Lucy Crowe, Sara Fulgoni, Anita Watson, Eri Nakamura, Pumeza Matshikiza, Iestyn Davies, Ji-Min Park, Dancers of The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera Extra Chorus & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Christopher Hogwood (DVD/Blu-ray)

The staging of this production was unfussy, Sarah Connolly and Lucy Crowe were perfect but it had (to me) absurd dance sequences. It may have been effective if watched live but I couldn’t see the point.

[Pulcinella]

The Taverner/Parrott (not with Emma Kirkby), the only version I have, was originally issued as a BBC MM cover CD: Volume III Number 5.
I don't remember how hammy the witches are.

[Richard Barrett]

The Taverner/Parrott (not with Emma Kirkby), the only version I have, was originally issued as a BBC MM cover CD: Volume III Number 5.
I don't remember how hammy the witches are.

That recording scores very highly with me on account of using single players in the accompanying ensemble. There's no reason at all why the string parts should be doubled. The witches are relatively restrained IIRC, and indeed one of the most attractive aspects of this recording is the fact that the singers in general adapt their voices to the chamber-music-like scale of the ensemble, rather than making it into a miniaturised version of a full-blown opera, which approach I really can't handle. Hearing Dido's lament sung like some kind of Victorian dirge with a full string orchestra accompanying it is not something I would willingly subject myself to!

[vinteuil]

The Taverner/Parrott (not with Emma Kirkby), the only version I have, was originally issued as a BBC MM cover CD: Volume III Number 5.
I don't remember how hammy the witches are.

... credit where credit is due : The Taverner/Parrott (not with Emma Kirkby) but with Emily Van Evera

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000GGOE0A

.

[MickyD]

The Hogwood has always been a favourite of mine, but some time ago by chance I happened upon the René Jacobs version and was really impressed. It has a real whiff of the theatre about it.

[Pulcinella]

... credit where credit is due : The Taverner/Parrott (not with Emma Kirkby) but with Emily Van Evera

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000GGOE0A

.

Mea culpa.

Merely a clumsy way to distinguish the two in Alpie's list, but of course I should have said (the one with.....)!
No disrespect intended.