CD Review
J.S. Bach: Sacred Arias & Cantatas, David Daniels, countertenor
- Composer
- J.S. Bach
- Artist
- David Daniels, countertenor; The English Concert / Harry Bicket
- Label
- Virgin Classics
- Catalogue
- 50999 519037 2 5
- Reviewed by
- Ruth Squire
Countertenor David Daniels’ latest recital disc, the first for quite some time (four years), proves to be worth the wait. The recording is made up of sacred arias and cantatas of J.S. Bach. The opening two works, which have been taken from Bach’s Mass in B minor (Qui sedes and Agnus Dei), set an impressive standard for the remainder of the CD. The English Concert, under the direction of Harry Bicket, provide a beautiful accompaniment where voice and orchestra intertwine perfectly.
Each item has seemingly been treated with the utmost care and attention, Daniels is consistently clear in both his phrasing and diction; this is plainly repertoire on which he thrives. There is an enjoyable balance of works consisting of those with intimate chamber accompaniment (for example Es ist vollbracht from the St John Passion) and those with a larger, fuller sound (take for instance the beginning of Erbarm’s Gott!…Können Tränen from the St Matthew Passion). This provides an ideal way for Daniels to show the full range of his voice.
The second half of the disc has been given up to arias from three different cantatas, Ich habe genug (BWV82a), Vergnügte Ruh’, beliebte Seelenlust (BWV170) and Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd! (BWV208). Vergnügte Ruh’ seems especially uplifting after the serenity of Ich habe genug. Gramophone’s earlier comment that “Daniels’ heart-stopping countertenor voice is one of the marvels of our age and hardly needs much further description…” seems equally appropriate here.
About the performers
David Daniels is an American countertenor who, by the time of this 2008 release, had already built a recital and opera career spanning well over a decade, including regular appearances at major houses such as the Metropolitan Opera and Covent Garden. This disc followed a four-year gap since his previous solo recital recording, making it a notable return to the format rather than a routine annual release. The English Concert, the period-instrument orchestra accompanying him here, was founded by harpsichordist Trevor Pinnock in 1972 and has been directed by Harry Bicket, himself a harpsichordist and conductor specialising in Baroque and early Classical repertoire, since 2007, placing this recording near the start of Bicket’s tenure with the ensemble.
A note on this page
Originally published by Ruth Squire, recovered from mmmusic's own archive and reproduced here as the critic wrote it.
Questions about this recording
What's on this recording?
Sacred arias drawn from Bach's Mass in B minor and both surviving Passions (St John and St Matthew), plus complete arias from three cantatas, "Ich habe genug" (BWV82a), "Vergnügte Ruh', beliebte Seelenlust" (BWV170) and "Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd!" (BWV208).
Who is David Daniels?
An American countertenor whose recital career, by the time of this 2008 release, already spanned over a decade; this was his first solo recital disc in four years.
Who accompanies him on this recording?
The English Concert, a period-instrument ensemble, under the direction of Harry Bicket.
Is this recording still available to buy?
Yes, Virgin Classics' catalogue number 50999 519037 2 5 remains findable through classical retailers. We don't run an in-house shop, so we link out to Amazon and Discogs below.
