Beethoven - Early Cantatas | Hyperion - Helios CDH55479

Beethoven - Early Cantatas

Label: Hyperion - Helios

Cat No: CDH55479

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 1

Genre: Vocal/Choral

Release Date: 28th July 2014

Contents

Artists

Judith Howarth (soprano)
Janice Watson (soprano)
Jean Rigby (contralto)
John Mark Ainsley (tenor)
Jose Van Dam (bass)
Corydon Singers
Corydon Orchestra

Conductor

Matthew Best

Works

Beethoven, Ludwig van

Cantata on the Accession of Emperor Leopold II, WoO88
Cantata on the Death of Emperor Joseph II, WoO87
Meerestille und gluckliche Fahrt (Calm Sea and a Prosperous Voyage), op.112
Opferlied, op.121b

Artists

Judith Howarth (soprano)
Janice Watson (soprano)
Jean Rigby (contralto)
John Mark Ainsley (tenor)
Jose Van Dam (bass)
Corydon Singers
Corydon Orchestra

Conductor

Matthew Best

About

This second disc of Beethoven choral works from the Corydon Singers and Matthew Best includes the composer’s homage to Goethe, Meeresstille und Glückliche Fahrt, and the famous Opferlied, here performed beautifully by Jean Rigby in the version for soprano, choir and orchestra.

Also featured are two rarely performed and fascinating early works - the Cantatas written around 1790 to mark the death of Joseph II and the accession of his brother Leopold II. Both pieces are full of dramatic action and forthright representation of mood, and the ‘Joseph’ Cantata can quite legitimately be counted one of the composer’s most important early works, displaying remarkable maturity for a nineteen-year-old composer.

Penguin Guide Rosette · Gramophone Editor's Choice
A great joy … a fervour of sustained inspiration. A disc which, given the chance, is likely to prove itself the quarter’s best investment’ - Gramophone

There are some lovely performances here, especially from Corydon Singers themselves … this is a fascinating disc’ - BBC Record Review

Arguably Beethoven’s first major masterpiece … superb performance, at once fresh and incisive and deeply moving’ - The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs

It’s always wonderful to come across some unfamiliar piece and relish unsuspected, undiscovered beauties … Hyperion’s enterprising disc of two early cantatas is thoroughly to be recommended. A marvellous disc’ - The Daily Telegraph

Corydon Singers and the Corydon Orchestra and five soloists all cover themselves with glory and the recording is fine’ - Daily Mail

This issue matches its venturesome contents with well-balanced sound and fine performances’ - Hi-Fi News

A revelatory issue, strongly recommended’ - Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Ireland

A unique disc which Beethoven lovers will find magnetic’ - Soundscapes, Australia

[from CDA66880]

Reviews

Arguably Beethoven's first major masterpiece, WoO 87 was one of the few early, unpublished works of which he approved [...] The [first] aria is sung radiantly here by Janice Watson. Relishing the tragic C minor power of the choruses, Matthew Best conducts a superb performance, incisive and deeply moving, with excellent soloists as well as a fine chorus.
Penguin Guide

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