Peter Moores Foundation - Chandos Opera in English

Opera Now
CD Choice

'The latest collection of arias in Chandos Opera in English series would be worth acquiring for one number alone: a hauntingly inward performance of German's Queen Elizabeth's Song from Merrie England. Graceful phrasing and careful ennunciation of the text are the hallmarks here, proving that even a minor piece like this can have considerable resonance in the right performance... the Mozart is as good a place as any to note the many delights of this recital, for her singing of Vitellia's recitative and aria 'No bridal garlands' epitomises Della Jones' handsomely sustained tone, her often thrilling coloratura, and her assumption of a dark, ominous lower register when the text demands.'

1 Rossini's Tancredi Tancredi's Cavatina
'Tell me, my beating heart'
2 Handel's Rodelinda Bertarido's Aria 'Art thou troubled?'
3 Mozart's The Clemency of Titus Vitellia's Recitative
'Now is the moment, oh Vitellia...'
4 Vitellia's Aria: 'No bridal garlands'
with Paul Richards, basset-horn solo
5 Handel's Xerxes Xerxes' Recitative 'May the Fates...'
6 Xerxes' Aria: 'Under thy shade'
7 Rossini's The Italian Girl in Algiers
Isabella & Taddeo's Duet
'All the changes in my fortune...'
8 'Ah, yes, as friends...' with Andrew Shore, baritone
9 'All for the pleasure' with Andrew Shore, baritone
& PMF Scholars: Peter Wedd, tenor & Simon Bailey, bass
10 Donizetti's La favorita Leonora & Alfonso's Duet
'Ines, tell me what happened'
11 'Leonora! Leonora! Be silent!'
with Helen Miles, soprano & Garry Magee, baritone
12 Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia Brindisi
'Oh the secret life, you may hear it'
with Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
13 Bellini's Norma Norma & Adalgisa's Duet
'Take my children, take them with you'
14 'See, O Norma' with Anne Mason, mezzo-soprano
15 Ponchielli's La Gioconda La Cieca's Aria
'Voice that consoles me' with Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
16 Rossini's William Tell Mathilde, Jemmy & Hedwige's Trio 'My brave new son, to you...'
with Mary Plazas, soprano (PMF Scholar) & Anne Mason, mezzo-soprano
17 German's Merrie England Queen Elizabeth's Song 'O peaceful England' with Geoffrey Mitchell Choir
18 Bishop's Clari, or the Maid of Milan 'Home, sweet home' with Della Jones, piano

Bonus track:

19 Rossini's The Barber of Seville Rosina's Cabaletta 'I can be so demure'
with English National Opera Orchestra & Chorus conducted by Gabriele Bellini

London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by David Parry

Recorded in Blackheath Halls, London - 12-16 March 2000
Producer - Brian Couzens, Sound engineer - Jonathan Cooper, Assistant engineer – Richard Smoker