Thomas Arne - Artaxerxes - Page, Classical Opera Company

 

Release Date: 02/01/2011 Label: Linn Records Number of discs: 2 Composer: Thomas Augustine Arne Performer: Ian Page, Classical Opera Company cd info/ buy

Review:

Metastasian opera seria had a long life and was the supreme type of serious opera for many composers. So it is not surprising that when Thomas Arne came to write a serious opera for Covent Garden in 1762 he should set a libretto by Metastasio, albeit one translated into English. Metastasio’s Artaserse was originally written in 1729 and had been set by over ninety composers including Vinci, Gluck and J.C. Bach. Arne used his own translation, something which caused quite a bit of comment at the time but his text seems quite serviceable, albeit with one or two Gilbertian moments. Artaxerxes was popular and remained in the Covent Garden repertory until the late 1830s but it then fell out of use (with one notable exception) until Ian Page and the Classical Opera Company revived it last year. The notable exception involved Joan Sutherland who recorded The soldier, tir’d of war’s alarms on her Art of the Prima donna set. Anyone who heard that stunning account of the aria must have been puzzled about the opera’s absence from disc. The problem was that in 1808, all the manuscript materials were destroyed in a fire at the Theatre Royal. Arne had published the arias, duets and ensembles (except for the finale), but there was no score of the complete opera. The later 19th century performances were in a version by Henry Bishop. Luckily the complete libretto survived, so for the 2009 revival, Page re-composed the recitatives and commissioned Duncan Druce to create a new finale, It is this that has been recorded in the wake of the live performances at Covent Garden. Artaserse is, frankly, not one of Metastasio’s best libretti. It requires a substantial suspension of disbelief when it comes to the character of the hero, Arbaces. But it was Arbaces’ very nobility which probably was the cause of the opera’s popularity. Eighteenth century audiences liked seeing princes being put through the wringer and displaying a profound nobility of characters in the most trying of unlikely circumstances. Within these limits the result is a remarkably fluent and dramatic opera. Arne keeps the pace going so that the entire opera, all three acts of it, lasts a bit over two hours even though it includes some 29 arias, duets and ensembles. Arne’s set-pieces are generally short, but they often require virtuoso skills. They never overstay their welcome. As this recording came after a series of performances, the cast are all firmly in charge of the drama and the record make rather gripping - and sometimes - thrilling listening. The cast’s diction is uniformly excellent so that, though a complete libretto is provided, you never need to refer to it in order to follow the complexities of the plot. Duncan Druce’s finale concludes things in fine style. The orchestra provides strong support and dispatches Arne’s lively overture with élan. Arne writes for quite a big band, with horns, trumpets and timpani. Anyone with an interest in 18th century opera ought to try the disc. They won’t be disappointed.-- Robert Hugill

 

flac, booklet

 

Arne - The Masque of Alfred - Philharmonia Baoque Orch. A McGegan

Arne - The Masque of Alfred - Philharmonia Baoque Orch.
A McGegan
Opera | Eac, flac, cue | no log, cover | 1 CD, 356 MB
July 3, 2007 | Harmonia Mundi | RapidShare

Thomas Arne is best known to most listeners for his charming settings of Shakespeare--songs like "Blow, blow, thou Winter Wind" and "Where the Bee Sucks". But he is also justly famous for a tune that epitomizes England and its heroic spirit: "Rule Brittania". That noble number is the final piece from Alfred, a masque with libretto by David Mallet and James Thomson. This new CD reveals that this work has a lot more to offer than its closing chorus. The music ranges from such simple pastoral songs as "If those who live in shepherd's bow'r", to florid, operatic aria show-stoppers like "Vengeance, O come inspire me", the latter performed with thrilling vigor and accuracy by countertenor David Daniels. In listening to this music, Handel comes to mind quite often, but so does John Gay and his Beggar's Opera. Regardless of the fluctuating style at any particular moment in the piece, we continually marvel at the composer's consistently skillful orchestration. The use of horns in arias so different as "The Shepherd's plain life" and "Vengeance, O come inspire me", the plaintive flute in "Sweet Valley Say Where", and the blazing Baroque trumpets in "Rule Britannia" are all strokes of genius. Nicholas McGegan secures polished and spirited performances from his soloists, chorus, and orchestra, and the sound is close to ideal.                                                               --Rad Bennett


CD Content

1. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Allegro Moderato
2. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Andante
3. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Tempo Di Minuetto 
4. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: Though To A Desert Isle Confin'd 
5. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: Duet: Then Let Us The Snare Of Ambition Beware
6. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: Come Calm Content
7. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: Sweet Valley Say Where
8. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: Why Beats My Heart With Such Devotion
9. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Trio: Let Not Those Who Love Complain
10. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: If Those Who Live In Shepherd's Bow'r
11. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: A Youth Adorn'd With Ev'ry Art
12. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: From The Dawn Of Early Morning
13. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: As Calms Succeed When Storms Are Past
14. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: Hear, Alfred, Hear
15. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: Gracious Heav'n, O Hear Me!
16. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: Vengeance, O Come Inspire Me!
17. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: Though Storms Awhile The Sun Obscure
18. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Dirge: There Honour Comes, A Pilgrim Grey
19. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Recitative: Ah, Me! What Fears Oppress My Throbbing Heart! 
20. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: Guardian Angels, O Descend
21. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: Arise, Sweet Messenger Of The Morn
22. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: March With A Side Drum
23. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Air: See Liberty, Virtue and Honour Appearing
24. Alfred, masque in 3 acts: Ode: When Britain First At Heav'n's Command


THOMAS AUGUSTINE ARNE

Alfred

Jennifer Smith, Christine Brandes (sopranos); David Daniels (countertenor); Jamie MacDougall (tenor)

Philharmonia Chorale
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

Nicholas McGegan

Deutsche Harmonia Mundi- 51314(CD)
Reference Recording - this one