Early Music on Record Review 16th May

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • ardcarp
    Late member
    • Nov 2010
    • 11102

    Early Music on Record Review 16th May

    First up was an astonishing performance of a soprano aria from Handel's Atalanta. It was thought to have been a castrato role originally. Here it was sung by male soprano Samuel Mariño a native of Venezuela but resident in Paris. He'll give M. Phillipe Jaroussky a run for his money! (Is there something in the water in Paris?)



    Two items later was an extract from Trevor Pinnock's first ever CD of Bach's 48...well Book 1 anyway. I was strcuk by the clarity of the bass-line; so much so I even wondered if a discreet gamba or cello was doubling it, but of course it wasn't as I realised on listening again on better equipment.

    This from Classical News possibly explains it:

    For his recording Trevor Pinnock chose a trusted companion – a copy of a harpsichord by the Franco-German builder Henri Hemsch tuned to the low pitch prevalent in Köthen during Bach’s time there and which, Pinnock says, “has a unique voice which combines a singing quality with enough clarity to allow Bach’s part-writing to shine.”

    Pinnock (from what I heard) opts for the more exact and metronomic approach to tempo...thank goodness!
  • DracoM
    Host
    • Mar 2007
    • 12995

    #2
    Yes, the Pinnock sounded truly worth investigating.

    Comment

    • MickyD
      Full Member
      • Nov 2010
      • 4832

      #3
      I seem to remember hearing some years ago that Pinnock commissioned that instrument for himself. It certainly sounded splendid. Not sure if it will replace my much-loved Kenneth Gilbert version, though.

      Comment

      Working...
      X