Alfred Deller – Alfred Deller: The Voice of Purcell (2019) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

The year 1979 saw the death of one of the leading players in the ‘Baroque’ revolution, undoubtedly the most famous countertenor of the twentieth century. Alfred Deller had even achieved the supreme tour de force of convincing us that, three centuries earlier, Purcell had composed his songs for him! With him the public of the 1960s and 1970s discovered not only an absolutely inimitable timbre, but also the delights of a repertory that had been slumbering in libraries until then. Forty years after his death, thanks to the meticulous process of remastering harmonia mundi has carried out on the original tapes, Alfred Deller’s art seems more alive than ever!

One cannot begin to imagine the shock that English music lovers felt at the end of the war as they discovered Alfred Deller’s voice. The presence of a countertenor voice on the scene had been absent for over two centuries, with an extensive repertoire vanishing with it. Suddenly appearing from the past, this magical voice almost seemed unnatural. It was also that of an exceptional musician, of a natural expressiveness that knew how to touch the heart, always in the full repect of the text.
Alfred Deller’s talent would begin to reach an even wider audience from the end of the 1960s as the singer and his ensemble entered the musical catalogue of the label harmonia mundi. It was after a concert by the Deller Consort in Avignon in 1967 that Bernard Coutaz, the founder of the famous French label, suggested that he and Deller worked together. The two men connected straight away and their collaboration premiered shortly afterwards with a first recital dedicated to the madrigals and sacred works by Carlo Gesualdo. Deller’s purchase of an old farm in the Luberon would go on to further reinforce this friendship with the foundation of an academy for ancient music (one of the first in France) in the beautiful Sénanque Abbey and in Lacoste — with the support of harmonia mundi. During the first part of his career, Alfred Deller is therefore able to record the major works of Purcell in the best acoustic and technical conditions, conducted and sung by himself.
At the age of 65, Alfred Deller gives his best performance in his final recordings, cut short by his sudden death as the result of a heart attack during one of the recordings, on the 16th of July 1979 in Bologna.
This famous Purcellian legacy is now published in a ‘collector’s edition’ box set of seven CDs or a luxurious version on five vinyls which are in limited edition and with five discs for the digital version. Qobuz is offering them to you in a Hi-Res Audio edition of brilliant auditive quality, under the generic title The Voice of Purcell, a favorite composer never left, to mark forty years since the loss of Alfred Deller. The original soundtracks have undergone a meticulous remastering process to restore the original takes to their entire splendour. Versions which revisit each of the original LPs are also available, also in Hi-Res. – François Hudry

Tracklist:
01. O Solitude, Z. 406 (6:04)
02. O Lord, God of hosts, Z. 37 (5:44)
03. O Give Thanks unto the Lord, Z. 33 (11:00)
04. My song shall be alway, Z. 31 (13:27)
05. Hear my prayer, O lord, Z. 15 (2:39)
06. Blow up the trumpet in Sion, Z. 10 (7:29)
07. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: “Monkey’s Dance” (0:53)
08. The Plaint, Z. 629/40 (7:35)
09. If music be the food of love, Z. 379 (2:28)
10. The Indian Queen: I attempt from love’s sickness (2:04)
11. Fairest Isle, Z. 628/38 (2:50)
12. Sweeter Than Roses, Z. 585/1 (3:23)
13. Not All My Torments Can Your Pity Move, Z. 400 (2:02)
14. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629/39: Thrice Happy Lovers (2:58)
15. An Evening Hymn, Z. 193 (5:08)
16. From Rosy Bow’rs, Z. 578 (7:17)
17. O Lead Me to Some Peaceful Gloom, Z. 574 (2:58)
18. Retired from Any Mortal’s Sight, Z. 581 (2:56)
19. Music for a While, Z. 583 (4:06)
20. Since from My Dear Astrea’s Sight, Z. 627 (4:00)
21. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, The First Musick: I. Prelude (1:58)
22. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, The First Musick: II. Hornpipe (0:58)
23. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, The Second Musick: I. Air (0:59)
24. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, The Second Musick: II. Rondeau (1:21)
25. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, The Second Musick: III. Overture (0:36)
26. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act I: “Come let us leave” (Two Fairies) (3:13)
27. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act I: Scene of the drunken poet (5:47)
28. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act I: First Act tune (1:13)
29. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act II: Prelude. “Come all ye songsters” (A Fairy) (1:57)
30. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act II: Prelude [2] (0:42)
31. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act II: “May the God of wit” (Three Fairies) (0:59)
32. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act II: Echo. Now join your warbling voices (1:33)
33. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act II: “Sing while we trip” (A Fairy). Fairy Dance (2:13)
34. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act II: “See, even night” (Night) (5:14)
35. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act II: “I am come to lock” (Mistery) (0:46)
36. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act II: “One charming night” (Secret) (2:05)
37. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act II: “Hush, no more” (Sleep) (5:02)
38. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act II: Dance for the followers of Night (2:24)
39. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act II: Second Act tune (1:22)
40. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act III: “If love’s a sweet passion” (A Nymph) (2:18)
41. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act III: Symphony while the swans come forward (3:24)
42. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act III: Dance for the Fairies (0:52)
43. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act III: Dance for the Green Men (1:51)
44. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act III: “Ye gentle spirits of the air” (A Nymph) (4:54)
45. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act III: Dialogue between Corydon and Mopsa (3:51)
46. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act III: “When I have often heard” (A Nymph) (2:48)
47. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act III: Dance for the Haymakers (0:52)
48. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act III: “A thousand, thousand ways” (Corydon, Mopsa) (2:33)
49. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act III: Third Act tune (1:01)
50. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act IV: Symphony (6:14)
51. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act IV: “Let the fifes and the clarions” (Attendants) (1:25)
52. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act IV: Entry of Phoebus (0:45)
53. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act IV: “When a cruel long winter” (Phoebus) (3:11)
54. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act IV: “Hail! Great parent” (Fairies) (2:08)
55. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act IV: “Thus the ever grateful Spring” (Spring) (2:10)
56. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act IV: “Here’s the summer” (Summer) (1:11)
57. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act IV: “See, see my many colour’d fields” (Automn) (2:55)
58. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act IV: “Now winter comes slowly” (Winter) (2:49)
59. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act IV: “Hail! Great parent!” (Fairies) (1:09)
60. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act IV: Fourth Act tune (1:06)
61. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: Prelude [3] (0:36)
62. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: “Thrice happy lovers” (Juno) (2:32)
63. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: The Plaint (7:24)
64. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: Entry Dance (1:15)
65. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: Symphony [2] (1:05)
66. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: “Thus the gloomy world” (The Chinese Man) (4:48)
67. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: “Thus happy and free” (A Chinese Woman) (0:56)
68. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: “Yes Xansi” (The Chinese Man) (2:10)
69. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: “Hark how all things” (A Chinese Woman) (2:01)
70. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: “Hark! The choing air” (A Chinese Woman) (2:44)
71. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: “Sure the dull God” (A Chinese Woman) (3:04)
72. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: Prelude. “See, I obey” (Hymen) (1:53)
73. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: “Turn then thine eyes” (Chinese Woman) (1:32)
74. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: “My torch indeed” (Hymen) (0:39)
75. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: “They shall be as happy” (0:49)
76. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: Chaconne (3:04)
77. The Fairy Queen, Z. 629, Act V: “They shall be as happy” [2] (1:02)
78. The Indian Queen, Z. 630: Overture (4:27)
79. The Indian Queen, Z. 630: Prologue (4:49)
80. The Indian Queen, Z. 630, Acte I: “Wake, Quivera, wake” (Boy) (9:34)
81. The Indian Queen, Acte II: Symphony (4:30)
82. The Indian Queen, Acte II: “I come to sing” (Fame and chorus) (1:42)
83. The Indian Queen, Acte II: “What flattering noise” (Envy and two followers) (3:10)
84. The Indian Queen, Acte II: “Begone” (Fame) (1:59)
85. The Indian Queen, Acte III: Symphony (0:58)
86. The Indian Queen, Acte III: “Ye twice ten hundred deities” (Ismeron) (5:05)
87. The Indian Queen, Acte III: “Seek not to know” (God of dreams) (4:18)
88. The Indian Queen, Acte III: Trumpet overture (2:42)
89. The Indian Queen, Acte III: “Ah! how happy we are”. “We the spirits of the air” (Aerial spirits) (4:01)
90. The Indian Queen, Acte III: “I attempt to love’s sickness” (Aerial spirits) (1:49)
91. The Indian Queen, Acte III: “We the spirits of the air” (Aerial spirits) (3:17)
92. The Indian Queen, Acte IV: “They tell us” (Ozaria) (3:32)
93. The Indian Queen, Acte V: “While thus” (Chorus) (5:07)
94. Timon of Athens: Overture (4:31)
95. Timon of Athens: “Hark! how the songsters of the grove” (6:51)
96. Timon of Athens: “Come all, come all to me” (4:56)
97. Timon of Athens: “The care of lovers” (4:09)
98. King Arthur, Z. 628: Overture – Air – Overture (5:19)
99. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act I, Scene 2: “Woden first to thee” (Bass) – “Brave Souls” (Chorus) – “I call ye all” (Counter-tenor) (10:29)
100. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act I, Scene 3: “Come if you dare” (Tenor and Chorus) (5:54)
101. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act II, Scene 1: “Hither this way bend” (Philidel) – “Let not a Moon-born Elf” (Grimbald) – “Hitheer this way” (Philidel) (6:55)
102. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act II, Scene 2: “How blest are Shepherds” (Shepherd) – “Shepherd, leave Decoying” (2 Shepherdesses) – Hornpipe (9:58)
103. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act III, Scene 2: Prelude. “What ho” (Cupid) (1:44)
104. King Arthur: Act III, scene 2: Cold Song. Genius : “What Power art thou” (9:39)
105. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act III, Scene 2: “Tis I, that have warm’d ye” (Cupid) – “Sound a Parley” (Cupid & Genius) – Air (8:13)
106. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act IV, Scene 2: “Two Daugthers” (Two Syrens) (1:50)
107. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act IV, Scene 2: “How happy the Lover” (Alto) – Fourth Act Tune (7:52)
108. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act V, Scene 2: Trompet Tune – “Ye Blust’ring Brethren” (Aeolius) (3:27)
109. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act V, The Final masque: Symphony – Song Tune – “Round thy Coasts” (Nereid & Pan) – “For Folded Flocks” (Alto, Tenor & Bass) (7:09)
110. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act V, The Final masque: Song Tune. “Your Hay” (2:42)
111. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act V, The Final masque: “Fairest Isle” (Venus) (3:39)
112. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act V, The Final masque: “You say” (Soprano) – “This not my passion” (Bass) – “But one soft Moment” (Bass) (4:59)
113. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act V, The Final masque: Trompet Tune – “St. George” (Honour) (4:30)
114. King Arthur, Z. 628, Act V, The Final masque: Chaconne (3:55)

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