Britten: Purcell Realizations - FELICITY LOTT / SARAH WALKER / JAMES BOWMAN / GRAHAM JOHNSON (2 CDs)

These songs are arrangements only in the sense that Purcell provided the vocal part and a bass line, figured to indicate the harmony, leaving it to the continuo player to ‘realize’ the rest of the accompaniment—which is what Britten does. Obviously this leaves plenty of scope for imagination on the part of the ‘realizer’ and Britten takes full advantage of this freedom, providing accompaniments that are utterly distinctive, although always within the harmonic confines of the originals. As Britten wrote in the foreword to each publication of the songs, calling them performing editions ‘for contemporary conditions’: ‘It is clear that the figured basses in Purcell’s day were realized in a manner personal to the player. In this edition the basses have also, inevitably, been realized in a personal way. But it has been the constant endeavour of the arranger to apply to these realizations something of that mixture of clarity, brilliance, tenderness and strangeness which shines out in all Purcell’s music.’

CD1
1
The knotting song Z371  Hears not my Phillis how the birds[2'04]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
James Bowman (countertenor)

King Arthur, or The British Worthy Z628Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
2
Song: Fairest isle[2'20]
Dame Felicity Lott (soprano)

3
If music be the food of love Z379c[4'10]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
John Mark Ainsley (tenor)

4
Turn then thine eyes Z425[1'34]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
John Mark Ainsley (tenor)

Oedipus Z583Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
5
Song: Music for a while[3'14]
Sarah Walker (mezzo-soprano)
6
Pious Celinda goes to prayers Z410[1'25]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Ian Bostridge (tenor)
A Fool's Preferment, or The Three Dukes of Dunstable Z571Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
7
Song: I'll sail upon the dog-star[1'23]
Richard Jackson (baritone)
8
On the brow of Richmond Hill Z405[1'50]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor)
9
Mad Bess Z370  From silent shades and the Elysian groves[5'23]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Sarah Walker (mezzo-soprano)
10
If music be the food of love Z379a[2'08]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Dame Felicity Lott (soprano)
Rule a Wife and Have a Wife Z587Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
11
Song: There's not a swain of the plain[0'52]
Ian Bostridge (tenor)
12
Not all my torments can your pity move Z400[2'41]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
James Bowman (countertenor)
The Mock Marriage Z605Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
13
Song: Man is for the woman made[1'07]
Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor)
Pausanias, the Betrayer of his Country Z585Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
14
Song: Sweeter than roses[3'42]
Dame Felicity Lott (soprano)
15
O solitude, my sweetest choice! Z406[6'28]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
John Mark Ainsley (tenor)
The Indian Queen Z630Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
16
Song: I attempt from love's sickness to fly[2'12]
Susan Gritton (soprano)
17
I take no pleasure in the sun's bright beams Z388[1'44]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Ian Bostridge (tenor)
The Fairy Queen Z629Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
18
Song: Hark the ech'ing air![2'28]
Dame Felicity Lott (soprano)
The Rival Sisters, or The Violence of Love Z609Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
19
Song: Take not a woman's anger ill[1'28]
John Mark Ainsley (tenor)
King Arthur, or The British Worthy Z628Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
20
Song: How blest are shepherds[3'29]
John Mark Ainsley (tenor)
Oroonoko Z584Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
21
Duet: Celemene[3'52]
Susan Gritton (soprano), Ian Bostridge (tenor)
Come ye sons of Art, away Z323Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
22
Movement 3: Sound the trumpet[2'24]
Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor), John Mark Ainsley (tenor)
23
I spy Celia Z499[4'05]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Ian Bostridge (tenor), Richard Jackson (baritone)
24
Lost is my quiet for ever Z502[3'18]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Susan Gritton (soprano), Sarah Walker (mezzo-soprano)
25
What can we poor females do? Z518[1'12]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Susan Gritton (soprano), Sarah Walker (mezzo-soprano)
The Maid's Last Prayer, or Any rather than Fail Z601Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
26
Duet: No, resistance is but vain[5'35]
Sarah Walker (mezzo-soprano), Richard Jackson (baritone)
King Arthur, or The British Worthy Z628Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
27
Duet: Shepherd, leave decoying[1'17]
Susan Gritton (soprano), Sarah Walker (mezzo-soprano)
CD2
28
The Queen's Epicedium Z383  Incassum Lesbia, incassum rogas[7'24]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Ian Bostridge (tenor)
29
The Blessed Virgin's Expostulation when our Saviour, at twelve years of age, had withdrawn himself Z196  Tell me, some pitying angel, quickly say[7'25]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Dame Felicity Lott (soprano)
30
Saul and the witch at Endor Z134  In guilty night, and hid in false disguise[11'46]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Sarah Walker (mezzo-soprano), John Mark Ainsley (tenor), Simon Keenlyside (baritone)
31
Lord, what is man? Z192[6'09]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Dame Felicity Lott (soprano)
32
We sing to him whose wisdom form'd the ear Z199[1'54]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
James Bowman (countertenor)
33
Evening Hymn Z193  Now that the sun hath veiled his light[4'35]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Dame Felicity Lott (soprano)
34
Job's curse Z191  Let the night perish; cursed be the morn[5'08]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Simon Keenlyside (baritone)
35
A morning hymn Z198  Thou wakeful shepherd, that does Israel keep[2'54]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor)
36
Alleluia ZS14[2'16]John Weldon (1676-1736) & Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor)
37
In the black dismal dungeon of despair Z190[4'22]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Anthony Rolfe Johnson (tenor)
38
Dulcibella, when e'er I sue for a kiss Z485[2'09]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Ian Bostridge (tenor), Richard Jackson (baritone)
39
When Myra sings Z521[2'45]Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Ian Bostridge (tenor), Richard Jackson (baritone)
The Comical History of Don Quixote Z578Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
40
Part 1, Song: Let the dreadful engines of eternal will[7'57]
Simon Keenlyside (baritone)