New Age Steppers
Action Battlefield (Reissue LP) [ On-U Sound / LP - released 19/Mar/2021 ] Shedding a few of the more experimental flourishes of their debut, Action Battlefield still contains multitudes of post-punk approaches nestled in among tighter structures, making it a release that is surprisingly accessible for its wayward... |
JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU
Rameau: Anacreon 1754 Matthew Brook, Anna Dennis & Agustín Prunell-Friend / The Choir of the Enlightenment & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Jonathan Williams [ Signum / CD - released 20/Oct/2015 ] Rameau wrote two complete 'Anacréons', both of them one-act acte de ballets, but with two different plots and librettos. 'Anacréon' (1754) was set to a libretto by Louis de Cahusac and had a successful premiere followed by some performances in Paris... |
BACH / HANDEL / MOZART
Aksel! Arias by Bach, Handel & Mozart Aksel Rykkvin (treble), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment [ Signum / CD - released 30/Sep/2016 ] "If you are going to buy just one more CD this year, make sure that it is this one." (Recording of the Month MusicWeb Oct 2016) |
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Bach: Mass In B Minor Katherine Watson, Iestyn Davies, Neal Davies, etc / Trinity College Choir Cambridge, Orchestra Of the Age of Enlightenment, Stephen Layton [ Hyperion / 2 CD - released 2/Mar/2018 ] 'Katherine Watson, already a busy soloist, has a delightful baroque soprano voice … but it is Iestyn Davies who serves up this recording's jewel in his Agnus Dei,...vocal beauty and moving musicality that it is hard to imagine surpassed." Gramophone |
Static Age
Blank Screens [ CD ] |
The Raven Age
Blood Omen (LP) [ Music For Nations / LP - released 7/Jul/2023 ] Blood Omen pushes everything further than ever before. The choruses are made for arenas, the riffs are taut, direct, and free of fat. It all makes for a grand musical stage on which the record's concept plays out. 'Forgive & Forget' rushes in on a... |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Piano Concertos András Schiff (piano), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment [ ECM New Series / 2 CD - released 4/Jun/2021 ] "What he and the OAE offer is not so much to do with authenticity as with freshness and 'detoxification." Recording of the Month Gramophone July 2021 |
C.P.E. BACH
Bach (C.P.E.): Cello Concertos, Symphonies Anner Bylsma (cello) / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / Gustav Leonhardt [ Erato Veritas / 2 CD - released 5/Jul/2000 ] [Cello Concertos Wq.170-2] 'It is difficult to imagine a better partnership to provide authentic versions of these three fine works.' Penguin Guide |
HANDEL
Chandos Anthems Nos 5a, 6a & 8 Susan Gritton (sopr), Thomas Hobbs (ten) Iestyn Davies (cntten) / Trinity College Choir Cambridge & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Stephen Lay [ Hyperion / CD - released 19/Jul/2013 ] "Layton directs his young singers with such a perfect control of texture and rhythm that there's no hint of stodginess" (Gramophone) |
FREDERIC CHOPIN
Emanuel Ax plays Chopin Emanuel Ax (piano) with Pamela Frank (violin), Yo - Yo Ma (cello) Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Sir Charles Mackerras [ Sony & BMG Music / 6 CD Box Set - released 3/Dec/2017 ] Polish by birth and a victor of the Chopin Competition, Six CDs present Emanuel Ax's interpretations of a stimulating range of concertante, solo and chamber works by his compatriot. The two concertos are played with Sir Charles Mackerras conducting... |
BEETHOVEN / HANDEL / von BINGEN / PART / HAYDN / DVORAK / etc
The Choral Collection Tonus Peregrinus, Camerata Bach Choir, Musica Ficta, Oxford Camerata, Choir of the Golden Age, TOWER Voices New Zealand, Simon Mayr Choir, etc [ Naxos / 30 CD Box Set - released 25/Oct/2019 ] "There's plenty to celebrate here, not least sterling performances by Oxford Camerata under Jeremy Summerly (including Bach's Magnificat, Vivaldi's Gloria, Fauré's Requiem and other choral pieces, and a fine Hildegard CD). |
VIVALDi
Concerti (Incls Concertos for Oboes, Horns, Flute, Lute & Cello) Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment [ Linn ECHO / CD - released 1/Jul/2015 ] GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE - APRIL 2001 |
W.A. MOZART
Cosi Fan Tutti (Complete opera in English) Janice Watson, Diana Montague, Cristopher Maltman / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / Sir Charles Mackerras [ Chandos / 3 CD Box Set - released 1/Apr/2008 ] "This may seem a bit repetitive but the music making here has the same quality as in the symphonies and Cosi is one of my favourite operas. Here it is sung in English and the OAE, chorus and cast are excellent. This is a considerable bargain too."... |
GIAY / ARIOSTI / ORLANDINI / RISTORI / GIACOMELLI / BONONCINI
The Crown: Heroic Arias For Senesino Randall Scotting (countertenor), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Laurence Cummings (conductor) [ Signum / CD - released 2/Sep/2022 ] Francesco Bernardi-universally known by the moniker 'Senesino', after his place of birth-was Handel's leading male star for over a decade, owning many of the finest castrato roles. But this new album delves into the astonishing wealth of material... |
Age Of Taurus
Desperate Souls of Tortured Times [ Rise Above / CD - released 10/May/2013 ] |
Age Of Taurus
Desperate Souls of Tortured Times [ Rise Above / LP - released 10/May/2013 ] |
HENRY PURCELL
Purcell: Dido and Aeneas (Complete Opera) Lynne Dawson (soprano) Gerald Finley (baritone) / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / Rene Jacobs (director) [ Harmonia Mundi Gold / CD - released 10/Aug/2018 ] "Lynne Dawson is powerfully expressive as teh doomed heroine, with strong support from rosemary Joshua as Belinda and Gerald Finley as Aeneas" (Five Stars BBC Music June 2006) |
W. A. MOZART / HANDEL / JENKINS / MARCELLO
Diva [incls 'Exsultate, jubilate'] Danielle de Niese (soprano) with Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Sir Charles Mackerras & Bryn Terfel [ Decca Music Group / CD - released 10/Mar/2011 ] "Her vocal and musical vitality shines out of every track" (BBC Music) |
MAURICE DURUFLE
Durufle: Requiem / Messe Cum Jubilo / Quatre Motets Patricia Bardon (contralto), Ashley Riches (baritone) / The Choir of King's College Cambridge & Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Stephen Cleobur [ King' College Live / CD - released 9/Sep/2016 ] For this new recording the choir are reunited with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment to perform Maurice Duruflé's 1947 'Requiem', in the composer's own version for soprano, choir, organ and small orchestra. The album is completed with the... |
Queens of the Stone Age
Era Vulgaris [ Interscope Records / CD - released 14/Jun/2007 ] QOTSA rock again, with their fifth album - this NZ version contains two bonus tracks. Guests include Mark Lanegan, The Strokes' Julian Casablancas, Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor, and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. |