In a recital of songs and instrumental dances, countertenor Tim Mead and Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien, under the direction of François Lazarevitch, present a varied and well-rounded portrait of Henry Purcell, the Baroque genius who was nicknamed the "English Orpheus." For this 2018 Alpha release, Mead and Lazarevitch provide idiomatic and historically informed interpretations that offer a seemingly improvisational but precisely notated approach, both in the profuse ornamentation in the vocal part and the florid repartée of ...
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In a recital of songs and instrumental dances, countertenor Tim Mead and Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien, under the direction of François Lazarevitch, present a varied and well-rounded portrait of Henry Purcell, the Baroque genius who was nicknamed the "English Orpheus." For this 2018 Alpha release, Mead and Lazarevitch provide idiomatic and historically informed interpretations that offer a seemingly improvisational but precisely notated approach, both in the profuse ornamentation in the vocal part and the florid repartée of the mixed consort. The ensemble consists of recorders, oboes, bassoon, and strings, with a basso continuo of viol da gamba and harpsichord, and the addition of harp and cittern lend the music a Celtic flavor. The theatrical aspect of the songs is conveyed in Mead's virtuosic and intensely focused singing, which is well supported and full sounding, and his voice seems quite robust and far from breathy. The energetic playing of Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien keeps the program engaging...
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