Handel - Sacred Arias by Arion Baroque Orchestra with Monica Huggett and Danial Taylor

HANDEL – Sacred Arias

$17.40

Arion Baroque Orchestra,
Guest Conductor: Monica Huggett
with
Daniel Taylor: Alto / Counter-tenor
2001, ACD2 2222

Music and songs from some of Handel´s best loved “English Oratorios” – the pop songs of their day.

Arion delivers a polished performance while giving every support to Dan Taylor who gives of his best – a joy to experience.

…the instrumental overtures and sinfonias that serve as preludes to arias from ‘Saul’, ‘Soloman’, ‘Messiah’ and ‘Theodora’ are every bit as captivating as Taylor’s dulcet, elegant singing. Huggett’s solo in the allegro from ‘Saul’ is one highlight…..this ensemble sems to have more colours in its palette than most…    – Elissa Poole, Canada, The Globe and Mail, October 2001

Product Description

Arion Baroque Orchestra
Guest conductor Monica Huggett
with Daniel Taylor, alto / counter-tenor.

George Frideric HANDEL (1685 – 1759)

SAUL
 Sinfonia [11:13]
1. Allegro 4 :03
2. Larghetto 1 :48
3. Allegro 2 :33
4. Andante larghetto 2 :49
5. Air “O Lord, whose mercies numberless” 5 :45
MESSIAH
6. Air “But who may abide” 4 :37
7. Allegro du Concerto grosso opus 3 no. 6 2 :41
8. Air “If God be for us”
(violin solo : Monica Huggett)
4 :31
SOLOMON
Ouverture [6 :50]
9. Grave-allegro 4 :07
10.  Allegro 2 :43
11. Air “Almighty Power” 2 :54
12. Récitatif “Bless´d be the Lord”
Air “What though I trace”
6 :26
THEODORA
Ouverture [7 :22]
13.  Grave-allegro 3 :10
14.  Trio 2 :21
15.  Courante 1 :55
16. Air “As with rosy steps” 6 :39

 

Arion Baroque Orchestra

Arion is a Montreal-based baroque orchestra performing on period instruments. The ensemble was founded in 1981 by flautist Claire Guimond, violinist Chantal Rémillard, gambist Betsy MacMillan and harpsichordist Hank Knox. Claire Guimond has been Arion’s artistic director ever since its first concerts.

From the outset, Arion’s concerts were unanimously hailed for their clarity and gusto as well as their refined and expressive performances, chosen from a vast array of early music works. A meticulous attention to detail has placed Arion’s artistic achievements amongst those of the greatest current early music ensembles.

The orchestra calls upon world-renowned guest conductors to perform vocal and instrumental works in its high-profile series of concerts in Montreal. They include Barthold Kuijken, Monica Huggett, Jaap ter Linden, Daniel Cuiller and Elizabeth Wallfisch.

A recipient of numerous awards and grants, Arion has toured extensively throughout Canada, Europe, Mexico, the United States and Japan.

Arion’s discography features 25 CDs, distributed internationally both as a quartet and in a larger setting with the collaboration of such fine artists as sopranos Agnès Mellon and Suzie LeBlanc, mezzo Kimberly Barber, countertenors Matthew White and Daniel Taylor, baritone Max van Egmond, violinist and conductor Monica Huggett, Barthold Kuijken and Jaap ter Linden, as well as several talented baroque soloists.

Arion is a member of early-music.com, a site committed to the promotion of some of the world’s finest early music artists..