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The King’s Consort, Choir of the King’s Choir, Robert King – The Coronation Of King George II (1727) (2001)
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 100:31 mins | Scans included | 5,94 GB
or FLAC 2.0 Stereo (converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 1,87 GB
Handel’s Coronation Anthems & Ceremonial Music by Purcell, Blow, Tallis, Gibbons & others
Label: Hyperion | Catalog No.: SACDA67286
“Why present just Handel’s Coronation Anthems for King George II when you can present the whole Coronation?” seems to be the proposition that underlies this two-disc set, entitled The Coronation of King George II, 1727. And, thrillingly performed by Robert King directing the King’s Consort and the Choir of the King’s Consort, there seems no good reason not to, and every good reason to, do just that. King, who has led many stirring recordings of Handel’s oratorios in his time, turns in splendid performances of the four Coronation Anthems, along with superb performances of ceremonial choral music by Tallis, Purcell, Gibbons, Blow, Farmer, and Child. But those are just the highlights of the recording, which opens with the tolling of the bells of Westminster Abbey and closes with the tolling of the bells of London and includes along the way trumpet fanfares led by the inestimable Crispian Steele-Perkins, drum processions led by Charles Fullbrook, spoken acclamations by Andrew Carwood as the Archbishop of Canterbury, and shouts of praise by the assembled multitudes. This set may not be for everyone — enemies of the monarchy need not tune in — and may not be for every day — a steady diet of fanfares and processions may be much for some listeners — but when you are in the mood to hear royalty enthroned, this set cannot be surpassed.
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Robert King, The King’s Consort – Luigi Boccherini, Emanuele d’Astorga: Stabat Mater (1999)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 01:13:34 minutes | 1,17 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Hyperion Records
Boccherini wrote very little vocal music; however he left two settings of the Stabat mater. It was first set in 1781 for solo soprano and strings and then in 1800 for two sopranos and tenor, obviously influenced by the hugely-popular Pergolesi Stabat mater of 1736. There are many similarities in the notation and harmony – even the same key of F minor is used. The writing is of extraordinary individuality and seems to come straight from the heart. This unjustly neglected piece is surely one of the most remarkable sacred compostions of the era.
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The King’s Consort feat. Iestyn Davies and Robert King – Your tuneful voice – Handel Oratorio Arias (2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:07:21 minutes | 1,21 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Linn Records
Acclaimed countertenor Iestyn Davies and The King’s Consort perform an outstanding programme of Handel arias from some of the composer’s finest oratorios. Eleven varied solo arias include ‘O sacred oracles of truth’, the delicate ‘Tune your harps’, ‘Eternal source of light’ (with supreme trumpet playing from Crispian Steele-Perkins), the melodious ‘Your tuneful voice’ and the virtuoso ‘Mighty love now calls to arm’, as well as rarities including ‘On the valleys, dark and cheerless’ and an especial jewel, ‘Mortals think that Time is sleeping’.
Iestyn is joined in two glorious duets by soprano Carolyn Sampson, including the ecstatic ‘Welcome as the dawn of day’ and the ghostly ‘Who calls my parting soul from death’.
Recorded in the well-nigh perfect acoustic of Menuhin Hall with a large and colourful orchestra, who also contribute two
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: Iestyn Davies, Rachel Chaplin, Crispian Steele-Perkins, Carolyn Sampson, …
Conductor: Robert King
Orchestra/Ensemble: The King’s Consort