classical music:

	The Voice Alix Verzier, Johann Sebastian Bach, ... Harmonia Mundi Fr., 2001 average customer review:based on 8 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The English folksongs are interesting and pleasant, but for me, it is the Baroque works that truly shine. Scholl's voice is remarkably pure; his versatility and fluidity lend themselves perfectly to the currents of Baroque music. His take on Handel's Xerxes is incredible-this is music at its finest: pure joy, pure passion, raw emotion. It is heart-wrenching and soul-shaking. In "But who may abide the day of His coming?" from the Messiah, Scholl masters the balance between structured discipline and bravura "riffs" that demonstrate a singer's range and talent. Vivaldi's Sabat Mater, one of my favorite pieces of music, gets glorious treatment.

I'm glad that our civilized world had abolished the practice that creates a castrato, and I'm glad that there are rare talents like Scholl who can give us a sense of this musical genre.

The only downside to purchasing this CD is that you will immediately want to run out and purchase the complete version of each sample presented here!

If you enjoy listening to the magic of countertenors, I highly recommend Yoshikazu Mera, an amazing young Japanese artist. Start with his "Baroque Arias" CD, and I'm sure you will try more.

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a voice teacher and early music fan

STAY WITH THE PROGRAM,ANDREAS; NO MORE TRIOS PLEASE!!!

Andreas Scholl is regarded as one of the finest countertenors of our generation and has appeared throughout the world under the direction of many notable conductors.

I personally think that the most important contribution he as has made is to the rediscovery of the German Baroque repertoire. There are two examples on this disc from his album :German Baroque Songs,which I think is one of his finest discs. He is also very interested in pop music and sound techniques. One can only hope that he doesn't decide to make an album of pop songs. He came close to it in that miserable disc: The Three Countertenors.

However, I do think this is a very excellent collection of songs from his various recordings. I expecially liked the Vivaldi 'Cessate, omai cessate' and the 2 German Baroque songs: "Ach Liebste, lass uns eilen" by Johann Nauwach and "Kunst des Kussen" by Andreas Hammerschmidt.

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heavenly

andreas scholl does it again. the beauty of this "voice" is expressed in this lovely selection. so far my favorite scholl cd, with his pergolosi stabat mater as a close second. the highlight of this cd i felt was "da quel strale che stilla veleno" from the caldara work madalena ai pieda di christo. with the orchestra directed by his famous teacher rene jacobs this piece is a gem. absolutely heavenly is how i describe the heavenly side of the voice scholl portrays in this sacred opera. other highlights are bach's "agnus dei" from the mass in b minor, which scholl himself has referred to as the most beautiful piece for the countertenor voice. bach's "erbarme dich" from St. Matthews Passion, which he sings in his mother tongue, and his "ombra mai fu" which is the version i favor as opposed that that which appears on his "best of" cd, of which i also recommend. his version of "ah ch'infelice sempre" by vivaldi will give you chills. it is one of my favorites to sing as i am a countertenor as well. a must buy.

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Excellent introduction to this countertenor and well-rounded compilation of his work

If you're new to Andreas Scholl and want to dip a toe in the water of his recordings I think this would be an excellent choice - not only because it is mid-priced and because it has a generous 21 tracks. This countertenor singer has an unsurpassed voice, pure and beautiful but also strong and yet not overblown. Unlike many singers he doesn't (for me) ruin it by being excessively warbly but adds just the required variety to the tone.

This album contains a selection of tracks from several of his albums for the Harmonia Mundi label (he then switched to Decca and is now back with HM) which include a variety of styles and accompaniments. The first two tracks, for example, are English folksongs, then we have an Air from Handel's Messiah and three tracks (one instrumental) from Handel's Serse opera, some lively Vivaldi cantatas, there are a couple of German baroque songs, a JS Bach opera Aria from Hercules and finally the big guns (in my opinion), "Agnus Dei" from J S Bach's Mass In B Minor, Vivaldi's "Stabat Mater," a Buxtehude cantata "Jubilate Domino" and the incomparable recording of "Erbarme Dich" from the St Matthew Passion by Bach. That last track is so good I tend to feel I have to lie down afterwards and contemplate the world whilst waiting for the hairs on the back of my neck to settle down. The album price is worth it just for that one track.

The accompaniment on this album varies from just lute (in the folk songs), organ lute and cello on the German baroque songs, the Ensemble 415 with Chiara Banchini and several full orchestras. There's something here for everyone and none of the tracks is in any way disappointing (although I have my favourites, of course). The album was produced in 2000 and of course Andreas Scholl has done many more recordings and probably become an even better singer since this album but it's still an excellent album which can be played and enjoyed over and over again.

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Best Introduction to the Best Countertenor of our time

This sampler album was done early in Scholl's career and showcases his voice doing various countertenor standards with the energy and passion of a young singer who was setting the musical world on its ear. This is an affordable compilation for anyone who might be curious as to what a countertenor is and anyone who buys it out of curiosity, as I did years ago, is in for a mind bending experience. Andreas Scholl is to countertenors what Pavarotti in his prime was to tenors; Scholl is unquestionably one of the greatest singers of this era. Highly recommended.

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reviews: page 1, 2



Tracks
But who may abide the day of His coming? | Sinfonia | Frondi tenere | Ombra mai f | Largo e sciolto. Cessate, omai cessate | Larghetto & Andante molto. Ah ch'infelice sempre | Andante. A voi dunque ricorro orridi specchi | Allegro. Nell'orrido albergo ricetto di pene | Agnus Dei | Eja mater, fons amoris | Fac ut ardeat | Amen | Di miei dardi possenti | Da quel strale che stilla veleno | Treues Echo | Erbarme dich

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