Last year (Feb. 1998), Bill Hong wrote:

>In addition, while there is no CD yet available, the National Public Radio
>program "European Centuries" just broadcast (in two one-hour segments) a
>fully staged performance of "La Purpura de la Rosa", given by the Harp
>Consort and other artists at last year's Utrecht Early Music Festival.
>According to the radio program, there are rumors that this work will be
>issued on CD by those forces.

Bill, those rumors became real. "La purpura..." is now available through
Deustch Harmonia Mundi label.

La purpura de la rosa (1701)
The Harp Consort/ Andrew Lawrence-King
BMG/DHM 05472 77355 2 (2 CD)

I got a copy on German Music Express.

>The opera is of very high quality, and the radio performance (with Spanish
>guitars as part of the continuo and a full range of percussion instruments)
>is as colorful as any opera I've ever heard from the following two
>centuries.  ...

Yes, yes, yes.  IMHO, this version makes justice to this masterpiece.
The booklet includes the complete libretto of Pedro Caldeon de la Barca
with translations in English, Deutsch and French.  GO for it!

Regards,

Mauricio Veliz Cartagena
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