BRIEF:
Two Countertenors
Daniel Taylor, James Bowman with Theatre of
Early Music and soloists, actors
Walter Hall,
16th century and 17th century English songs: Robert Jones, John Dowland, John
Blow; Purcell's incidental music Abdelazer; lute solo Lachrimae;
a few sonnets by Shakespeare and Pierre de Ronsard; a new concerto after the
period style. Exhilarated. Fine combination of the music, musicians,
presentation and occasion. The overall style is three-folded: Renaissance
English, mid-Baroque English and contemporary à la Baroque --- a valid blend of
grass rooted originality, intimacy, profundity, grandiosity, theatricality and
humour. It's revealing that the Renaissance English lute songs are not unlike
Suzhou Pingtan 蘇州評彈. Thay are intimate
and profound, sometimes even humorous. On the other hand, Purcell's orchestral
music is fit for a king. Can we say that English music of the period is good
for people and royalty alike? The contemporary piece by the flutist / recorder
player Matthias Maute is a kind of tentative answer. Mr. Maute is an
extraordinarily handsome, vigorous and attractive man who has a very impressive
stage presence with his tall and manly frame, his waving grey hair and his
intense facial expression and physical movement. No less impressive is the ever
savvy Daniel Taylor. Audience is responsive. Mostly seniors as usual, sprinkles
of geeks or professionals, couple of homosexuals and of course, me myself.
Concert hall is really where I belong to? May I say that?
E-mail: ocanada2002@hotmail.com
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