Carolyn Sampson reviews
Album für die frau
Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Joseph Middleton (piano) (BIS)
Purcell: Royal Odes
Carolyn Sampson (soprano), et al; The King’s Consort/Robert King (Vivat)
Penelope Thwaites: From Five Continents
Carolyn Sampson (soprano), James Gilchrist (tenor), et al; Ex Cathedra/Jeffrey Skidmore (SOMM)
Purcell: The Fairy Queen
Carolyn Sampson, Anna Dennis (soprano), et al; Gabrieli/Paul McCreesh (Signum Classics)
JS Bach: Cantata BWV 105; Schumann: Ballade vom Pagen und der Königstochter; Adventlied
Carolyn Sampson, Benno Schachtner, Werner Gura, Cornelius Uhle, Jonathan Sells; Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir; Helsinki Baroque Orchestra/Aapo Häkkinen (Ondine)
Schubert: A Soprano’s Schubertiade
Carolyn Sampson and Joseph Middleton (BIS)
The Contrast: English Poetry in Song
Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Joseph Middleton (piano) (BIS)
JS Bach: St Matthew Passion
Benjamin Bruns, Carolyn Sampson, Bach Collegium Japan/Masaaki Suzuki (BIS)
Brahms: German Requiem, Op. 45
Carolyn Sampson, André Morsch; Cappella Amsterdam; Orchestra of the 18th Century/Daniel Reuss (Glossa)
Mahler: Symphony No. 4 (Minnesota/Vänskä)
Minnesota Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä, et al (BIS)
Lost is My Quiet: Duets and Solo Songs sung by Carolyn Sampson and Iestyn Davies
The art of vocal duetting is exemplified at its best in this recital by two of today’s finest British singers, working with an accompanist of equal merit. The title track, Lost is My Quiet, is a Purcell setting heard here (as with the remaining five items by the composer) in Benjamin Britten’s clever realisation: applying considerable judgement to their task, the voices of Carolyn Sampson and Iestyn Davies are well matched here in terms of colour and vibrancy – an accomplishment they deliver throughout.