The World of Compact Discs

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Hyperion has brought us the most spectacular and sonorous recording of recent months, two compact discs which recreate one of the great annual ceremonies that drew visitors to Venice from all over Europe. Lo Sposalizio (CDA 67048) gives us the sounds and music of 'The Wedding of Venice to the Sea' as it was celebrated about 1600. We follow the procession across the Lagoon where the Doge would drop the golden ring into the water and then hear the Mass as celebrated in San Nicolo. Most of the music is by Giovanni and Andrea Gabrielli. This recording also has numerous drum rolls and trumpets interspersed with short pieces of instrumental music. It concludes with a recording of all the bells of Venice ringing out in jubilation. This tremendous undertaking - involving much scholarly research - is the work of Robert King and the King's Consort and draws on such talents as James Bowman as counter tenor. This is surely a unique production and can only be appreciated by a careful listening.

It is difficult to believe that any of Mozart's works still remain virtually unknown yet such has been the fate of most of his songs. Mozart Songs from HYPERION (CDA 66989) is an all British production with the pianist, Roger Vignoles, accompanying the soprano, Joan Rodgers, and the tenor, John Mark Ainsley, in twenty-five, mainly short songs, drawing on texts by various poets. While these are not lieder of a Schubertian dimension, they do show Mozart's endless talent even in slight works like Komm, liebe Zither where a lovesick youth confides his secret to his zither. This well done disc - with excellent texts and translations - enhances our knowledge of Mozart.

Handel's Let the Bright Seraphim achieved renewed popularity when it was sung at the 1981 Royal Wedding. It provides the title for a delightful disc from CARLTON that combines the sound of the trumpet with the rich soprano voice of Jeni Beri …