The subtitle of this album is "Jewels from Europe around 1600," and the "Jewels" could as well be applied to Emma Kirkby's voice and Jakob Lindberg's lute playing -- delicate but strong, beguiling, throwing off brilliant light. Kirkby's light soprano is ideal for this repertoire -- absolutely pure, but full of character and expressiveness, with a security that makes her singing sound effortless. She is well matched by Lindberg's playing, which is fleet and nuanced. He plays a sixteenth century instrument with exceptionally ...
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The subtitle of this album is "Jewels from Europe around 1600," and the "Jewels" could as well be applied to Emma Kirkby's voice and Jakob Lindberg's lute playing -- delicate but strong, beguiling, throwing off brilliant light. Kirkby's light soprano is ideal for this repertoire -- absolutely pure, but full of character and expressiveness, with a security that makes her singing sound effortless. She is well matched by Lindberg's playing, which is fleet and nuanced. He plays a sixteenth century instrument with exceptionally mellow tone that is thought to be the oldest lute still in use. Together, Kirkby and Lindberg draw the listener in as a companion with whom they are sharing precious intimacies. The songs and lute solos are eclectic, by English, Flemish, German, Italian, French, and Polish composers. The songs by the better-known English composers, such as Dowland and Morley, stand out for their expressiveness, but others, particularly the songs of Sigismondo d'India, are remarkable for their...
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