Dunedin Consort - Handel: Ode for St Cecilia's Day - BBC Radio 3 'Record Review'

(AM) We’re about to hear him (Handel) in his own right, a new recording of Handel’s Ode for St Cecilia's Day which is on the 22nd November so we’re just about right for timing. It’s a new recording from the Dunedin Consort directed by John Butt. So this is Handel celebrating the patron Saint of Music. Which period of Handel is this?

This is the same period, actually it’s only a couple of years after he stages Davinci in 1739 he mounts a production of this Ode, well it was called at the time the Song for St Cecilia, now it’s known as the Ode for St. Cecilia's Day and it formed a kind of grouping of works on this kind of theme. The theme of the power of music. Alexander’s Feast he’d written in 1736 and actually he paired his new ode with Alexander’s Feast in this first performance of 1739. But it’s a performance for slightly reduced forces we just have the tenor and the soprano and the orchestra, the orchestra really brings it to life. It’s the power of music so you hear each instrument in turn being represented in the setting for its particular qualities.

John Butt & Dunedin Consort & Ian Bostridge & George Frideric Handel - Ode for St Cecilia's Day

(AM) The Trumpet's loud Clangour, that was the voice of Ian Bostridge in Handel’s Ode for St Cecilia’s Day with the Dunedin Consort led by John Butt. Some fantastically colourful instrumental playing obviously, they really bring that to life don’t they?

Yes, that’s wonderful. It’s a terrific reminder that Britain was a very bellicose nation at this time and really it’s designed to incite people in the audience to feel that martial spirit flowing. I think as well the way that they’ve managed to record Ian Bostridge you really get all the consonants. Sometimes a little bit too consonanty but it gives a sense of energy I think to the aria which I think is the point of it.

(AM) You don’t miss a word do you because they are a very clear focus on both the solo voices and some of the beautiful moments Jonathan Manson’s cello playing introduces one of the other ones, you go through various instruments don’t you and have them illustrated and that’s beautiful and you get John Butt impersonating St Cecilia herself at the organ.

Well, or impersonating Handel impersonating St Cecilia.

(AM) Exactly, they are all lovely moments. We’re going to hear part of the final section so we get some solo soprano, Carolyn Sampson, trumpet and chorus. Why did you pick this bit?

I picked this because it allows us to hear not only Carolyn Sampson’s wonderful voice but also the sense of ensemble with the chorus and it’s not just the Dunedin Consort it’s also the Polish Radio Choir and actually they do a really good job with the English. I don’t mean to sound patronising but you know it can be a challenge singing in another language for any choir but I think that the fact that the Dunedin Consort and the Polish Choir have worked together on this you really can’t distinguish them, I think they make a very good job of it.

Carolyn Sampson & John Butt & Dunedin Consort & Ian Bostridge & George Frideric Handel - Ode for St Cecilia's Day: 'But bright Cecilia...'

(AM) Part of the closing movement of Handel’s Ode for St Cecilia’s Day. You heard soprano Carolyn Sampson with the Dunedin Consort and the Polish Radio Choir directed by John Butt. Very good notes by John Butt as well, he is very good at describing what’s happening here. Recommended Suzanne? We’re only a couple of days away from St Cecilia’s Day.

Yeah, I think it’s a great recording; it’s a lot of fun. I think I particularly like Carolyn Sampson’s rendition of these arias and I think the chorus has a good sense of ensemble as a whole, maybe a little less accessible in the tenor arias but overall I think it’s a good recording.

(AM) You’ll find Handel’s Ode on the Linn label.