When
reviewing classical recordings, the reviewer often listens closely
for the details, the tiny, almost imperceptible bits that make
a recording good or less good. A soloist's phrasing, a singer's
timbre, a violinist's tone - all these can add up to make or break
a recording. But this sometimes means we miss the forest for the
trees, and don't step back to look at the big picture.
Occasionally,
one comes across a recording that incites this big-picture examination.
This disc is one such recording. Gerard Lesne's latest recording
as a soloist is a selection of songs by the great English composer
Henry Purcell. These fifteen songs are neither a collection nor
a group of songs, but rather a selection of songs from throughout
Purcell's career, some written individually, others written for
the stage.
What
is it about this recording that makes it so good? Perhaps it is
the subtle emotions the musicians and singer give to the music;
perhaps it is Gerard Lesne's fine voice, which, in spite of some
imperfect diction at times, sounds as though the songs were written
for it. Perhaps it is the quality of the musicians accompanying
Lesne, three of the finest soloists currently performing baroque
music in France.
Whatever
the reason, this disc is near-perfect. The atmosphere ranges from
emotive to playful, the music is excellent, the recording astounding.
In addition, the program itself is chosen with great taste - the
ordering of the songs is very fitting, and the insertion of short
instrumental pieces from time to time gives it a great deal of
variety.
For
those unfamiliar with Purcell's excellent output of small-scale
vocal music this is an ideal introduction. For fans of Purcell,
this is a must-have recording.
Kirk
McElhearn