The Crown: Coronation Anthems

by Choeur de l'Opera Royal de Versailles, Gaetan Jarry, Orchestre de l'Opera royal de Versailles

Overview

This release from the in-house label at Versailles Palace was not just well timed to coincide with the coronation of Charles III in Britain; it is explicitly designated as a celebration of the occasion, but it can also serve the extra-ceremonial function of examining the compositional relationship between Purcell and Handel. Handel was 26 years younger, and the two lived in vastly different worlds in terms of both theater music and instrumental music. The coronation anthem, however, allows a unique glimpse into the creativity of these two giants of English music through a tradition that links them both. Each composer had the chance to write music for one coronation, Purcell for James II in 1685 and Handel for George II in 1727. Purcell wrote two anthems for the occasion, and Handel four, for different parts of the service. This performance includes shouted acclamations from the audience for each king but is not intended as a full re-creation of the events. One of Purcell's anthems, I was glad, was repeated at George II's ceremony, and the two composers set a partial common text, the biblical "My heart is inditing." The compositions are characteristic of their respective composers, but it is intriguing to see how well the Purcell pieces, not just I was glad, held up. The roots of Handel's way of filling up festival structures with rich counterpoint are already there in Purcell's pieces. The performances here are excellent, with a good-sized choir of 35, just slightly less than Handel's original group of 40, and the Choeur & Orchestre de l'Opera Royale (there are no soloists, another point of commonality) under director Gaetan Jarry delivers a splendid sound, rendered in impressive clarity in the Chapelle Royale de Versailles. What may have put this album on classical best-seller charts in 2023 was its proximity in time to the coronation, but it is likely to be heard well beyond that event. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	04/28/2023
Label:	CHATEAU VERSAILLES
UPC:	3770011431908

Tracks

1. Procession
2. My Heart Is Inditing, Z30~I. Overture
3. My Heart Is Inditing, Z30~II. My Heart Is Inditing
4. My Heart Is Inditing, Z30~III. At His Right Hand Shalt Stand The Queen All Glorious Within
5. My Heart Is Inditing, Z30~IV. She Shall Be Brought Unto The King in Raiment of Needlework
6. My Heart Is Inditing, Z30~V. With Joy And Gladness Shall They Be Brought
7. My Heart Is Inditing, Z30~VI. Symphony
8. My Heart Is Inditing, Z30~VII. Hearken, O Daughter
9. My Heart Is Inditing, Z30~VIII. Praise The Lord, O Jerusalem
10. My Heart Is Inditing, Z30~IX. Allelujah
11. Fanfare I
12. I Was Glad, Z19
13. Vivat!
14. Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened, HWV 259~I. Let Thy Hand Be Strenghtened
15. Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened, HWV 259~II. Let Justice and Judgment Be The Preparation of Thy Seat
16. Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened, HWV 259~III. Allelujah
17. Fanfare II
18. Zadok The Priest, HWV 258~I. Zadok The Priest
19. Zadok The Priest, HWV 258~II. And All The People Rejoiced
20. Zadok The Priest, HWV 258~III. God Save The King!
21. Fanfare III
22. The King Shall Rejoice, HWV 260~I. The King Shall Rejoice
23. The King Shall Rejoice, HWV 260~II. Exceeding Glad Shall He Be
24. The King Shall Rejoice, HWV 260~III. Glory And Worship Has Thou Laid Upon Him
25. The King Shall Rejoice, HWV 260~IV. Allelujah
26. Fanfare IV
27. My Heart Is Inditing, HWV 261~I. My Heart Is Inditing
28. My Heart Is Inditing, HWV 261~II. Kings' Daughters Were Among Thy Honourable Women
29. My Heart Is Inditing, HWV 261~III. Upon Thy Right Hand Did Stand The Queen in Vesture of Gold
30. My Heart Is Inditing, HWV 261~IV. Kings Shall be Thy Nursing Fathers
31. Fanfare V
32. Solomon, HWV 67~Acte III: Praise The Lord
33. God save King Charles!

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Choeur de l'Opera Royal de Versailles   Primary Artist,Choir/Chorus
Gaetan Jarry   Primary Artist,Conductor
Orchestre de l'Opera royal de Versailles   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Laurent Brunner   Director

Technical Credits

Laure Frelaut   Graphic Conception
Henry Purcell   Composer
George Frederick Handel   Composer
John Closterman   Portraits
Ana Maria Sanchez   Editing Assistant
Berenice Gallitelli   Discography
Pascal Le Mee   Photography
Segolene Carron   Graphic Conception
Christopher Bayton   Liner Note Translation
Agathe Poupeney   Photography
Graziella Vallee   Administration
Laurent Brunner   Liner Notes
Silvia Berutti-Ronelt   Liner Note Translation
Anonymous, English   Composer
Balthasar Denner   Portraits
Jean-Daniel Noir   Mastering,Engineer,Editing