J. S. BACH
Bach: A Life in Music (Vol. 1). Early Cantatas. Arnstadt & Mühlhausen (1703-1708) Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew, Feat. Benjamin Alard [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 5/Apr/2024 ] In this new series, Paul Agnew and Les Arts Florissants invite us to follow the creative itinerary of J. S. Bach through the times and cities in which he lived. The first instalment introduces us to a young master who remained faithful to the north... |
CARLO GESUALDO
Gesualdo: Madrigali, books 5 & 6 Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 5/May/2023 ] those who have thought of Gesualdo as a one-trick pony ('Moro lasso' and all that …) now have more than six hours' evidence to the contrary." Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Early Music |
CARLO GESUALDO
Gesualdo: Tenebrae Responsaria, Feria Quinta Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 10/Mar/2023 ] With their bold harmonies, their counterpoint of unequalled refinement and their raw emotion, the Tenebrae Responsories are the sacred counterpart to Gesualdo's last two books of madrigals, published the same year (1611). Paul Agnew and Les Arts... |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
Vivaldi: The Great Venetian Mass Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew, Sophie Karthäuser, Lucile Richardot [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 2/Sep/2022 ] A puzzling paradox: although Vivaldi devoted over 30 years to composing for the Ospedale della Pietà in Venice, no complete musical setting of any liturgy by him has come down to us. By intercalating existing examples of his sacred music (such as the... |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Mitridate, Rè Di Ponto (complete opera) Michael Spyres, Julie Fuchs, Sabine Devieilhe, Elsa Dreisig, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djia / Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski [ Erato / 3 CD Box Set - released 29/Oct/2021 ] "that this is probably the most successful recording of Mozart's opera we will ever see on disc; there is no doubt in my mind that it is the most exciting by a long stretch." MusicWeb Recommended Jan 2022 |
Les frivolités parisiennes; Dylan Corlay; Sarah Laulan; Marion Tassou; Julie Mossay; Mathieu Dubroca; Denis Mignien; Paul-Alexandre Dubois
Marcel Lattès: Le Diable à Paris [ B Records / 2 CD - released 25/Jun/2021 ] Human wickedness has exceeded that of the Devil himself! It is this dark observation which is at the root of all the spice and comedy in the operetta Le Diable à Paris (The Devil in Paris). Premiering in 1927, it was unearthed by Les Frivolités... |
PAUL HINDEMITH
Hindemith: Wind Sonatas Les Vents Français [Emmanuel Pahud (flute) Paul Meyer (clarinet) Francois Leleux (oboe) Gilbert Audin (bassoon) Radovan Vlatković (horn)] [ Warner Classics / CD - released 2/Apr/2021 ] 'With top-notch sound, Les Vents Français, with Le Sage's masterly accompaniments, are the pick of the crop: Vive Les Vents' Hindemith!' Gramophone Editor's Choice June 2021 |
CARLO GESUALDO
Gesualdo: Madrigali, Books 3 & 4 Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 5/Feb/2021 ] GRAMOPHONE Award Nomination 2021 - Early Music |
AUGUST KLUGHARDT / GEIRGE ONSLOW / LOUIS SPOHR
Les Vents Français: Romantique Les Vents Français [Emmanuel Pahud (flute), Paul Meyer (clarinet), Francois Leleux (oboe), Gilbert Audin (bassoon), Radovan Vlatkovic (horn), etc] [ Warner Classics / CD - released 26/Jun/2020 ] Les Vents Français has been described as "the wind-quintet equivalent of a supergroup". All its members are renowned soloists. |
CARLO GESUALDO
Gesualdo: Madrigali, books 1 & 2 Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew [ Harmonia Mundi / 2 CD - released 7/Feb/2020 ] "The sheer inquisitive delight that these singers bring to Gesualdo's extraordinary world indicates a very exciting series ahead" Gramophone Awards 2020 WINNER - Early Music |
SEBASTIEN de BROSSARD / PIERRE BOUTEILLER
Les Maîtres du Motet Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 28/Sep/2018 ] "[In the Bouteiller] the group's blend finds its groove and the singers swell to fill the greater expressive and dramatic space of the work" Gramophone Dec 2018 |
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
Monteverdi: L'Orfeo (complete opera recorded in 2015) DVD + Blu-ray Theatre de Caen / Cyril Auvity, Hannah Morrison, Paul Agnew / Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew [ Harmonia Mundi DVD + Blu-ray / Blu-ray Disc/DVD - released 1/Dec/2017 ] "Cyril Auvity's tremulous and emphatic singing of the title-role has unstinting dramatic commitment: the shadowy silhouettes of the obbligato instrumentalists in 'Possente spirto' appear as if the underworld is conjured to do Orfeo's bidding)." |
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
Monteverdi: Madrigali Volume 1 - 3: Cremona / Mantova / Venezia Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew [ Les Arts Florissants Editions / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/Nov/2017 ] "If a keen sense of the interpretative moment is the hallmark of ensemble performance at its best, then this new Monteverdi instalment from Les Arts Florissants deserves to be held up as such" Gramophone Award WINNER 2016 - Baroque Vocal on Cremona |
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
Monteverdi: Madrigali Volume 3: Venezia Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew [ Harmonia Mundi Les Arts Florissants Editions / CD - released 15/Jun/2017 ] "The vivid atmosphere of Agnew's performance is palpable and, as so often in these discs, his text-driven subtlety wins over." Gramophone Award Nomination 2017 - Baroque Vocal |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Les Vents Français: Beethoven Les Vents Français [Emmanuel Pahud (flute), Paul Meyer (clarinet), Francois Leleux (oboe), Gilbert Audin (bassoon), Radovan Vlatkovic (horn), etc] [ Warner Classics / CD - released 20/Apr/2017 ] This extra helping of Beethoven's music for winds comes on the heels of Les Vents Français's recent triple-CD release WINDS & PIANO, praised by The Telegraph for "stylistically sure and interpretatively ear-catching" performances, including one of... |
Les Paul
How High The Moon - Hits and Rarities [ Fantastic Voyage / 3 CD - released 2/Feb/2016 ] An attractively packaged 3-CD set comprising 77 tracks, featuring all of Les Paul's hits with Mary Ford, plus solo successes, EP & LP tracks, his early Trio work and recordings as Rhubarb Red. |
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
Monteverdi: Madrigali Volume 2: Mantova - Excerpts from Books IV, V and VI Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew [ Les Arts Florissants Editions / CD - released 2/Feb/2015 ] "Agnew's selection is impeccably judged...if you don't know a single volume this should be enough to persuade you that you ought to have done, long ago." (Gramophone Disc of the Month Jan 2015) |
POULENC / FARRENC / ROUSSEL / CAPLET / MOZART / BEETHOVEN / etc
Les Vents Français: Winds & Piano Les Vents Français [Emmanuel Pahud (flute), Paul Meyer (clarinet), Francois Leleux (oboe), Gilbert Audin (bassoon), Radovan Vlatkovic (horn), etc] [ Warner Classics / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2014 ] "The engineers have provided crystal clear sound that superbly captures that often difficult balance between winds and piano. For admirers of chamber music this release makes indispensable listening." (MusicWeb Feb 2015) |
RAMEAU
Hippolyte et Aricie (Complete opera) Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Veronique Gens, Bernarda Fink / Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski [ Deutsche Grammophon Archiv Opera! / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/May/2012 ] "Phèdre was a breakthrough role for Bernarda Fink, who sings here with grave sensuality, supported by a characterful and largely Francophone cast." (BBC Music) |
JEAN-BAPISTE LULLY
Lully: Armide (complete opera recorded in 2008) Theatre des Champs-Elysees / Stephanie d'Oustrac, Paul Agnew / Les Arts Florissants, William Christie [ FRA Musica / 2 DVD - released 20/Nov/2011 ] "Christie and his ensemble...surpass themselves in revivifying this 325-year-old score with imaginative articulation and expressive flair. Gideon Davey's designs are as impressive as Jean-Claude Gallotta's choreography. The cast, too, is remarkable"... |