BLOW; PURCELL Countertenor duets (Davies & Hall)
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Henry Purcell, Robert King, John Blow
Genre:
Vocal
Label: Vivat
Magazine Review Date: AW2019
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 78
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: VIVAT118
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Timon of Athens, Movement: Hark! how the songsters |
Henry Purcell, Composer
(The) King's Consort Henry Purcell, Composer Iestyn Davies, Countertenor James Hall, Countertenor Robert King, Composer |
St Cecilia's Day Ode, 'Hail, bright Cecilia', Movement: In vain the am'rous flute |
Henry Purcell, Composer
(The) King's Consort Henry Purcell, Composer Iestyn Davies, Countertenor James Hall, Countertenor Robert King, Composer |
O Solitude! my sweetest choice |
Henry Purcell, Composer
(The) King's Consort Henry Purcell, Composer Iestyn Davies, Countertenor Robert King, Composer |
(The History of) Dioclesian, or The Prophetess, Movement: ~ |
Henry Purcell, Composer
(The) King's Consort Henry Purcell, Composer Robert King, Composer |
Ah, Heav'n! What is't I hear? |
John Blow, Composer
(The) King's Consort Iestyn Davies, Countertenor James Hall, Countertenor John Blow, Composer Robert King, Composer |
Birthday Ode, 'Come ye sons of art away', Movement: Sound the trumpet |
Henry Purcell, Composer
(The) King's Consort Henry Purcell, Composer Iestyn Davies, Countertenor James Hall, Countertenor Robert King, Composer |
Bonduca, Movement: Sing, sing, ye Druids |
Henry Purcell, Composer
(The) King's Consort Henry Purcell, Composer Iestyn Davies, Countertenor James Hall, Countertenor Robert King, Composer |
Paratum cor meum |
John Blow, Composer
(The) King's Consort Iestyn Davies, Countertenor James Hall, Countertenor John Blow, Composer Robert King, Composer |
(The) Queen's Epicedium, 'Incassum, Lesbia, rogas', Movement: Incassum Lesbia, incassum rogas |
Henry Purcell, Composer
(The) King's Consort Henry Purcell, Composer Iestyn Davies, Countertenor Robert King, Composer |
(The) Queen's Epicedium, 'No, Lesbia, no, you ask |
John Blow, Composer
(The) King's Consort Iestyn Davies, Countertenor John Blow, Composer Robert King, Composer |
O dive custos Auriacae domus |
Henry Purcell, Composer
(The) King's Consort Henry Purcell, Composer Iestyn Davies, Countertenor James Hall, Countertenor Robert King, Composer |
Mark how the lark and linnet sing, 'Ode on the Death of Mr Henry Purcell' |
John Blow, Composer
(The) King's Consort Iestyn Davies, Countertenor James Hall, Countertenor John Blow, Composer Robert King, Composer |
Author: Edward Breen
Purcell’s harmonic language is immediately recognisable when contrasted with Blow, yet in this programme Blow reveals himself also to be quite adventurous. Take, for instance, his Elegy for Queen Mary, ‘No, Lesbia, no, you ask in vain’. Davies takes his cue from Blow’s often tortured musical language to offer a performance which is beautifully responsive to this innovative setting.
The duets, sung with James Hall, are superb throughout, carefully balanced and well controlled, although perhaps too modest for my taste: consider the opening duet ‘Hark how the songsters’, which shies away from the sheer giggly joy of the improvisatory performance by L’Arpeggiata (Erato, 5/14). This is also the case in ‘Sound the trumpet’, that most famous of countertenor duets, the emphasis here being more sprightly than extrovert. It lacks the grandeur of King’s earlier Bowman/Chance pairing, especially on the opening long notes, but compensates with nimble energy. Hall is certainly a voice to listen out for and he contributes many ravishing moments to this disc.
As a parting shot, it would be a shame not to mention the wonderful recorder-playing in the Dioclesian Chaconne ‘Two in one upon a ground’ from Rebecca Miles and Ian Wilson. This whole disc is a trove of bittersweet delights.
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