Henry Purcell – The Indian Queen & Timon of Athens

Henry Purcell – The Indian Queen & Timon of Athens
The Deller Choir – Alfred Deller, dir. & The King's Musick - Catherine Mackintosh, dir.
Harmonia mundi HM 243 (HM 243/1, HM 243/2) [LPx2]
Harmonia mundi HM 243 [Cass.x2]
HNH 4035 [LPx2]
Musical Heritage Society MHS 824 379 / 80 [LPx2]
Musical Heritage Society MHC 226 379 / 80 [Cass.x2]

Contents:

    Henry Purcell (m) / Johnt Dryden & Robert Howard (t)
    The Indian Queen (Z. 630, 1695)

    LP-1

  1. First & Second music
      1st Music (Z. 630/1)
      2nd Music (Z. 630/2)
  2. Overture
      a) Overture (Z. 630/3)
      b) Trumpet tune (Z. 630/4a)
  3. Prologue / Act I
      a) Aria (Indian Boy): Wake, Quivera, wake (Z. 630/4b)
      b) Prelude and Aria (Indian Girl (Quivera), Indian boy): Why should men quarrel (Z. 630/4c-d)
      c) Trumpet tune (Z. 630/?)
  4. Act II
    1. Symphony (Z. 630/5)
    2. Aria (Fame) and Chorus: I come to sing great Zempoalla's story (Z. 630/6)
    3. Trio (Envy, two followers): What flatt'ring noise is this (Z. 630/7)
    4. a) Fame: Begone (Z. 630/7)
      b) Trumpet tune (Z. 630/8)
      c) Symphony (Z. 630/9)
      d) Dance (Z. 630/10)
      e) 2nd Act Music: Trumpet Tune (reprise) (Z. 630/11)
  5. Act III
    1. Dance (Z. 630/12)
    2. Aria (Ismeron): Ye twice hundred deities (Z. 630/13)
    3. a) Symphony (Z. 630/14)
      b) Aria (God of Dreams): Seek not to know what must not be reveal'd (Z. 630/15)

      4. LP-2

    4. Trumpet Overture: Canzon/Adagio (Z. 630/16)
    5. Duet and Quartet (Aerial spirits): Ah! Ah! How happy we are! (Z. 630/17a)
    6. Duet and Quartet (Aerial spirits): We the spirits of the air (Z. 630/17a)
    7. Aria (Aerial spirits): I attempt from Love's sickness (soprano solo) (Z. 630/17a)
    8. Duet and Quartet (Aerial spirits): We the spirits of the air (Z. 630/17a)
      3rd Act Tune: Rondeau (Z. 630/18)
  6. Act IV
      a) Aria (Orazia): They tell us (Z. 630/19)
      b) 4th Act Tune (Z. 630/20)
  7. Act V
      a) Prelude and Chorus: While thus we bow before your shrine (Z. 630/21a)
      b) Aria (High Priest): You who at the altar stand (Z. 630/21b)
      c) Prelude and Chorus: All dismal sounds thus on these off'rings wait (Z. 630/21c-d)
    8. —

    Henry Purcell (m) / Thomas Shadwell (t) – Cupid and Bacchus
    Masque for Shakespeare's « The History of Timon of Athens, The Man-Hater » (Z. 632, 1694)

  8. 1. Overture (Z. 632/1)
    2. Air (Z. 632/1)
    3. Overture (Z. 632/1)
  9. 1. Duet (Cupid, Nymph): Hark! how the songsters of the grove (Z. 632/2)
    2. Aria (Nymph): Love in their little veins inspires (Z. 632/3)
    3. Trio (Cupid, Bacchus, Nymph): But ah! how much are your delights (Z. 632/4)
    4. Aria (Bacchus): Hence! hence! hence with your trifling deity (Z. 632/5)
    Chorus: But over us no grief's prevail (Z. 632/6)
  10. 1. Aria (Cupid): Come all to me (Z. 632/7)
    2. Chorus: Who can resist such mighty, mighty charms ? (Z. 632/8)
    3. Aria (Bacchus): Return, revolting rebels (Z. 632/9)
  11. 1. Aria (Nymph): The cares of lovers (Z. 632/10)
    2. Aria (A Bacchanal): Love quickly is pall'd (Z. 632/11)
    3. Duet and Chorus (Cupid, Bacchus; Chorus repeats): Come, let us agree (Z. 632/12)

Playing time: 18' 38" + 21' 40" + 21' 35" + 20' 20" = 82' 13".

Performers:
[1]-[7] The Deller Consort
Mark Deller (counter-tenor – a boy; Envy's disciple), Jean Knibbs (soprano – Quivera; Spirit of the air), Paul Elliott (tenor – Fame; Spirit of the air), Maurice Bevan (baritone – Envy; Ismeron; High priest), Malcolm Knowles (tenor – Envy's disciple), Honor Sheppard (soprano – God of Dreams; Spirit of the air), Alfred Deller (counter-tenor, – Spirit of the air)
The King's Musick
Michael Laird (trumpet), Christopher Ball (recorder), Michael Brain (recorder), Claire Shanks (baroque oboe), Dai Jones (baroque oboe), Jane Ryan (viola di gamba), Jeremy Ward (baroque bassoon), Ian Gammie (violone), Robert Elliott (harpsichord)
Catherine Mackintosh, cond.
Alfred Deller, dir.
[8]-[11] The Deller Consort
Jean Knibbs (soprano – Cupid), Honor Sheppard (soprano – Nymph, Cupid's disciple), Maurice Bevan (baritone – Bacchus), Paul Elliott (tenor – A Bacchanal, Bacchus' disciple]
The King's Musick
Michael Laird (trumpet), Christopher Ball (recorder), Michael Brain (recorder), Claire Shanks (baroque oboe), Dai Jones (baroque oboe), Jane Ryan (viola da gamba), Jeremy Ward (baroque bassoon), Ian Gammie (violone), Robert Elliott (harpsichord)
Catherine Mackintosh, cond.
Alfred Deller, dir.

Recording site and date:
Unknown [09/1976];
Rel.: 1977

Excerpts:
[1]-[7] Harmonia mundi HM 243 [LP] Henry Purcell – The Indian Queen
[3a], [5.2 b)], [5.5]-[5.7] Harmonia mundi HMX 290 261 / 264 [CDx4] Alfred Deller – Portrait of a Legend
[8]-[11] Harmonia mundi HM 498 [LP] Deller Consort
[8]-[11] Harmonia mundi HMC 90 252.53 [CDx2] Purcell: King Arthur & "The Masque" from Timon of Athens

Reviewed in:
Diapason (#-p.): 217 (may 1977)

Comments:
Information from LPs.

To FAQ references to this recording.

To FAQ CD index page.

Pierre-F. Roberge