The teacher who has even one pupil who becomes even more distinguished than himself is fortunate; in Purcell, Blow had one such. And when that pupil's death precedes his own he has cause for genuine grief, as Blow did. One of the songs of Purcell, here alternated with instrumental pieces by Blow, contains the line 'Nor let my homely death embroider'd be with scutcheon or with elegy', but it is one with which Blow and others could not concur. In a programmatic tour de force Blow's profoundly beautiful vocal tribute to Purcell comes at the end.
Few countertenors are as finely matched in artistry and vocal quality as Lesne and Dugardin who, in both the solo songs and duets, wring every drop of emotion from the texts with sincerity, technically effortless mese di voce and admirably clear diction. In Blow's Ode on the death of Mr Henry Purcell there is always the risk that the recorders may cover the singers, but it is avoided here. The instrumental support faithfully shadows every vocal nuance throughout.
Much of Blow's instrumental music was unpublished in his time and has remained unrecorded - some first-time pieces here. Where violins were originally specified, as in the A major Trio Sonata, in this recording they are replaced by recorders, and the harpsichord Suite in G minor is a modern compilation from various sources. There is no respect in which I would hesitate to describe this album as pure, unalloyed delight, a feather in the cap of Virgin Veritas.
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