![Dunedin Consort, John Butt - Handel: Esther (2012) [Official Digital Download 24/96]](https://pixhost.icu/avaxhome/4b/fe/0044fe4b_medium.jpg)
Dunedin Consort, John Butt - Handel: Esther (2012) [Official Digital Download 24/96]
![Dunedin Consort, John Butt - Handel: Esther (2012) [Official Digital Download 24/96]](https://pixhost.icu/avaxhome/4b/fe/0044fe4b.jpg)
Dunedin Consort, John Butt - Handel: Esther (2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/96 kHz | Time - 99:24 minutes | 1.91 GB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Artwork: Digital booklet
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/96 kHz | Time - 99:24 minutes | 1.91 GB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Artwork: Digital booklet
The Dunedin Consort has established a reputation as the finest single-part period performance choir currently performing. In 2011 Gramophone named the Dunedin Consort the 11th Greatest Choir in recognition of its triple focus upon artistic revitalisation of over-familiar great works, meticulous musicological enquiry and the audiophile integrity of Linn Records' production values. The multi-award-winning Dunedin Consort has won praise for the natural style of its soloists (an authoritative bass and a superb contralto-The Guardian) and renown for the virtuosity of its singers. The Dunedin Consort has performed at music festivals in Scotland - including the Edinburgh International Festival and broadcasts frequently on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Scotland.
Esther is well known to have been the first of Handel's English oratorios, but exactly when it was first heard, and in what form, remains uncertain. The first version, which probably dates from 1718 and may have been performed as a masque, is effectively lost, and Handel made a total revision and expansion of the score in 1732. But John Butt and his Dunedin Consort perform what they call the first reconstructable version of Esther, dated 1720, which is a sacred drama whose significance to Handel's later, better-known oratorios is clear. Butt explains the historical background to the score he has created in his detailed sleeve notes, but as with all his Dunedin performances, and their previous Handel and Bach recordings, the scholarship is only a means to an end, and is never allowed to get in the way of the wonderfully crafted music making. Textures are lean 11 singers, including the soloists, 20 instrumentalists but wonderfully precise, and the solo contributions, with soprano Susan Hamilton as Esther, are models of stylishness. –Andrew Clements - The Guardian
Fed up with the depressing weather? Access hot sunshine with this bouncy account by the Edinburgh-based Dunedin Consort of Handel's Esther, generally presumed to be the first English oratorio. The CD advises purchasers that the version performed is the first reconstructable version (Cannons), 1720. Indeed it is, though I'd better not go into the scholarly detail lest we both fall asleep. What matters most is not the niceties of the edition used (derived from Handel's original conception of a compact staged entertainment), but the performers freshness and dash. After their past accounts of Handel and Bach we've come to expect youthful verve from John Butt's ensemble. But the singers virile word-painting still grabs the lapels in this striking work, inspired by the legend of the Jewish queen who saves her Persian community from annihilation (as enshrined in the biblical Book of Esther). At the revived version's premiere in 1732, foreign singers so mangled the words the the Persian king's line I comb my Queen to chase the lice . Nothing like that happens with James Gilchrist's king (so powerfully smitten with the Jewess's charms), Susan Hamilton's Esther (so ringingly pure), robin Blaze's heartfelt priest or Matthew Brook's villainous Haman, consonants dipped in venom as he determines to remove all Israelites from the land. Inevitably we think of the Holocaust; the libretto's not always easy listening. Much of Handel's music was appropriated from his Brockes Passion though it fits its new surroundings very well. Along the way, Butt's lean ensemble (19 players) shower us with instrumental delights, building in colour and diversity with delicious harp traceries, the comfortable ballast of two bassoons, and finally a triumphant trumpet when everything turns out happily for everyone, Haman excepted. Handel's musical resources generally open out as the piece proceeds, with the chorus's role increasing in importance. Once again, Butt's forces are small: eleven voices all told, eight doubling as soloists, each singing as if every word matters. That's more than enough to keep us on the edge of our seats. –Geoff Brown - The Times
Fed up with the depressing weather? Access hot sunshine with this bouncy account by the Edinburgh-based Dunedin Consort of Handel's Esther, generally presumed to be the first English oratorio. The CD advises purchasers that the version performed is the first reconstructable version (Cannons), 1720. Indeed it is, though I'd better not go into the scholarly detail lest we both fall asleep. What matters most is not the niceties of the edition used (derived from Handel's original conception of a compact staged entertainment), but the performers freshness and dash. After their past accounts of Handel and Bach we've come to expect youthful –Geoff Brown - The Times
Butt's direction combines spontaneous freshness with a care for expressive phrasing and precise colouring. The 11-strong chorus - the solo cast plus reinforcement - is vital incisive, packing a fair punch even in the ceremonial final chorus. June 2012. –Gramophone Magazine
The scholarship is only a means to an end,and is never allowed to get in the way of the wonderfully crafted music making.Textures are lean 11 singers, including the soloists,20 instrumentalists but wonderfully precise,and the solo contributions,with soprano Susan Hamilton as Esther,are models of stylishness.The Guardian,17th May 2012. –The Guardian
TRACKLIST
Act One
Overture
01. I. Andante (1:58)
02. II. Larghetto (2:36)
03. III. Allegro (2:27)
Scene 1
04. I. Recitative: 'Tis greater far to spare, than to destroy (0:42)
05. II. Air: Pluck root and branch from out the land (1:59)
06. III. Recitative: Our souls with ardour glow (0:07)
07. IV. Chorus: Shall we the God of Israel’s fear? (1:51)
Scene 2
08. I. Recitative: Now persecution shall lay by her iron rod (0:16)
09. II. Air: Tune your harps to cheerful strains (4:21)
10. III. Chorus: Shall we of servitude complain (1:24)
11. IV. Recitative: O God, who from the suckling’s mouth (0:16)
12. V. Air: Praise the Lord with cheerful noise (5:38)
13. VI. Chorus: Shall we of servitude complain (1:24)
Scene 3
14. I. Recitative: How have our sins provok’d the Lord (1:05)
15. II. Chorus: Ye sons of Israel mourn (1:52)
16. III. Air: O Jordan, Jordan, sacred tide (7:42)
17. IV. Chorus: Ye sons of Israel mourn (2:09)
Act Two
Scene 1
18. I. Recitative: Why sits that sorrow on thy brow? (1:03)
19. II. Recitative: Why sits that sorrow on thy brow? (4:25)
20. III. Recitative: I go before the king to stand (0:13)
21. IV. Air: Tears assist me, pity moving (2:50)
22. V. Chorus: Save us, O Lord (1:27)
Scene 2
23. I. Recitative: Who dares intrude into our presence without our leave? (1:10)
24. II. Duet: Who calls my parting soul from death? (2:46)
25. III. Air: O beauteous Queen, unclose those eyes! (7:18)
26. IV. Recitative: If I find favour in thy sight (0:20)
27. V. Air: How can I stay, when love invites? (3:09)
28. VI. Recitative: With inward joy his visage glows (0:16)
29. VII. Chorus: Virtue, truth and innocence (2:43)
Act Three
Scene 1
30. I. Air: Jehovah crown’d with glory bright (1:58)
31. II. Chorus: He comes, He comes to end our woes (4:17)
Scene 2
32. I. Recitative: Now, O Queen, they suit declare (1:38)
33. II. Accompagnato: Turn not, O Queen, thy face away (2:36)
34. III. Air: Flatt’ring tongue, no more I hear thee! (4:52)
35. IV. Recitative: Guards, seize the traitor, bear him hence! (0:40)
36. V. Air: How art thou fall’n from thy height! (6:10)
37. VI. Chorus: The Lord our enemy has slain (11:57)
PERSONNEL
Dunedin Consort
John Butt, conductor
Ashley Turnell, tenor
Electra Lochhead, soprano
Robin Blaze, countertenor
Susan Hamilton, soprano
Nicholas Mulroy, tenor
Matthew Brook, bass
Robert Davies, bass
James Gilchrist, tenor
Thomas Hobbs, tenor
Recorded: July 2011 at Greyfriars Church, Edinburgh, Scotland
foobar2000 1.3.7 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2017-04-20 12:59:15
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Dunedin Consort, John Butt / Händel: Esther
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR12 -11.53 dB -28.11 dB 1:58 01-Act One, Overture - I. Andante
DR12 -11.69 dB -29.33 dB 2:36 02-Act One, Overture - II. Larghetto
DR12 -12.77 dB -28.40 dB 2:27 03-Act One, Overture - III. Allegro
DR14 -10.06 dB -26.28 dB 0:42 04-Act One, Scene 1 - I. Recitative: 'Tis greater far to spare, than to destroy
DR14 -6.40 dB -23.60 dB 1:59 05-Act One, Scene 1 - II. Air: Pluck root and branch from out the land
DR12 -14.78 dB -30.50 dB 0:07 06-Act One, Scene 1 - III. Recitative: Our souls with ardour glow
DR12 -2.71 dB -19.94 dB 1:51 07-Act One, Scene 1 - IV. Chorus: Shall we the God of Israel’s fear?
DR13 -12.50 dB -30.37 dB 0:16 08-Act One, Scene 2 - I. Recitative: Now persecution shall lay by her iron rod
DR13 -13.03 dB -30.96 dB 4:21 09-Act One, Scene 2 - II. Air: Tune your harps to cheerful strains
DR14 -3.36 dB -21.50 dB 1:24 10-Act One, Scene 2 - III. Chorus: Shall we of servitude complain
DR7 -13.17 dB -32.24 dB 0:16 11-Act One, Scene 2 - IV. Recitative: O God, who from the suckling’s mouth
DR13 -8.82 dB -27.50 dB 5:38 12-Act One, Scene 2 - V. Air: Praise the Lord with cheerful noise
DR12 -3.93 dB -21.22 dB 1:24 13-Act One, Scene 2 - VI. Chorus: Shall we of servitude complain
DR15 -10.11 dB -28.67 dB 1:05 14-Act One, Scene 3 - I. Recitative: How have our sins provok’d the Lord
DR14 -3.65 dB -22.17 dB 1:52 15-Act One, Scene 3 - II. Chorus: Ye sons of Israel mourn
DR15 -9.10 dB -28.24 dB 7:42 16-Act One, Scene 3 - III. Air: O Jordan, Jordan, sacred tide
DR12 -3.78 dB -22.86 dB 2:09 17-Act One, Scene 3 - IV. Chorus: Ye sons of Israel mourn
DR13 -13.05 dB -32.28 dB 1:03 18-Act Two, Scene 1 - I. Recitative: Why sits that sorrow on thy brow?
DR13 -10.68 dB -27.95 dB 4:25 19-Act Two, Scene 1 - II. Recitative: Why sits that sorrow on thy brow?
DR13 -19.24 dB -36.28 dB 0:13 20-Act Two, Scene 1 - III. Recitative: I go before the king to stand
DR12 -7.95 dB -26.56 dB 2:50 21-Act Two, Scene 1 - IV. Air: Tears assist me, pity moving
DR12 -3.00 dB -20.82 dB 1:27 22-Act Two, Scene 1 - V. Chorus: Save us, O Lord
DR14 -8.30 dB -28.01 dB 1:10 23-Act Two, Scene 2 - I. Recitative: Who dares intrude into our presence without our leave?
DR13 -7.51 dB -28.53 dB 2:46 24-Act Two, Scene 2 - II. Duet: Who calls my parting soul from death?
DR15 -7.65 dB -27.23 dB 7:18 25-Act Two, Scene 2 - III. Air: O beauteous Queen, unclose those eyes!
DR12 -13.55 dB -32.08 dB 0:20 26-Act Two, Scene 2 - IV. Recitative: If I find favour in thy sight
DR14 -6.78 dB -24.93 dB 3:09 27-Act Two, Scene 2 - V. Air: How can I stay, when love invites?
DR11 -11.13 dB -30.52 dB 0:16 28-Act Two, Scene 2 - VI. Recitative: With inward joy his visage glows
DR13 -3.63 dB -22.25 dB 2:43 29-Act Two, Scene 2 - VII. Chorus: Virtue, truth and innocence
DR12 -7.21 dB -22.71 dB 1:58 30-Act Three, Scene 1 - I. Air: Jehovah crown’d with glory bright
DR13 -0.75 dB -17.29 dB 4:17 31-Act Three, Scene 1 - II. Chorus: He comes, He comes to end our woes
DR14 -7.85 dB -26.94 dB 1:38 32-Act Three, Scene 2 - I. Recitative: Now, O Queen, they suit declare
DR12 -12.02 dB -28.41 dB 2:36 33-Act Three, Scene 2 - II. Accompagnato: Turn not, O Queen, thy face away
DR14 -5.50 dB -23.10 dB 4:52 34-Act Three, Scene 2 - III. Air: Flatt’ring tongue, no more I hear thee!
DR14 -8.05 dB -25.79 dB 0:40 35-Act Three, Scene 2 - IV. Recitative: Guards, seize the traitor, bear him hence!
DR15 -5.48 dB -23.85 dB 6:10 36-Act Three, Scene 2 - V. Air: How art thou fall’n from thy height!
DR14 -0.47 dB -18.72 dB 11:57 37-Act Three, Scene 2 - VI. Chorus: The Lord our enemy has slain
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Number of tracks: 37
Official DR value: DR13
Samplerate: 96000 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 24
Bitrate: 2924 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================
foobar2000 1.3.7 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2017-04-20 12:59:15
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Dunedin Consort, John Butt / Händel: Esther
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR12 -11.53 dB -28.11 dB 1:58 01-Act One, Overture - I. Andante
DR12 -11.69 dB -29.33 dB 2:36 02-Act One, Overture - II. Larghetto
DR12 -12.77 dB -28.40 dB 2:27 03-Act One, Overture - III. Allegro
DR14 -10.06 dB -26.28 dB 0:42 04-Act One, Scene 1 - I. Recitative: 'Tis greater far to spare, than to destroy
DR14 -6.40 dB -23.60 dB 1:59 05-Act One, Scene 1 - II. Air: Pluck root and branch from out the land
DR12 -14.78 dB -30.50 dB 0:07 06-Act One, Scene 1 - III. Recitative: Our souls with ardour glow
DR12 -2.71 dB -19.94 dB 1:51 07-Act One, Scene 1 - IV. Chorus: Shall we the God of Israel’s fear?
DR13 -12.50 dB -30.37 dB 0:16 08-Act One, Scene 2 - I. Recitative: Now persecution shall lay by her iron rod
DR13 -13.03 dB -30.96 dB 4:21 09-Act One, Scene 2 - II. Air: Tune your harps to cheerful strains
DR14 -3.36 dB -21.50 dB 1:24 10-Act One, Scene 2 - III. Chorus: Shall we of servitude complain
DR7 -13.17 dB -32.24 dB 0:16 11-Act One, Scene 2 - IV. Recitative: O God, who from the suckling’s mouth
DR13 -8.82 dB -27.50 dB 5:38 12-Act One, Scene 2 - V. Air: Praise the Lord with cheerful noise
DR12 -3.93 dB -21.22 dB 1:24 13-Act One, Scene 2 - VI. Chorus: Shall we of servitude complain
DR15 -10.11 dB -28.67 dB 1:05 14-Act One, Scene 3 - I. Recitative: How have our sins provok’d the Lord
DR14 -3.65 dB -22.17 dB 1:52 15-Act One, Scene 3 - II. Chorus: Ye sons of Israel mourn
DR15 -9.10 dB -28.24 dB 7:42 16-Act One, Scene 3 - III. Air: O Jordan, Jordan, sacred tide
DR12 -3.78 dB -22.86 dB 2:09 17-Act One, Scene 3 - IV. Chorus: Ye sons of Israel mourn
DR13 -13.05 dB -32.28 dB 1:03 18-Act Two, Scene 1 - I. Recitative: Why sits that sorrow on thy brow?
DR13 -10.68 dB -27.95 dB 4:25 19-Act Two, Scene 1 - II. Recitative: Why sits that sorrow on thy brow?
DR13 -19.24 dB -36.28 dB 0:13 20-Act Two, Scene 1 - III. Recitative: I go before the king to stand
DR12 -7.95 dB -26.56 dB 2:50 21-Act Two, Scene 1 - IV. Air: Tears assist me, pity moving
DR12 -3.00 dB -20.82 dB 1:27 22-Act Two, Scene 1 - V. Chorus: Save us, O Lord
DR14 -8.30 dB -28.01 dB 1:10 23-Act Two, Scene 2 - I. Recitative: Who dares intrude into our presence without our leave?
DR13 -7.51 dB -28.53 dB 2:46 24-Act Two, Scene 2 - II. Duet: Who calls my parting soul from death?
DR15 -7.65 dB -27.23 dB 7:18 25-Act Two, Scene 2 - III. Air: O beauteous Queen, unclose those eyes!
DR12 -13.55 dB -32.08 dB 0:20 26-Act Two, Scene 2 - IV. Recitative: If I find favour in thy sight
DR14 -6.78 dB -24.93 dB 3:09 27-Act Two, Scene 2 - V. Air: How can I stay, when love invites?
DR11 -11.13 dB -30.52 dB 0:16 28-Act Two, Scene 2 - VI. Recitative: With inward joy his visage glows
DR13 -3.63 dB -22.25 dB 2:43 29-Act Two, Scene 2 - VII. Chorus: Virtue, truth and innocence
DR12 -7.21 dB -22.71 dB 1:58 30-Act Three, Scene 1 - I. Air: Jehovah crown’d with glory bright
DR13 -0.75 dB -17.29 dB 4:17 31-Act Three, Scene 1 - II. Chorus: He comes, He comes to end our woes
DR14 -7.85 dB -26.94 dB 1:38 32-Act Three, Scene 2 - I. Recitative: Now, O Queen, they suit declare
DR12 -12.02 dB -28.41 dB 2:36 33-Act Three, Scene 2 - II. Accompagnato: Turn not, O Queen, thy face away
DR14 -5.50 dB -23.10 dB 4:52 34-Act Three, Scene 2 - III. Air: Flatt’ring tongue, no more I hear thee!
DR14 -8.05 dB -25.79 dB 0:40 35-Act Three, Scene 2 - IV. Recitative: Guards, seize the traitor, bear him hence!
DR15 -5.48 dB -23.85 dB 6:10 36-Act Three, Scene 2 - V. Air: How art thou fall’n from thy height!
DR14 -0.47 dB -18.72 dB 11:57 37-Act Three, Scene 2 - VI. Chorus: The Lord our enemy has slain
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Number of tracks: 37
Official DR value: DR13
Samplerate: 96000 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 24
Bitrate: 2924 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================
![Dunedin Consort, John Butt - Handel: Esther (2012) [Official Digital Download 24/96]](https://pixhost.icu/avaxhome/4a/fe/0044fe4a_medium.jpg)
Dunedin Consort, John Butt - Handel: Esther (2012) [Official Digital Download 24/96]
![Dunedin Consort, John Butt - Handel: Esther (2012) [Official Digital Download 24/96]](https://pixhost.icu/avaxhome/4a/fe/0044fe4a.jpg)
Thanks to the Original customer.