Schumann: Das Paradies und die Peri (Paradise & the Peril)

But that Mark Padmore is an excellent Schumann narrator is beyond any doubt, as is the quality of the rehearsed by Simon Halsey choir

**** ½ A wonderful new recording…with not only the excellent Symphony Orchestra at hand, but the great chorus and soloists such as Mark Padmore, Kate Royal and Sally Matthews. The production recording technology impressively succeeded, is mainly due to James Mallison

Sally Matthews masters the vocal flights and exhilarates as the Peri.

It is impossible to not be transported with joy when she (Sally Matthews) begins her final air

Heavenly. Sally Matthews is a delicate soprano, Kate Royal is luxury. Andrew Staples and Florian Boesch are perfect, but it is again the Angel - Bernarda Fink which makes me melt and overwhelms with emotion in her stories

The Chorus is impeccable.

Sally Matthews is a radiant Peri, who endorses the fascinating poetry of Schumann and makes his inflections so special. Choirs are brilliant and the LSO is at its best. A choice version.

Exorbitant in melodic richness… Rattle pursues a typically lyrical Schumann sound… [and] the choir is excellent. A special bonus of receiving two SACDs with a Blu-ray version

Outstanding vocalists. Whether SACD or BD, vivid details are captured with a bright and clear Chorus.

Simon Rattle breathes organically with choir and orchestra, creating a warm, thick sound… Mark Padmore is a delicate narrator…A discovery is the velvety smoothness from baritone, Florian Boesch

Rattle allows the large orchestra to play delicately with tremendously colourful sounds. All three parts of the oratorio sound immaculately beautiful…Everything flow(s) in seemingly endless melodies. – Beautiful Paradise.

Rattle has an alert and curious orchestra at his disposal… With extreme care he integrates the vocal soloists, who – as a well-balanced cast – particularly convince as an ensemble

Rattle radiates a sense of serenity on the recording

Simon Rattle deftly maintains an account of clarity and translucence, bringing out the delicate beauty of the score…(The soloists) rise to the occasion with sympathy and subtle allure. The recording (given in both SACD and Blu-ray format) manages to capture the detail of the score with an engaging sense of space, and so this LSO Live issue is an eloquent introduction to a delectable rarity.

It gets a handsome presentation on the London Symphony Orchestra’s LSO Live label…altogether, a most welcome introduction to a work that very few listeners will ever have heard… Sir Simon Rattle leads the soloists, choruses and orchestra with absolute assurance and style here, showing Das Paradies und die Peri to be a work of grace and beauty, an unusual piece in Schumann’s oeuvre and one whose acquaintance it is well worth making.

The best performance was provided under the sensitive and able leadership of Sir Simon Rattle, Choir and Orchestra

A new era in London is marked with this recording. Mr. Rattle has long been an advocate for the piece, and his forces here respond with an eagerness born of discovery, particularly a chorus splendidly trained by Simon Halsey

The concerts earlier this year by Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra had delighted the audience. The resulting recording discography confirms the outstanding quality of this beautiful interpretation.

With one of the best orchestras Sir Simon Rattle conducts this three-part romantic masterpiece back into our memory

With both an SACD and an Audio Blu-ray in the package, this is an issue which will be of interest to admirers of Schumann… It is given the best possible reading here.

Thank goodness for Mark Padmore, who is a legendary evangelist and as such the ideal person to tell us these various stories… The LSO rise to the challenge tremendously… Sally Matthews is just fantastic, really heroic in the Wagnerian sense as well as every other

LSO Live have done Sir Simon proud with this new set… Expectations will be high when Sir Simon Rattle rakes over the reins of the London Symphony Orchestra in 2017. This tremendous new release only heightens those expectations… LSO Live achieve a first rate recording

Simon Rattle certainly lights the poetry of the orchestra, making the lines sing with delicacy

This Schumann recording lays down a marker for what is likely to be an extensive discography... The choral singing is excellent… He (Simon Halsey) has clearly prepared them (the London Symphony Chorus) to his usual very high standard for this assignment… It’s the finesse and delicacy with which much of the choral music is delivered that I particularly relished. The LSO is on equally fine form. The high quality of their playing is evident right from the start… Rattle and his players really do show how fine and imaginative is Schumann’s orchestration in this score... A recording such as this enables us to savour Schumann’s mastery to the full. This is an auspicious launch on disc of the LSO/Simon Rattle partnership

Rattle handles (Schumann Das Paradies und die Peri) with a loving lightness of touch…Mark Padmore’s narration and baritone Florian Boesch make the best impression

There’s no hiding either Rattle’s eloquent advocacy of the work or the encouraging signs regarding his rapport with the orchestra, who play superbly for him. Phrases are invariably, beautifully turned, and there is evidence of real care having been taking throughout… A valuable record of what was obviously a fine concert performance, as well as of Rattle’s persuasive way with the score…

He (Sir Simon Rattle) lavishes love on this score. His approach is full of affection…creating a gorgeous warm Romantic glow. Mark Padmore’s tenor sounds vivid and warm… Florian Boesch sounds sensational… Andrew Staples is very moving in his solos. It’s worth saying, that LSO Live have really gone to town on their presentation for this release.’

He (Sir Simon Rattle) is the star of the performance. The richness and breadth of his reading are magnificent and the London Symphony Orchestra plays with warmth and perfection under his leadership. And the London Symphony Chorus…are excellent in their different roles…

Music *** Sound **** ‘Already in the orchestral introduction you can hear that this music makes him [Sir Simon Rattle] feel at home. It’s not every day that Schumann is performed so delicately, so clearly shaped and lovingly articulated - and he also considers the conditions of the historic performance practice, which is anything but superficial or romantic showing off'

DISC OF THE DAY ‘The sound reproduction is incomparable’

CD of the month ‘An artistic hit… Perfect coordination of the London Symphony Chorus and exquisite sound quality… Elegant, versatile and eloquent in alternately emotional and lyrically subtle sound gestures.’

A tender and introspective performance of Schumann's rarely-heard opera… Only the most callous listener could fail to be moved by Kate Royal, Bernada Fink, Andrew Staples and Florian Boesch’s spellbound quartet.

Album of the week 'Here, the LSO’s playing, and especially the singing of the chorus, bristles with the ardour of a new love affair…

Choral and Song Choice ***** Performance ***** Recording (SACD) ***** (Blu Ray) ‘Superb recording… Vivid detail and clear choral textures come over quite stunningly, but the Blu-Ray has the edge. Its clarity entirely suits the greater expansiveness and richness of Rattle’s reading… The LSO Chorus sing with arresting fervour. A pleasure to recommend