BACH: 'Aria'
a collection of instrumental and vocal music
Amarillis
Enfants de la Maîtrise de garçons de Colmar
Ambroisie AMB9907 (61.59
minutes)
This disc is enjoyable enough for casual listening, but since the programme
is an arbitrary collection, it is unlikely to figure strongly in one's collection
in the longer term. On the positive front, some of the recordings are
spectacularly good. There is detail along with plenty of atmospheric impact,
and this is just right for chamber music and for projecting the talents of
the performers. The three instrumentalists who together make up the group
called Amarillis - Héloïse Gaillard (flute & oboe), Violaine
Cochard (harpsichord & organ) and Ophélie Gaillard (cello) - are
certainly gifted, and the two highlights on the disc are the viola da gamba
sonata, BWV1028 (played on the piccolo cello), and the Italian Concerto for
solo harpsichord.
However, the remainder of the programme is more problematic. The flute is
far too closely recorded in the C major Sonata, BWV530, and this spoils the
performance. Various arias from the cantatas are sung by boys from the Colmar
ensemble. They acquit themselves adequately enough, but they do tend to sing
flat. However, the problem with their contribution is that the arias are
taken out of context and therefore do not communicate their full meaning.
There are no texts or translations, moreover, and the accompanying notes
are very thin.
Despite this the general packaging is nothing short of indulgent: an
over-designed three-way fold with the disc at the centre. The irritating
thing is that anyone browsing through the items in the racks at their local
record store would be unable to read the details of the musical content as
printed on the back of the cover. The print is small: white letters against
a light brown background. Why?
Terry Barfoot
If in difficulties getting the disc it can be obtained in the UK direct from
Discovery at:
Discovery Records Ltd
discovery.records@virgin.net
phone 01672 563931
fax 01672 563934
