Handel: Nine German Arias: Purcell, Buxtehude & Blow

Featuring

Iestyn Davies
Ensemble Guadagni
Dietrich Buxtehude
Henry Purcell
John Blow
George Frideric Handel

Miscellaneous

Did you know?

1/7

Interpretation

Iestyn Davies, the countertenor, has taken liberties with Purcell's 'Gentle Shepherds' by having the viola da gamba represent the second voice in the closing 'chorus' and transposing the piece down from its original scoring for soprano.

Performer Biography

Iestyn Davies, the countertenor, received his first big operatic break while still a student at the Royal Academy of Music.

Performer Biography

Iestyn Davies, the countertenor on this album, was encouraged by his father, the first cellist of the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, to learn piano and recorder from a very early age.

Performer Biography

Iestyn Davies's voice broke at thirteen, after which he sang briefly as a tenor before his voice sank to bass, and he later started singing countertenor out of boredom.

Interpretation

Iestyn Davies, the countertenor, has also transposed the Handel arias and let instinct dictate their accompaniment, as their original performance context is unknown.

Album & Artwork

Ensemble Guadagni, the period instrument group on this album, is named after Gaetano Guadagni, a celebrated castrato who created the role of Orfeo in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice.