Les Argonautes / Descotte,Jonas Purcell: Dido & Aeneas Circe CD

The circumstances of the composition of Purcell's only opera, Dido and Aeneas, are unclear. First performed in the 1680s, it received few performances in the composer's lifetime, before disappearing until it's revival at the very end of the nineteenth century. This miniature, which is poetic, dramatic, delightfully melodic and contains some unforgettably beautiful vocal pieces, has enjoyed great success ever since. Jonas Descotte and his young ensemble Les Argonautes (named after the heroes who accompanied Jason in the quest for the Golden Fleece) have chosen this work for their recording debut. Taking the intimate approach, one musician per part, the conductor sculpts his sound material in order to capture the very essence of the work's musical and dramatic content, sublimated here by an attractive vocal cast, in which Camille All?rat, Renato Dolcini, Anthea Pichanick and Julie Roset are particularly outstanding. Between historical practice and modernity, the conductor, in perfect symbiosis with his musicians, delivers here a highly polished and intense interpretation, swept by the winds of freedom.

1. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Overture 2. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 1: The Palace - Shake the Cloud from Off Your Brow (Belinda) 3. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 1: The Palace - Banish Sorrow, Banish Care (Chorus) 4. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 1: The Palace - Ah! Belinda, I Am Press'd with Torment (Dido) 5. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 1: The Palace - Grief Increases By Concealing (Belinda, Dido) 6. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 1: The Palace - When Monarchs Unite, How Happy Their State (Chorus) 7. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 1: The Palace - Whence Could So Much Virtue Spring? (Dido, Belinda) 8. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 1: The Palace - Fear No Danger to Ensue (Belinda, Second Woman, Chorus) 9. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 1: The Palace - See, Your Royal Guest Appears (Belinda, ?neas, Dido) 10. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 1: The Palace - Cupid Only Throws the Dart (Chorus) 11. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 1: The Palace - If Not for Mine, for Empire's Sake (?neas, Belinda) 12. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 1: The Palace - to the Hills and the Vales (Chorus) 13. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 1: The Palace - the Triumphing Dance 14. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 2: The Cave - Prelude for the Witches. Wayward Sisters, You That Fright (Sorceress). Harm's Our Delight (Chorus) 15. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 2: The Cave - the Queen of Carthage, Whom We Hate (Sorceress). Ho, Ho, Ho (Chorus) 16. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 2: The Cave - Ruin'd Ere the Set of Sun? (Two Witches, Sorceress). Ho, Ho, Ho (Chorus) 17. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 2: The Cave - But Ere We This Perform (Two Witches) 18. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 2: The Cave - in Our Deep Vaulted Cell (Chorus) 19. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 2: The Cave - Echo Dance of the Furies 20. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 2: The Cave - Ritornelle 21. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 2: The Grove - Thanks to These Lonesome Vales (Belinda, Chorus) 22. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 2: The Grove - Oft She Visits This Lone Mountain (Second Woman) 23. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 2: The Grove - Behold, Upon My Bending Spear (?neas, Dido) 24. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 2: The Grove - Haste, Haste to Town (Belinda, Chorus) 25. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 2: The Grove - Stay, Prince, and Hear Great Jove's Command (Spirit, ?neas) 26. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 3: The Ships - Come Away Fellow Sailors (First Sailor, Chorus) 27. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 3: The Ships - the Sailors' Dance 28. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 3: The Ships - See the Flags and Streamers Curling (Sorceress, Two Witches) 29. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 3: The Ships - Our Next Motion (Sorceress) 30. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 3: The Ships - Destruction's Our Delight (Chorus) 31. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 3: The Ships - the Witches' Dance 32. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 3: Your Counsel All Is Urg'd in Vain (Dido, Belinda, ?neas) 33. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 3: But Death, Alas! I Cannot Shun (Dido) 34. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 3: Great Minds Against Themselves Conspire (Chorus) 35. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 3: Thy Hand Belinda; Darkness Shades Me (Dido) 36. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 3: When I Am Laid in Earth (Dido) 37. Dido and Aeneas, Z.626 Act 3: With Drooping Wings (Chorus) 38. Circe, Z.575 We Must Assemble By a Sacrifice (Second Priest, Chorus) 39. Circe, Z.575 Their Necessary Aid You Use (First, Second and Third Priests) 40. Circe, Z.575 the Air, with Music Gently Wound (Second Priest, Third Priest) 41. Circe, Z.575 the Air, with Music Gently Wound (Chorus) 42. Circe, Z.575 Come Every Demon (First Priest) 43. Circe, Z.575 Circe, the Daughter of the Sun Obey (Chorus) 44. Circe, Z.575 You Who Hatch Factions (First Priest) 45. Circe, Z.575 Circe, the Daughter of the Sun Obey (Chorus) 46. Circe, Z.575 Magicians' Dance (Part 1) 47. Circe, Z.575 Pluto, Arise! (Second Priest) 48. Circe, Z.575 Magicians' Dance (Part 2) 49. Circe, Z.575 Lovers, Who to Their First Embraces Go (First and Second Women, Chorus) 50. Circe, Z.575 Great Minister of Fate (Chorus). at Your Dread Word (Second Woman) 51. Circe, Z.575 Great Minister of Fate (Chorus)