Pieces from Francesco Cavalli [L’Arpeggiata, Christina Pluhar at the Utrecht Early Music Festival]

European early music group led by Christina Pluhar, L’Arpeggiata performs pieces from the Venetian composer and organist Francesco Cavalli. This performance was recorded during the Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht (Utrecht Early Music Festival) on August 30, 2016, at the TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht. Soloists: Nuria Rial [soprano], Giuseppina Bridelli [mezzo-soprano], Vincenzo Capezzuto [countertenor], Jakub Józef Orliński …

Bach: Johannes-Passion [St John Passion] [Netherlands Bach Society, Van Veldhoven]

Conducted by Van Veldhoven, the Netherlands Bach Society performs Johann Sebastian Bach’s Passio secundum Johannem or St John Passion (German: Johannes-Passion), BWV 245. This performance was recorded on March 11, 2017, at the Grote Kerk, Naarden, the Netherlands.

Desandre and Davies sing Händel: To thee, thou glorious son of worth [from Theodora, HWV 68]

Accompanied by the French lutenist Thomas Dunford and his Jupiter ensemble, the Franco-Italian mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre and the British countertenor Iestyn Davies sing “To thee, thou glorious son of worth”, Theodora and Didymus’ duet from George Frideric Händel‘s Theodora (HWV 68), a dramatic oratorio in three acts.

Bach: Erbarme dich, mein Gott from St Matthew Passion [Tim Mead, Netherlands Bach Society]

Accompanied by the Netherlands Bach Society, the English countertenor Tim Mead performs Erbarme dich, mein Gott (English: Have mercy, my God), one of the most celebrated arias from Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Matthäus-Passion” (St. Matthew Passion), BWV 244. Conductor: Jos van Veldhoven. Violin (solo): Shunske Sato.

Händel: Sweet Bird [from L’Allegro] [Amanda Forsythe, Emi Ferguson & Voices of Music]

Accompanied by the award-winning Early music ensemble Voices of Music, the American light lyric soprano Amanda Forsythe and the American flautist Emi Ferguson (baroque flute) perform Georg Friedrich Händel’s “Sweet Bird”, a beautiful and well-known aria from the secular oratorio “L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato.” Recorded during the ensemble’s “As Steals the Morn” concert …

Händel: As Steals the Morn [Amanda Forsythe, Thomas Cooley, Voices of Music]

Accompanied by the award-winning early music ensemble Voices of Music, the American light lyric soprano Amanda Forsythe and the American tenor Thomas Cooley perform Georg Friedrich Händel‘s “As Steals the Morn”, an aria from the 1743 oratorio, “L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato” (The Cheerful, the Thoughtful, and the Moderate Man). Marc Schachman and Anna …

Lea Desandre sings “Guardian Angels, Oh, Protect me” from Händel’s The Triumph of Time and Truth

Accompanied by the French lutenist Thomas Dunford and his Jupiter ensemble, French-Italian mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre sings “Guardian Angels, Oh, Protect me” from Händel’s The Triumph of Time and Truth, HWV 71, the final name of an oratorio by George Frideric Handel produced in three different versions across fifty years of the composer’s career.

Catherine Bott performs Zerfließe, mein Herze from Bach’s St John Passion BWV 245

British soprano and Baroque specialist Catherine Bott performs “Zerfließe, mein Herze” from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Passio secundum Joannem or St John Passion (German: Johannes-Passion), BWV 245, a Passion or oratorio, the older of the surviving Passions by Bach (first performed on April 7, 1724). Brandenberg Consort conducted by Stephen Cleobury. Recorded at the King’s College …

Michael Chance performs Bach: Erbarme dich, mein Gott [Matthäus-Passion]

English countertenor Michael Chance performs “Erbarme dich, mein Gott” (English: Have mercy, my God), an aria for contralto, solo violin, strings (originally 2 violins and 1 viola), and basso continuo, from Johann Sebastian Bach’s 1727 sacred oratorio “Matthäus-Passion” (English: St Matthew Passion), BWV 244.

Bach: St John Passion [Karl Richter, Münchener Bach-Chor & Orchester]

Conducted by the German conductor, choirmaster, organist, and harpsichordist Karl Richter (15 October 1926 – 15 February 1981), Münchener Bach-Chor & Orchester (Munich Bach Choir and Orchestra) perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s Passio secundum Johannem or St John Passion (German: Johannes-Passion), BWV 245. Recorded in 1970.