La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Sacrifices (2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/88,2kHz]

La Nuova Musica & David Bates – Sacrifices (2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 01:07:12 minutes | 1,19 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © harmonia mundi

David Bates leads La Nuova Musica in ‘Sacrifices’, a programme of intensely dramatic oratorios from the mid Baroque. Three poignant tales of denail and sacrifice: St Peter’s denial of Christ; Abraham’s [narrowly averted] sacrifice of his son Isaac; and the Old Testament story of Jepthe, the hero commander who, before leading the Israelites into battle against the Ammonites, vows to God that if he is victorious, he will sacrifice the first living thing he meets upon his return. Unfortunately it is his darling daughter, who dances out to greet him with cymbals and flutes. Jepthe must honour his vow… In a dramatic lament, th edaughter [she is never named] asks the mountains to bewail her fate – they answer in echoes; this is followed by one of the most moving choruses in all 17th C music. Belgian soprano Sophie Juncker is the daughter [and one to watch].

La Nuova Musica is established in the UK with regular appearances at the London Handel, the Spitalfields and Aldeburgh International festivals, and has achieved worldwide recognition and outreach through a five-record deal with harmonia mundi USA. Its debut recording for the label, released in March 2012, a world premiere on CD of the 1712 version of Handel’s ‘Il pastor Fido’, was proclaimed as the arrival of “an exceptionally talented young British ensemble” (Opera magazine). A second release, of Handel and Vivaldi ‘Dixit Dominus’, followed in 2013. After its recent debut at Wigmore Hall – performing Francesco Conti’s ‘L’Issipile’ with an all-star cast – The Guardian acclaimed the group as going “from strength to strength”. A disc of Handel, Bononcini and Ariosti arias, with countertenor Lawrence Zazzo, will be released on October 13th.

“To these affecting narratives (separated by instrumental interludes by De Brossard), La Nuova Musicabring superbly straight tone, unerring tuning and plangent phrasing.” (The Observer)

“Without the harrowing visual element one can more easily appreciate how intensely moving these cantatas are in their own right. Sacrifice may be the theme but sensuality predominates. Beautiful, cleanly etched singing and playing” (The Times)

Tracklist:
01. La Nuova Musica and David Bates – Symphonie pour le Graduel ajouté à la Missa Gaudeamus Omnes de François Cosset (ré majeur), SdB. 229 (02:21)
02. La Nuova Musica and David Bates – Cum caenasset Jesus (04:04)
03. La Nuova Musica and David Bates – Ecce Judas (04:49)
04. La Nuova Musica and David Bates – Tunc respexit Jesus Petrum (03:05)
05. La Nuova Musica and David Bates – Symphonie pour le Graduel ajouté à la Missa S. Antonii Padovani de Bartholomeo Baldrati (Sol Mineur), SdB. 228 (02:28)
06. La Nuova Musica and David Bates – Cum centum esset annorum Abraham (04:22)
07. La Nuova Musica and David Bates – Abraham, Abraham! (05:56)
08. La Nuova Musica and David Bates – Et pergentes pariter (05:17)
09. La Nuova Musica and David Bates – Et reversus Abraham ad pueros suos (03:43)
10. La Nuova Musica and David Bates – i. (01:33)
11. La Nuova Musica and David Bates – ii. Rondeau (01:27)
12. La Nuova Musica and David Bates – iii. Rigaudon (01:47)
13. La Nuova Musica and David Bates – iv. (00:54)
14. La Nuova Musica and David Bates – v. (01:31)
15. La Nuova Musica, Robert Murray, Sophie Junker and David Bates – Cum vocasset in proelium (04:37)
16. La Nuova Musica, Sophie Junker, David Bates and Robert Murray – Incipite in tympanis (03:42)
17. La Nuova Musica, Robert Murray, David Bates and Sophie Junker – Cantemus omnes Domino (01:16)
18. La Nuova Musica, Robert Murray, Sophie Junker and David Bates – Cum vidisset Jephte (05:29)
19. La Nuova Musica, David Bates, Sophie Junker and Robert Murray – Plorate colles (04:52)
20. La Nuova Musica, Robert Murray, David Bates and Sophie Junker – Plorate, filii Israel (03:49)

Personnel:
La Nuova Musica:
Sophie Junker, soprano (Filia)
Rob Murray, tenor (Jepthe)
Mhairi Lawson, soprano (Sara)
Simon Wall, tenor (Abraham)
Nicholas Scott, tenor (Isaac)
Alice Gribbin, soprano (Juvenis)
Bojan Cicic, violin
Sabine Stoffer, violin
Stefanie Heichelheim, viola
Rachel Stott, viola
Tomasz Pokrzywinski, basse de violon
David Miller, theorbo
Nathaniel Mander, harpsichord
David Bates, conductor

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