The Queen

This recording of duets by the great composers of the Restoration is one of the gems of Hyperion’s catalogue. It features the celebrated countertenors James Bowman and Michael Chance at the peak of their powers, and the combination of their two voices with the sympathetic accompaniment of The King’s Consort creates something uniquely glorious. Purcell was a countertenor himself and in his writing for the voice produced some of his most felicitous music. John Blow, Purcell’s predecessor and successor as organist of Westminster Abbey, reached his compositional zenith with the extended duet (almost a small cantata) on the subjects of Purcell’s tragic early death and inextinguishable influence.

THE FLOWER KINGS - 25 years in the service of music. Started by prolific Swedish guitarist & singer Roine Stolt in 1994; NOW - again joined by long-time partners in stringed things & voices, Hasse Fröberg & Michael Stolt and Italian drummer Mirko DeMaio. Now about to release a brand-new studio album in September 2023. This album 'LOOK AT YOU NOW' - Nr: 16 - was inspired as much by the turbulent times we travel thru lately - as by the ancient goals of mankind to find peace and enlightenment and dwell in silence - in awe of the wonders that surrounds us. According to the band themselves, their strongest set of songs in a very long time - and with a classic sound delivered thru the desk of Icon Rupert Neve at Fenix Recording Sweden.

Chandos’ featured release is a new recording of the first English operatic masterpiece, Purcell’s tragedy Dido and Aeneas. Starring Sarah Connolly, Gerald Finley, with the Orchestra and Choir of the Age of Enlightenment, it is released to commemorate the 350th anniversary of Purcell’s birth.

Coronation Anthems have delighted audiences ever since their first performance in 1727. They appear in all their glory on this recording interspersed with a selection of Handel favourites including an interesting version of his Organ Concerto in F major Opus 4 in its original version with the finale of an 'Hallelujah' chorus. One of Handel’s first tasks as a naturalised British Citizen was to write the music for the Coronation of the new monarch – King George II. Rarely did a composer of the day have such an audience for his new works and Handel composed his four Anthems to match the pomp and grandeur of the occasion and, of course, the venue – Westminster Abbey.

Paavo Berglund - The Warner Edition - Complete EMI Classics & Finlandia Recording [42CD Box Set] (2023)
MP3 320 Kbps | Run Time: 01:15:25:56 | 5.32 Gb
Genre: Classical | Label: Warner Classics

The nine Beethoven Symphonies are considered to be one of the greatest musical testaments of all time and are a key staple in every conductor's repertoire. Simon Rattle performed the complete cycle with the Wiener Philharmoniker in live concerts, recorded for EMI between 29 April and 17 May 2002 at the historic Musikverein in Vienna.'These are not interpretations set in stone, deeply as Rattle has obviously thought them through; and his encouragement of the brilliant VPO woodwind and horn soloists to challenge each other in imagination and individuality adds to the impression of joyful discovery.'