Louise Alder, Tim Mead, Anna Stéphany, Stuart Jackson, Adam Plachetka, Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen – Handel: Theodora, HWV 60 (2024) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Louise Alder, Tim Mead, Anna Stéphany, Stuart Jackson, Adam Plachetka, Arcangelo, Jonathan Cohen – Handel: Theodora, HWV 60 (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:58:27 minutes | 3,30 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Alpha Classics

Among Handel’s seventeen English oratorios, Theodora (1750) is unique. The story is not taken from the Bible, but is about a Christian martyr. The characteristics of the oratorio are very negative: there is no national triumph and does not end in joy, hero and heroine are dying, the community with which the audience identifies is in mortal danger, and the final chorus is in a minor key. As a musical drama, this work can be seen as a direct ancestor of the “Dialogues des Carmélites”. At the age of 65, Handel created a work that was too radical and complex for most of his listeners at that time. Today, Theodora is regarded as a dramatic oratorio that is both deeply stimulating and powerfully moving as an “opera for the thinking person”.

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Louise Alder, Joseph Middleton – Richard Strauss: Through Life & Love (2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Louise Alder, Joseph Middleton – Richard Strauss: Through Life & Love (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:04:45 minutes | 1,05 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Orchid Classics

Hailed as one of the brightest lyric-sopranos of the younger generation, a radiant pe rformer and a born actress Louise has been held in high critical acclaim during he r early career, and has recently been declared Young Singer of the Year at the 2017 International Opera Awards. She is also no stranger to Lieder, and has worked wi th pianist Joseph Middleton previously at the Leeds Lieder Festival. Joseph is considered a specialist in the art of song accompaniment, and has be en described as one of the brightest stars in the world of song and Lieder by BBC Music Magazine, the cream of the new generation by The Times and a perfect accompanist by Opera Now. Through Life and Love sees Louise and Joseph perform some of the most beautiful Lieder in the repertoire, including Strauss Die Nacht, Standchen and Rote Rosen. Louise will be representing England at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition this year, and this will be her debut recital recording.

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Louise Alder & Joseph Middleton – Chère nuit: French Songs (2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Louise Alder & Joseph Middleton – Chère nuit: French Songs (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:20:10 minutes | 1,23 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Chandos

The acclaimed British soprano Louise Alder returns for her second recital on Chandos, joined once again by star pianist Joseph Middleton. Enthusiastic praise was widespread for her Chandos début, “Lines Written during a Sleepless Night: The Russian Connection”, which earned significant accolades in the USA and continental Europe in addition to the UK. For this recording the pair explore a rich and varied selection of French songs from the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Louse Alder writes: “I have always held French song very dear to my heart and when we settled on this wildly varied programme, I quickly grew excited at the prospect of exploring the art form in virtually all its styles. From Ravel to Yvain, I hope we paint pictures of a French evening, of mystery, intrigue, discovery, seduction, love, and blissful night”.

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Louise Alder, Joseph Middleton – Lines Written During a Sleeplesss Night: The Russian Connection (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Louise Alder, Joseph Middleton - Lines Written During a Sleeplesss Night: The Russian Connection (2020) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz] Download

Louise Alder, Joseph Middleton – Lines Written During a Sleeplesss Night: The Russian Connection (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:13:34 minutes | 1,16 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Chandos

The soprano Louise Alder has been described as ‘the brightest lyric soprano of the younger generation’ (The Arts Desk), ‘a born actress’ (Opera), and as having ‘a voice of sparkling beauty’ (Gramophone).
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