Cd
Buxtehude: Membra Jesu Nostri (Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford)
John Mark Ainsley (Tenor); Robin Blaze (Counter-tenor); Giles Underwood (Bass);
"Membra Jesu Nostri is a cycle of seven cantatas, each contemplating a part of Jesus on the cross: feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart and face. John Mark Ainsley, Robin Blaze and Giles Underwood owe their careers to the time they spent in this choir and return to sing with an intensity suitable to the intimately sensuous nature of the work, ably supported by the choir and its particularly fine trebles. String playing is outstanding throughout, with the viol consort Phantasm deliciously taut and sinewy in the lovely sixth cantata, Upon the Heart." (The Observer ★★★★★)
Ekaterina Siurina: Amore e Morte (Rosenblatt Recitals)
Ekaterina Siurina (Soprano); Iain Burnside (Piano);
"In the words of the old cliché, one song is worth the price of the disc alone: the spectacular performance of ‘Lo spazzacamino’ (The chimney-sweep). In a chugging 2/4 the tradesman assures us how much he enjoys his work (marked brillante and con slancio); then he bursts into an exhilarating waltz, both given full value by the two artists here. Burnside judges well when to be prominent and when to withdraw. Ekaterina Siurina has been notably successful to date in the lyric coloratura repertoire: there is an occasional occlusion in her tone as she ascends the scale, slightly reminiscent of Renata Scotto. I wonder if she may follow that soprano into heavier roles. Meanwhile this release is something of a collector’s item." (Classical Source)
Francesco Meli: Britten and Liszt Sonnets (Rosenblatt Recitals)
Francesco Meli (Tenor); Matteo Pais (Piano);
"…one can feel the passion literally bristling beneath the surface in both expression and control … a lyric tenor" (The Washington Times)
Hess: Love's Labours Lost & Love's Labour's Won - Music & Speeches (Royal Shakespeare Comp
Sam Alexander (Ferdinand); William Belchambers (Longaville); Tunji Kasim (Dumaine); Edward Bennett (Berowne/Benedick); Michelle Terry (Rosaline/Beatrice); David Horovitch (Leonato);
Jesús León: Bel Canto
Jesús León (Tenor); Toby Purser (Conductor);
"… his light tenor was mellifluous in its phrasing and even in tone." (Seen & Heard International - Don Giovanni (Garsington Opera))
