COMPOSERS: Purcell
LABELS: Eufoda
WORKS: O God, the King of Glory: Anthems
PERFORMER: Matthew White (countertenor), Julian Podger (tenor), Stephen Varcoe (bass-baritone); Capella Brugensis, Collegium Instrumentale Brugense/Patrick Peire
CATALOGUE NO: 1329
It’s always good to hear a non-British approach to Purcell’s music. In their readings of half a dozen verse anthems and a pair of full anthems the Belgian conductor Patrick Peire and his team shy away from the crisp, sometimes slightly manic energy of some performers, in favour of a warmth and tenderness. The opening sinfonia of the last anthem, Behold, I bring you glad tidings, illustrates that vividly, with the 14 string-players of the Collegium Instrumentale Brugense articulating their staccatos quite gently. Sometimes Peire feels more for beat than phrase, and just occasionally – the opening of My song shall be alway, for instance – a mite more precision in ensemble would be preferable. But the choir, Capella Brugensis, makes a lovely sound, suitably cathedral-like with distinctly boyish-sounding sopranos.
Of the three soloists, Stephen Varcoe has by far the most to do. He’s no longer a young singer, and there’s a slightly inhibited, tight quality about some of his singing here. Indeed, he seems quite daunted by the lavish scale of My song shall be alway, his sound tense and tremulous. But there’s no doubting his ardour in, for instance, I will love thee O Lord, nor his relish of the technical challenges set (originally for Purcell’s super-bass John Gostling) in It is a good thing to give thanks. That work is graced, incidentally, by one of Purcell’s loveliest opening sinfonias, in French chaconne style. Countertenor Matthew White and tenor Julian Podger are both excellent. The sound is clean, and the acoustic warm but not over-resonant, which helps maintain the intimate aspects of this wonderful music. Stephen PettittPURCELL
O God, the King of Glory: anthems
Matthew White (countertenor), Julian Podger (tenor), Stephen Varcoe (bass-baritone); Capella Brugensis, Collegium Instrumentale Brugense/Patrick Peire
Eufoda 1329 68:50 mins £ £ £
It’s always good to hear a non-British approach to Purcell’s music. In their readings of half a dozen verse anthems and a pair of full anthems the Belgian conductor Patrick Peire and his team shy away from the crisp, sometimes slightly manic energy of some performers, in favour of a warmth and tenderness. The opening sinfonia of the last anthem, Behold, I bring you glad tidings, illustrates that vividly, with the 14 string-players of the Collegium Instrumentale Brugense articulating their staccatos quite gently. Sometimes Peire feels more for beat than phrase, and just occasionally – the opening of My song shall be alway, for instance – a mite more precision in ensemble would be preferable. But the choir, Capella Brugensis, makes a lovely sound, suitably cathedral-like with distinctly boyish-sounding sopranos.
Of the three soloists, Stephen Varcoe has by far the most to do. He’s no longer a young singer, and there’s a slightly inhibited, tight quality about some of his singing here. Indeed, he seems quite daunted by the lavish scale of My song shall be alway, his sound tense and tremulous. But there’s no doubting his ardour in, for instance, I will love thee O Lord, nor his relish of the technical challenges set (originally for Purcell’s super-bass John Gostling) in It is a good thing to give thanks. That work is graced, incidentally, by one of Purcell’s loveliest opening sinfonias, in French chaconne style. Countertenor Matthew White and tenor Julian Podger are both excellent. The sound is clean, and the acoustic warm but not over-resonant, which helps maintain the intimate aspects of this wonderful music. Stephen Pettitt
PERFORMANCE ***
SOUND ****
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