Robert King
VIVAT101
I was glad: Sacred Music of Stanford and Parry
Carolyn Sampson soprano
David Wilson-Johnson bass
Choir of The King’s Consort
The King’s Consort
Robert King conductor
“A magnificent sound, really Brahmsian orchestration… This is a simple ‘must have’… What a great way to launch a new label”
(CD Review, BBC Radio 3)
“This CD, full of incandescent, hugely committed music-making, will be an award winner. You simply have to hear it.”
(BBC Music Magazine)
2013 Gramophone Awards finalist
Buy Now / More InformationVIVAT102
Couperin: Trois Leçons de Ténèbres
Carolyn Sampson soprano
Marianne Beate Kielland mezzo-soprano
Susanne Heinrich bass viol
Lynda Sayce theorbo
Robert King chamber organ
“Sumptuous performances … Sampson’s brightness and Kielland’s riper tones beautifully complement each other”
(The Sunday Times)
“CD of the Week”
(CD Review, BBC Radio 3)
VIVAT104
Monteverdi: Heaven and Earth
Carolyn Sampson, Rebecca Outram, Julie Cooper soprano
Sarah Connolly, Diana Moore mezzosoprano
Charles Daniels, John Bowen, James Gilchrist tenor
Robert Evans, Michael George bass
The King’s Consort
Robert King conductor
“Peerlessly performed and faultlessly recorded”
(The Independent)
“If I were only able to have one disc of works by Monteverdi this would have to be the one.”
(The Classical Reviewer)
VIVAT105
Your tuneful voice: Handel Oratorio Arias
Iestyn Davies countertenor
Carolyn Sampson soprano
The King’s Consort
Robert King conductor
“This new release is outstanding in every way”
(The Classical Reviewer)
“A lovely selection of arias, well sequenced, effortlessly encompassed”
(CD Review, BBC Radio 3)
“A countertenor voice in its prime”
(The Daily Telegraph)
“A grace and calm entirely appropriate to these Handel arias”
(The Independent)
“Fabulous tone and exquisite craftsmanship”
(Music and Vision)
“Enthusiastically recommended”
(The Sunday Times)
VIVAT106
Purcell: Ten Sonatas in Four Parts
The King’s Consort
Cecillia Bernardini violin
Huw Daniel violin
Susanne Heinrich bass viol
Lynda Sayce theorbo
Robert King organ & harpsichord
“Superbly played” *****
(The Daily Telegraph)
“Exquisitely performed”
(The Independent)
“dazzle with glittering virtuosity … and ooze pathos in the agonised dissonances”
(International Record Review)
“There are delights at every turn in these beautifully performed sonatas”
(The Classical Reviewer)
“Superbly played … the time listening flashes by. Highly recommended”
(Planet Hugill)
VIVAT110
Purcell: Twelve Sonatas of Three Parts
The King’s Consort
Cecilia Bernardini violin
Huw Daniel violin
Reiko Ichise bass viol
Lynda Sayce theorbo
Robert King organ & harpsichord
“CD of the week”
(BBC Radio 3, CD Review)
“Surely the finest in the catalogue”
(The Classical Reviewer)
VIVAT111
Handel, arr. Mendelssohn: Israel in Ägypten
Lydia Teuscher soprano
Julia Doyle soprano
Hilary Summers alto
Benjamin Hulett tenor
Roderick Williams bass
Choir of The King’s Consort
The King’s Consort
Robert King conductor
“Handel’s mighty series of choral frescoes emerge in all their brilliance and incisiveness … terrific verve and clarity of texture … uniformly fine soloists … a lavishly produced booklet”
(Gramophone – Editor’s Choice)
“This one’s a winner!”
(Record Review, BBC Radio 3)
“Masterly depictions of frogs, plagues and other natural disasters”
(The Observer)
“Worth having just for Mendelssohn’s blazing, new overture”
(The Financial Times)
“This performance is a real joy”
(The Classical Reviewer)
VIVAT113
A Voice from Heaven – British Choral Masterpieces
Choir of The King’s Consort
Robert King conductor
“This could well be the finest choral disc of this year”
(The Classical Reviewer)
“Recording of the Month”
(MusicWeb International)
“Rich, lushly romantic”
(The Observer)
“Impossible not to add to the praise that has greeted this beautifully performed collection”
(The Sunday Times)
VIVAT117
Abbandonata – Handel Italian Cantatas
Carolyn Sampson soprano
The King’s Consort
Robert King
“Enthusiastically recommended to Sampson’s many admirers and Handel lovers alike”
(Gramophone)
“This entrancing disc – Robert King’s consort is a British treasure”
(Otago Daily Times)
VIVAT118
Elegy – Countertenor duets by Purcell & Blow
Iestyn Davies countertenor
James Hall countertenor
The King’s Consort
Robert King
2020 Gramophone Awards finalist
“Davies and Hall bring a chamber-music intensity to Blow’s sublime elegy on Purcell’s death
(The Observer)
“They duet ravishingly”
(The Sunday Times)
“What music, what musicianship, what performances! This Vivat disc leaves one spellbound and enthralled”
(Classical Music Daily)
“Sheer delight”
(Planet Hugill)
“This whole disc is a trove of bittersweet delights”
Editor’s Choice
(Gramophone)
“Incredibly ecstatic, mellifluous sounds”
(Record Review, BBC Radio 3)
VIVAT121
Purcell: Royal Odes
Carolyn Sampson soprano
Emily Owen soprano
Iestyn Davies countertenor
Hugh Cutting countertenor
Charles Daniels tenor
David de Winter tenor
Matthew Brook bass
Edward Grint bass
The King’s Consort
Robert King conductor
2021 Gramophone Awards finalist
“It’s hard to imagine these performances bettered … King has assembled another crack team of singers … The band is, if anything, even better … achingly excellent playing – the opening Symphonies alone would be worth the price of the disc. I only hope King continues again through the whole set”
Editor’s Choice (Gramophone)
“Perfectly focussed … a fine roster of singers, excellent recording”
(BBC Radio 3, Record Review)
“The ten voices … clearly revel in the sumptuous harmonies … a well-chosen and superbly crafted selection … a lavish booklet provides an added incentive to explore this excellent release”
(Opera Today)
“A ‘dream team’ … complemented by exquisitely nuanced string playing … demands to be heard by all”
(Early Music Review)
“Fantástica versión”
Melómano de oro [Gold award] (Melómano Magazine, Spain)
“One of the crowning achievements of lockdown music”
(Classical Explorer)
VIVAT122
Purcell: Birthday Odes for Queen Mary
Carolyn Sampson soprano
Emily Owen soprano
Iestyn Davies countertenor
Hugh Cutting countertenor
Charles Daniels tenor
David de Winter tenor
Matthew Brook bass
Edward Grint bass
The King’s Consort
Robert King conductor
2022 Gramophone Awards finalist
“Stylish, affectionate performances … the instrumental colours are beautifully shaded … the singing is exemplary across the board … Bring on the next volume!”
(Gramophone)
“Full of joy and vivacity … the sheer exuberance of Purcell’s writing is infectious”
(Classical Explorer)
“King’s excellent team of eight singers … stylish elegance, polish and wit … testament to King’s long performance experience and enduring love of Purcell’s music”
(Limelight, Australia)
“Meesterlijk … niet te missen”
(Stretto, Belgium)
“The casting is opulent … it feels unfair to single out any singer in particular; they’re all excellent … These are hugely entertaining and uplifting pieces. Instrumental accompaniments from The King’s Consort are lively and colourful”
(The Arts Desk)
“Carolyn Sampson creates pearls from Purcell’s ornate contours … peerless musicianship from Iestyn Davies and Hugh Cutting … Edward Grint is marvellously heroic … exquisite playing”
(Opera Today)
“Performed in vividly engaging and stylish fashion”
(Planet Hugill)
VIVAT123
Bach: Six Trio Sonatas (after BWV 525-530)
The King’s Consort
Kati Debretzeni violin
Huw Daniel violin
Rose Redgrave viola
Frances Norbury oboe & oboe d’amore
Robin Michael cello
Eligio Quinteiro theorbo
Robert King harpsichord & organ
“This is, quite simply, a delightful recording … Kati Debretzeni and Huw Daniel make a gleaming sound … King’s playing on the harpsichord is gloriously languid … Frances Norbury’s oboe playing is delectably pungent … cellist Robin Michael is sumptuously subdued … bass-line playing of the highest quality”
(Gramophone)
“Zo verfrissend … vertrouwelijk, typisch Bach, maar zo vooruitstrevend en nieuw.”
[“So refreshing … intimate, typically Bach, but so progressive and new.”]
(Cultuurpakt, Belgium)
“There’s a real potent synergy between the players … their commitment is infectious”
(Musicweb International)
“Dit is een hele mooie opname, perfect afgeleverd”
[“This is a very beautiful recording, perfectly delivered”]
(Kerk en Leven, Belgium)
“Dieses sehr willkommene Album”
[“This very welcome album”]
*****/*****
(Fonoforum, Germany)
“Resultados verdaderamente magníficos”
[“Truly superb results”]
*****
(Melomano, Spain)