Dvd

Poulenc: Stabat Mater

Poulenc: Stabat Mater

Judith Howarth (Soprano);

"The clarity of sound and picture, combined with an astonishingly high energy performance made my near-elderly pulse course with delight." (Evening Standard)

Prom at the Palace - The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace (BBC) (PAL)

Prom at the Palace - The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace (BBC) (PAL)

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (Soprano); Sir Thomas Allen (Baritone); Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello); Roberto Alagna (Tenor); Angela Gheorghiu (Soprano); Julian Bliss (Clarinet);

Rameau: In Convertendo (Les Arts Florissants)

Rameau: In Convertendo (Les Arts Florissants)

Nicolas Rivenq (Baritone); Sophie Daneman (Soprano); Jeffrey Thompson (Tenor); Olga Pitarch (Soprano);

"These motets contain gorgeous music: they are to some degree concert music as much as religious music, and indeed the version of In Convertendo that has survived is the revised one for the Concert Spirituel. Lengthy orchestral parts, ravishing solos accompanied by flutes,occasional interludes with oboes and bassoons, make a lot of the music lyrical, if not elegiac." (www.medieval.org)

Tavener: Choral Ikons (The Choir) (NTSC)

Tavener: Choral Ikons (The Choir) (NTSC)

The Choir (Choir); James Whitbourn (Conductor);

"The power of the performances is overwhelming and the credit goes to James Whitbourn and his vocal ensemble The Choir that he created for the express purpose of television and DVD recordings for Opus Arte. The Choir sing Tavener’s music with great understanding and sensitivity to the religious texts. This DVD captures every beauteous moment of Tavener’s music with The Choir. Opus Arte, as in all their productions, never leave you second-guessing about the music with their investigative extra features that bring further insight upon the chosen subject...The ikon chooses you which, together with an illustrated booklet containing an in-depth article on the inspirational power of ikons as well as the vocal texts and an introduction by Tavener himself, round off this beautifully presented package." (The Organ)

Tavener: Choral Ikons (The Choir) (PAL)

Tavener: Choral Ikons (The Choir) (PAL)

The Choir (Choir); James Whitbourn (Conductor);

"The power of the performances is overwhelming and the credit goes to James Whitbourn and his vocal ensemble The Choir that he created for the express purpose of television and DVD recordings for Opus Arte. The Choir sing Tavener’s music with great understanding and sensitivity to the religious texts. This DVD captures every beauteous moment of Tavener’s music with The Choir. Opus Arte, as in all their productions, never leave you second-guessing about the music with their investigative extra features that bring further insight upon the chosen subject...The ikon chooses you which, together with an illustrated booklet containing an in-depth article on the inspirational power of ikons as well as the vocal texts and an introduction by Tavener himself, round off this beautifully presented package." (The Organ)

Tavener: Fall and Resurrection (BBC Singers)

Tavener: Fall and Resurrection (BBC Singers)

Patricia Rozario (Soprano); Michael Chance (Counter-tenor); Martyn Hill (psaltis); Adrian Peacock (Voice of God/Christ/Devil); Stephen Richardson (Bass);

"Although one can never fully capture the atmosphere of a live performance, this DVD...brings you as close as you can get. Indeed for a piece of music…that largely consists of a series of grand effects perhaps it is even in some way enhanced on DVD. The vast architecture and acoustics of St Paul’s Cathedral are exploited to the full in a colourful kind of son et lumiére which is well captured by intelligent camera work and very clear surround sound. There are some wonderful aural effects; for example, the thundering climax of the final ‘Cosmic Dance of the Resurrection’, with full organ and peal of Easter bells, is quite overwhelming...This is a well presented ‘collector’s edition’, providing everything possible to increase the listener’s appreciation of the piece." (Choir & Organ)