Rating:5/5
Review: A fabulous disc of lute music and songs
This is a very beautiful disc of lute songs and solo lute pieces by some of the finest composers around the turn of the 17th Century. English composers like Dowland, Morley and Robert Johnson feature heavily but there are also lovely pieces from continental composers, some of whom are familiar (like Schutz and d'India) and some who were quite new to me. They are all delightful, often with the characteristic melancholy of the time but quite varied and with songs and instrumental pieces interspersed throughout the disc it never begins to feel same-y.
The performances are absolutely wonderful. Personally, I don't think there is a better singer of this repertoire than Emma Kirkby. Her purity of tone, minimal vibrato, impeccable intonation and technique and, most importantly, her genuine engagement with the text make her interpretation of these songs a complete delight. Jakob Lindberg is one of the world's greatest lutenists and he plays here with all the thought, skill and empathy we have come to expect of him.
It's a fabulous disc all round and very warmly recommended to anyone with even the slightest interest in the music of this period.
No comments:
Post a Comment