King Arthur

Description

At the helm of an impressive discography primarily focused on sacred music and German compositions (their album dedicated to the music of Heinrich Schütz won a Gramophone Award for Best Recording of the Year 2013), the ensemble Vox Luminis, founded nearly 15 years ago by Lionel Meunier, takes on a pinnacle of English music: the famous legend of King Arthur and his friend Merlin the Enchanter inspired Henry Purcell to create one of the most beloved works by the public. In the form of a semi-opera, King Arthur showcases exuberant musical and theatrical inventiveness. Vox Luminis presents it to us here in a new light. The sound signature of the Vox Luminis singers perfectly matches this music, which alternates between very distinctive choirs and vocal solos. The group has performed this piece numerous times in "semi-staged" concerts before recording it, particularly in England, where Lionel Meunier's Franco-Belgian ensemble has made a remarkable career and is a highly regarded ambassador of European baroque music.