Tess Knighton

More Iberian discoveries

tions and abounds in affective chromaticism and dissonance. It also exploits the full vocal range of the accomplished singers on this disc. In particular, soprano Margaret Hunter and tenor Aaron Sheehan produce a moving performance of Domine ne in furore, with idiomatic phrasing and ornamentation. The rich, dark tone of Daniela Tosic is ideal for De profundis clamavi, although intonation is occasionally an issue. Intonation is more of a problem in the performance of Domine exaudi orationem meam, where Cristi Catt is wayward and occasionally rather shrill. There is also some rather sour tuning from the Baroque flute of Na’ama Lion here, though she produces some sensitive playing later in Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre’s A major sonata (originally published for violin, but here convincingly transferred to the flute). With these minor reservations, this is nevertheless a most interesting disc of a neglected figure and the strong advocacy of La Donna Musicale is impressive. Another Baroque collection of psalms, the Psalmodia Vespertina by the Roman composer Francesco Foggia, features on a recording by the young German ensemble CappellAntiquA, Foggia: Psalms (Divox CDX 70207, rec 2002, 580). This live recording, taken from two concerts performed in Bern in 2002, presents five vesper psalms in a quasi-liturgical reconstruction, complete with plainsong antiphons, a Salve regina and an extra-liturgical motet, Gaudent in caelis, together with a hymn by Domenico Massenzio. After a slightly slow start, this recording really gets into its stride with the psalms, written entirely in concertato style. These are very thoughtful performances, with careful attention paid to contrasting dynamic effects and in particular the use of echo—evidence of the scrupulous direction of the group’s conductor Bernhard Pfammatter. The voices are well balanced, equally effective in the tutti passages as well as in the intricate solo work. I enjoyed most the singing of the two sopranos, Maria Schmid and Ulrike Hofbauer, who produce some exquisite and highly expressive performances in the duets of Beati omnes (a substitute for the normal psalm Beatus vir). Schmid also excels in the solo motet De valle lacrimarum. Here, the many contrasting passages, ranging in a matter of seconds from fast furioso runs to almost pastoral lyricism, are superbly portrayed. She plucks high notes seemingly out of the air at the starts of phrases with bell-like purity of tone, and her phrasing and ornamentation are instinctively idiomatic. Although perhaps the high point of the disc, it nevertheless reflects the considerable level of stylistic understanding and musicianship that is evident throughout the whole recording. A very fine disc. The Consort of Musicke are more experienced exponents of 17th-century vocal music and they demonstrate their ‘ardent enthusiasm for the obscure’ (to quote their booklet notes) with their disc Jan Baptist Verrijt: Flammae divinae (NM Classics 92076, rec 2000, 610). This consists of motets from Verrijt’s sole surviving publication, the Flammae divinae, op.5. (His opp.1–4, comprising some canzoni amorosi, instrumental dances and another collection of motets, have unfortunately been lost.) The motets are either duets or trios, and, according to Lees Vlaardingerboek’s informative notes, were probably intended for use in Roman Catholic churches in the Southern Netherlands or clandestine services in the predominantly Protestant republic. Verrijt makes considerable demands on his singers; hear, for example, the cruel upward scale for one of the tenors on the word ‘Bethlehem’ in Currite, pastores. The singers are well up to the challenge, however. The opening soprano duet O mediatrix Domina finds Emma Kirkby and Evelyn Tubb on particularly good form, vying with each other in the overlapping lines and searing suspensions. Tenors Joseph Cornwell and Andrew King are perhaps not quite as well matched, but there is some rich, impressive singing from alto Lucy Ballard, and bass Simon Grant. The former is an expressive singer with rich tone throughout the wide vocal range that Verrijt demands. Again, another strong disc.