King Arthur

Anna Dennis, Mhairi Lawson, Rowan Pierce, Carolyn Sampson (sopranos), Jeremy Budd (high tenor), James Way (tenor), Roderick Williams (baritone), Ashley Riches (bass-baritone) & Gabrieli Players, Paul McCreesh

The great patriotic opera of the 17th century, recorded here in a lively new performing edition after two decades in the Gabrieli’s touring repertoire. Notoriously difficult to present on disc or in concert, this version presented by Gabrieli was created to allow an obvious musical narrative, despite Purcell’s music often being completely dislocated from much of the original theatre context.

Gabrieli have been performing the music from King Arthur for nearly a quarter of a century, evolving their interpretation over time. With the score having to be pieced together using separate versions (due to Purcell’s originals being lost), and with Gabrieli’s evolved interpretation of the music, the end product of this recording is truly unique. Their next release on Signum will be with the semi-opera by Purcell, Fairy Queen, in April next year, which is an adaptation of A Midsummer Nights Dream.

Purcell:
 King Arthur, Z628 

"The eight soloists with two additional singers form an excellent chorus that is adept in every context...Throughout the opera McCreesh’s speeds are relaxed rather than driven – no bad thing, to my mind, and it results in Dryden’s wonderful poetry being acted with personable clarity, and the lucidity of musical gestures ensures that affection and intimacy are the hallmarks of a performance that conveys a humane smile."
Gramophone Magazine - November 2019

"Choruses are more vibrant, dance rhythms more percussive and solos more delicate than in any previous recording. Above all, McCreesh and his artists make us hear Purcell’s genius for word-setting…But the chief delight of this recording is its consort aesthetic: rather than elbowing forward through virtuosity, the artists exert themselves to work as a collective…another jewel in McCreesh’s crown."
BBC Music Magazine - December 2019 *****

"Deze ietwat vergeten opera van Henry Purcell (1659-1695) vormt een belangrijk moment in de operageschiedenis. Zoals vaker past ook dit magnifieke werk (luister alleen al naar de angstaria van Arthur) geheel in een politieke traditie: ook Purcell was zich bewust van vraagstukken over nationale eenheid. King Arthur heeft dus een grotere dan muzikale betekenis. Het Gabrieli Consort olv Paul McCreesh heeft deze opera meerdere keren uitgevoerd en er recent deze uitstekende opname van gemaakt."
ZING magazine 90 ****