MOZART: Serenade in G, K. 525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik". Adagio and Fugue in C minor, K. 46. Menuet & Trio in C, K. 485a (arr. Attwood). Serenade in D, K. 239 "Serenata Notturna." Ein musikalischer Spass, K. 522 ("A Musical Joke").
The English Concert/Andrew Manze, cond.
HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 807280 (F) (DDD) TT: 67:14 (5 channel)
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HILDEGARD VON BINGEN 11,000 Virgins Chants for the Feast of St. Ursula
Anonymous 4
HARMONIA MUNDI HMU 807200 (F) (DDD) TT : 72:07 (5 channel)
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Two enchanting additions to the multi-channel library. The Mozart collection, called "Night Music," is a charmer throughout, with delectable performances of several of Mozart's finest, best-known scores. Eine kleine Nachtmusik sparkles with light-hearted elegance, and the "jokes" in A Musical Joke are humorous indeed. Throughout the performances the eighteen members of The English Consort (directed by first violin Andrew Manze) plays with perfect intonation. The recording was made early in 2003 in Air Studios, Lyndhurst Hall in London. Producer Robina G.Young and her staff did a superb job in capturing these performances in super-relealistic, natural sound.

Music of twelfth-century poet-composer Abbess Hildegard of Bingen has been recorded often. As CD notes say, chants heard on this recording were inspired by the legend of St. Ursua and the Eleven Thousand Virgins, intended to be sung by the nuns of her convent....her chants weave a hypnotic web of sound. This music is sung with remarkable purity by the ensemble known as Anonymous 4 (really not "anonymous"—they are Ruth Cunningham, Marsha Genensky, Susan Hellauer and Johanna Maria Rose). Robina G. Young also produced this recording made in November 199 in Campion Center, Weston, Massachusetts, achieving a fine church-like ambience. Texts are provided in Latin and English.