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Label:
  Decca Classics - http://www.deccaclassics.com/
Serial:
  470 630-2
Title:
  Andreas Scholl: Arcadia
Description:
  "Arcadia" Arcangelo Corelli, Francesco Gasperini, Benedetto Marcello, Bernardo Pasquini, Alessandro Scarlatti

Andreas Scholl
Accademia Bizantina
Ottavio Dantone (director)
Track listing:
 
Genre:
  Classical - Vocal
Content:
  Stereo/Multichannel
Media:
  Hybrid
Recording type:
  PCM
Recording info:
  Recorded at Auditorium di Milano, Italy, 3-5 February, 2003

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Related titles: 4


 
Reviews: 1

Review by beardawgs April 5, 2004 (4 of 4 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
It’s a lovely disc, but there is not much extraordinary about it. As if Andreas Scholl is trying to rediscover himself in the similar manner as Cecilia Bartoli is doing with every single disc. He said in one of his interviews that she was the inspiration behind this concept, but somehow there is no sparkle in it, or maybe I was just expecting too much from him after a long recording break.

Scholl’s voice is in pristine condition, his vocal expression rather flat, and apart from the Scarlatti’s cantata, last on the disc, every singing item sounds more or less the same. Don’t get me wrong, it might not all be his fault, and the music is charming and lovely, but not really engaging in the manner of Handel’s much celebrated pieces from the same period. He is in perfect vocal control and I reckon that’s how he wanted this music to sound like, but somehow I don’t see members of the semi secret Arcadian society being terribly excited or elevated with this performance. His Italian is impeccable, phrasing appropriate, recitatives expressive and arias cantabile. But the spark is missing.

Accademia Bizantina also plays 3 purely instrumental interludes, they are fine period ensemble, very agile and virtuosic. They shine in short concertino a 7 by Corelli, while Scholl gives truly inspired and engaged performance in Scarlatti’s cantata that closes the disc, with several nicely produced ornaments.

I quite like the concept of the disc, but if this is the best from Arcadian archives, they must have had some pretty boring times with imaginary shepherds and nymphs. Everything here seems to be just adequate, and the recording is the same. Well focused and balanced, solo voice placed quite forward (adequately for this kind of music) but not too much in your face. There isn’t much coming from the back speakers in MC, but then if this music was meant to be performed outdoors, then it sounds ok. Maybe some birds singing in the distance? ;-)

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