Purcell Collection Audio CD – CD, March 26, 2013

Box sets are an affordable way to build a collection and afford the listener a chance to hear a composer's music in the perspective of totality, or at least significant breadth, which is a great way to build familiarity and understanding.This box set contains 16 CDs encompassing oratorio, sacred works, and assorted instrumental chamber works and songs.I bought the CD for the oratorios and counted the rest of the music as a bonus.The recordings represent a number of different ensembles and soloists, but they are uniformly excellent in quality. Recorded with so called "period instruments", these pieces absolutely capture the English Baroque style, which I would describe as "buoyant", "crisp", and "clean". The singing is not overwrought or melodramatic, with a very controlled application of vibratto and tempo rubato. The balance within the ensembles is superb.In short, this is a remarkable compilation of excellent quality demonstrating superb musicianship and historically accurate interpretation. If you love English Baroque music as I do, you will not regret spending the money to get this box set.

This collection brings together recordings from various other record labels whose rights were purchased by Brilliant Classics. There are sixteen discs and the going price here in the US, at this time, is less than $4 per disc, a darn good deal considering the musical worth of these performances.CDs 1-2: King Arthur: the English Concert conducted by Trevor Pinnock and featuring such singers as Gerald Finley, Nancy Argenta, et al. I'd suggest you read a review of this King Arthur performance at its own website:  Purcell: King Arthur / Pinnock . David Bryson is his usual trenchant self in his review.CDs 3-4: The Fairy Queen: Accademia Bizantina, conducted by Ottavio Dantone, with English soloists and the chorus called 'New English Voices': reviews available at  Purcell: The Fairy Queen CD 5: Dido and Aeneas: Music ad Rhenum conducted by Jed Wentz with Nicola Wemyss & Matthew Baker. There are no reviews here at Amazon, but this is a fine performance, but perhaps not the equal of the classic performance with the great Janet Baker.CD 6: Hail bright Cecilia: the Gabrieli Consort and singers conducted by Paul McCreesh. Another good Bryson review is here:  Hail Bright Cecilia CD 7: Sacred works I: Paul McCreesh conducting the Gabrieli Consort and Players; includes such things as 'Close thine eyes and sleep secure' and 'O solitude, my sweetest choice'CD 8: Sacred works II: the Te Deum and the Jubilate Deum, et al. as well as 'Funeral Sentences for the death of Queen Mary II', all with Baroque Brass of London and instrumentalists like Andrew Manze, Crispian Steele-Perkins, conducted by Timothy BrownCD 9: Songs and Instumental Music: songs such as 'Strike the viol' and 'An Evening Hymn' with countertenor Michael Chance; Instrumental music including the great Chaconne in G minor, and 'The History of Diocletian' (excerpts) with FlorilegiumCD 10-16: Chamber works including 3 CDs with 12 Sonatas in Three Parts, 10 Sonatas in Four Parts, Fantasias for Strings, various miscellaneous pieces, all with the ensemble Amphion; and finally 3 CDs for keyboard with Pieter-Jan Belder playing (mostly) harpsichord or organ - see reviews at  Purcell: Complete Chamber Music Documentation restricts itself to listings of performers and one six-page booklet that says a little about each disc. No sung texts are included but they can be downloaded as a .pdf from the Brilliant Classics website.I did not find a single bad performance here and most of them are superb. A strong recommendation.Scott Morrison

Recordings are of pretty good quality. Selection of material is good.Problem 1: Few notes regarding individual compositions.Problem 2: The white on orange print is hard to read (especially for older people like me).Got to be a fan to buy this compilation. If you are looking for a best of type sampler this is not for you.

First class recordings of the major choral works and a whole host of lesser known (to me at least) works including some wonderful songs. The only disappointment are the sonatas which lack colour and changes of tempo but which are nevertheless interesting in their historical context. Still a bargain at the price.

Bueno, barato, pero sin las letras de las óperas e himnos. Incluso psra los ingleses no será fácil entender las canciones en inglés isabelino.

Excellent!

Coffret reçu rapidement mais je suis déçu par la qualité d'interprétation des enregistrements. Pas mal mais ce n'est pas ce qu'il y a de mieux. Compte tenu du prix cet ensemble reste valable, sans plus.