for vocal soloists or SATB choir and orchestra or reduced orchestra Also availab...(+)
for vocal soloists or SATB choir and orchestra or reduced orchestra Also available for full orchestra only. This tender and much-loved work was composed in 1938 in honour of Sir Henry Wood. It was written for 16 soloists and orchestra but may also be sung by four soloists and chorus, or by mixed-voice chorus. This beautifully presented edition includes an introduction by Michael Kennedy. Forces or Category Vocal soloists/SATB and orchestra/reduced orchestra Duration 14 minutes
Favola in musica in un prologo e cinque atti-Monteverdi’s opera “L&r...(+)
Favola in musica in un prologo e cinque atti-Monteverdi’s opera “L’Orfeo” based on the legend of Thracian singer Orpheus and his love of Eurydice is a masterpiece of musical declamation and ornamentation. It was first performed during the 1607 carnevale in the “Palazzo Ducale” in Mantua. When an edition remains true to its sources this certainly does not mean that it is not also practical to use as is demonstrated in this Bärenreiter edition of Monteverdi’s “L’Orfeo”. Edited by Rinaldo Alessandrini the new publication follows the Bärenreiter edition of Monteverdi’s “Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria”. Two contemporary prints of “L’Orfeo” from the years 1609 and 1615 have been passed down to us. Four copies of each of these prints still survive today in public libraries. The later print includes many corrections to the earlier edition and was accordingly used as the primary source for this Bärenreiter edition. However when solving musical problems the editor frequently follows the more coherent style of the earlier print. The numerous interesting variants not only between the two editions but also amongst the eight surviving copies are listed in the critical commentary.This edition of “L’Orfeo” offers in addition to Monteverdi’s somewhat sparse original figures also figures added to the bass line by the editor. The continuo player should however feel free to follow his own judgment. The notation has been when necessary adapted to suit modern practice for example with regard to the clefs. The sections that were originally written in “chiavetta” have been transposed a fifth lower. In the appendix these sections also appear in their original notation in facsimile as well as transposed a fourth lower.Detailed introduction by the editor (Ital/Eng/Ger) on the work’s genesis and performance practiceComprehensive critical commentary (Eng) in the scoreIdiomatic piano reduction
Opera in three acts. ?Giulio Cesare in Egitto? is by far Handel?s most frequentl...(+)
Opera in three acts. ?Giulio Cesare in Egitto? is by far Handel?s most frequently performed opera owing its success not least to its subject matter, one of the best known love stories in world history. Already during Handel?s lifetime the popular work was often staged and therefore adapted by Handel for each of the performance conditions. The editor Hans Dieter Clausen has succeeded in editorially defining and practically presenting these adaptations ? essentially four versions ? on the basis of a meticulous study of the sources within the framework of the ?Halle Handel Edition?. The new edition allows for a performance of each of the four versions. The version of 1725 is particularly noteworthy because Handel newly devised the role of Sesto for the famous tenor Francesco Borosini.
The libretto shows the Roman dictator Cesar in a friendly light. He instructs his enemy, the Egyptian tyrant Tolomeo, how to treat adversaries: he reconciles the widow and son of his enemy Pompeo who was murdered by Tolomeo: he is generous and just, hands on, but also diplomatic, thoughtful, aware of the limits of his power, and susceptible for art and nature. However, the actual protagonist of the opera is Cleopatra. In a masterly way Handel develops her character musically.
In his extensive Foreword Hans Dieter Clausen not only decribes the genesis, historical background, reception and the edition of the opera, he also examines the musical and dramaturgical reworking of individual numbers in ?Giulio Cesare?. Handel was such an expert in adapting arias for new purposes and other characters that he did not only meet the needs at hand but often the new version surpassed the original. In this way, the reader gains, in passing, a well-founded insight into Handel?s work methods when designing and redevising his characters. The detailed Critical Commentary includes information on the comprehensive and highly complex source situation as well as on individual editorial decisions.
Saint Francis of Assisi is an opera in 3 acts by Olivier Messiaen. This first vo...(+)
Saint Francis of Assisi is an opera in 3 acts by Olivier Messiaen. This first volume is focused on the Act 1 – 1. La croix 2. Les laudes 3. Le baiser au lépreux. It depicts the moments when Saint Francis explains what is the 'Perfect Joy' according to the love of the Christ his request to God to meet a leper and to be able to love him and finally his meeting with a leper assisted by an Angel. The leper is cured from this meeting. Based on the life of Saint Francis of Assisi this opera is set in Italy and is composed as per below: Act I: 1. La croix 2. Les laudes 3.Le baiser au lépreux Act II 4. L’ange voyageur 5. L’ange musicien 6. Le prêche aux oiseaux Act II 7. Les stigmates 8. La mort et la nouvelle vie This opera was played at the Paris Opera in 1983. Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) was a French organist and composer passionate about Ornithology and one of the most important composers of his century. Inspired by Japanese music he had a very special way of composing and his work can be identified by its complexity its diatonic aspect its harmony with limited transposition its colour and its additive rhythms. He composed many works related to ornithology and birdsong including the 'Bird Catalogue' in 7 volumes and the 'Treatise on rhythm colour and ornithology' in 7 volumes.
Oratorio in three parts-In quite characteristic fashion for the times Handel&rs...(+)
Oratorio in three parts-In quite characteristic fashion for the times Handel’s opera “Alessandro” looks at various episodes in the life and rule of Alexander the Great (356 323 BC). This legendary warrior and military commander conquered large parts of the world before meeting an untimely end at the age of 32. A central conflict in Handel’s opera is Alessandro being in love with two women Lisaura and Rossane who compete for his favour. In addition his claim to be of divine parentage is underlined occasioning him to demand the subservience of his followers which meets with vigorous disapproval.Handel composed “Alessandro” for the Royal Academyof Music to a libretto by Paolo Antonio Rolli in the 1725/26 season. The work was premiered at the King’s Theatre in London on 5 May 1726. “Alessandro” was the first of five operas for the Royal Academy operas which saw Handel compose for three of the most famous singers of his time: Francesco Bernardi (called Senesino) Francesca Cuzzoni and Faustina Bordoni.Ortensio Mauro’s libretto “La superbia d’Alessandro ” which was performed for the first time in Hanover in 1690 in a musical setting by Agostino Steffani and staged again in the city the following year under the title “Il zelo di Leonato” but with numerous alterations served as the source text for Handel’s “Alessandro”. One of the main aspects Rolli had to consider when preparing the libretto for the London performances was to keep the roles of the famous singers of the Royal Academy well balanced yet at the same time to engineer a musical contest between the prima donnas Cuzzoni and Bordoni (Lisaura and Rossane) as well. From a business point of view it made good sense for such rivalry would surely increase public interest in the opera.It is no longer possible to ascertain which changes Handel made during the following performance series of the 1727/28 season. For the performance series of 1732/33 Handel made substantial revisions to the opera: six numbers were deleted in their entirety the finale in part as well and the recitatives were made much shorter with the parts of Cleone and Leonato omitted
Cantata for the First Sunday of Advent-Nun komm der Heiden Heiland BWV 61Cantat...(+)
Cantata for the First Sunday of Advent-Nun komm der Heiden Heiland BWV 61Cantata for the First Sunday of AdventBach began two of his cantatas with Martin Luther`s Advent hymn 'Nun komm der Heiden Heiland' a German version of the early church hymn 'Veni redemptor gentium'. One of the most gripping solo parts (following the pattern recitative – aria – recitative – aria) is the bass recitative on the words of the Revelation with its highly expressive declamation of the vocal line and the naive graphicness of the pounding string accompaniment.Equally captivating is the following soprano aria which 'opens its heart' upon the Saviour's 'knocking' in a melody full of thecheerful tidings of Advent. The cantata ends brilliantly with a lovely figurative chorale movement enhanced by the interplay of a lively bustling violin part which ultimately soars upward to breathtaking heights.- Urtext of the New Bach Edition
Romantisches Schauspiel in vier Akten mit Musikbegleitung Chören und Tänzen-R...(+)
Romantisches Schauspiel in vier Akten mit Musikbegleitung Chören und Tänzen-Rosamunde Fürstin Von Cypern D 797Incidental music to the four-act play by Helmina von Chézy.On 20 December 1823 Helmina von Chézy?s ?great romantic drama? ?Rosamunde? received its premiere performance at Vienna?s Theater an der Wien. Unfortunately this version of the drama with ghosts shipwreck pirates attempted poisoning and other horrifying ingredients has not survived unlike Schubert?s popular incidental music which was already praised by contemporary critics. Special acknowledgment was given to ?the genius of this much-loved master? and as evidence of its popularity the overture and the ?Hunters? Chorus? had to beplayed again.Now Bärenreiter is issuing one of Schubert?s best-known compositions in a complete vocal score.The appendix includes Chézy?s draft to the play ?Rosamunde? and a reconstruction of the first version of this drama.Urtext edition based on the ?New Schubert Edition?Bilingual Foreword (Ger/Eng)Idiomatic uncluttered Piano reduction (Ger)Full score (BA5570) and vocal score (BA5570-90) available for sale performance material (BA5570-72) available for hire