‘The Brook Street Band, expanded beyond the group’s usual chamber proportions to 18, play Arne’s music with style. ‘ BSB’s chamber dimensions lend the performance a likeable intimacy and vivacity.’ Named for the London street on which Handel lived for much of his London residency, and best regarded for its handling of his repertoire, the Band was formed in 1996 by baroque cellist Tatty Theo and here comprises three first violins, two second violins, two viola, double bass, timpani, bassoon, a Flemish petit ravelment two manual harpischord, two trumpeters, flautists and oboes, Theo, of course, supplies cello continuo.’ Do not be fooled by the more familiar connotations of its titular designation. ‘This performance, by the Brook Street Band is absolutely magisterial. ‘The playing is delightfully buoyant, the recording intimately truthful.’ ‘It’s all sung with a suitable lightness of touch, with sparkling accompaniment from The Brook Street Band, all artfully directed by John Andrews.’ This is a lovely discovery, with all the cast joining in the spirit of this fable to give it a stylish and compelling revival. By the end of the opera we are not surprised when Venus’s softly, softly appeal to her shepherd judge succeeds over the more demonstrative blandishments of her competitors, Pallas and Juno. Stories conflict as to weather if Helen fell in love with Paris (with the help of Aphrodite) and left willingly, or if she was forcefully abducted by Paris. Thomas Arne’s opera The Judgment of Paris (1742), a setting of William Congreve’s libretto of the same name, is known only from the printed score, but in this world premiere recording is performed with panache and authority by The Brook Street Band and a scintillating young cast led by sopranos Mary Bevan (Venus), Susanna Fairbairn (Pallas) and Gillian Ramm (Juno), with tenors Ed Lyon as the shepherd Paris and Anthony Gregory as Mercury, all under the expert direction of conductor John Andrews. Excerpt from Track 14: Air (Pallas) The glorious voice of war.Excerpt from Track 10: Duet (Mercury, Paris) Happy I of human race.Excerpt from Track 7: Duet (Mercury, Paris) Happy I of human race.Grand Chorus Sing and spread the joyful news around Trio (Pallas, Juno, Venus) Hither turn thee, gentle swainĪccompanied recitative (Pallas) Awake, awake, thy spirits raiseĪccompanied Recitative (Venus) Stay, lovely youthĪir (Venus) One only joy mankind can knowĪir (Venus) Nature fram’d thee sure for lovingĪccompanied Recitative (Pallas) I yield, I yield, O take the prize Recitative (Juno, Pallas) Saturnia, wife of thund’ring Jove am IĪir (Venus) Gentle swain! Hither turn thee Recitative (Mercury, Paris) From high OlympusĪccompanied Recitative (Paris) O ravishing delightĭuet (Mercury, Paris) Happy I of human race
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