Rating: 3/5
Review:
Not up to Phantasm's usual standard
Phantasm are a superb ensemble who have made some quite
brilliant recordings over the years, including their previous disc of consort
music by Ward. Although this is good, to
my ears it doesn't quite come up to their usual phenomenal standard.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with the viol playing; it
is as rich-sounding, technically brilliant and thoughtfully expressed as
ever. However, the vocal and choral
pieces really don't do much for me. This
is partly due, I'm afraid, to the choir who, although technically perfectly
competent, don't bring much in the way of expressiveness and have a rather
distant, indistinct sound which doesn't make the music really shine and reduces
the viol parts to mere background.
It's fine in its way, but for me this disc lacks the real
depth and musical insight which makes Phantasm the world-class ensemble they
are, and I find it just a slight disappointment. I am sorry to be lukewarm about an ensemble
whom I normally love, but I can only give this a very qualified recommendation.
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