von Otter: Music for a While (baroque melodies)

Amazing technical and expressive resources: the crescendo/decrescendo alternation during a legato is surprising. Joy, disdain for the world, intimacy, honesty. Although I love baroque, this is not my favorite. But for someone that enjoys vocal pieces, is a lover of technique, or likes baroque (and is not biased against the human voice, ahem, like me) this is an Archiv CD not to miss.

Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano
Jory Vinikour, Harpsichord & Chamber organ
Jakob Lindberg, theorbo, lute & baroque guitar
Ander Ericson, theorbo

Note: the booklet includes the lyrics.

Benedetto Ferrari

1. Amanti, io vi so dire

Girolamo Frescobaldi

2. Se l'aura spira

Giulio Caccini

3. Dovrò dunque morire

Claudio Monteverdi

4. Ecco di dolci raggi
5. Quel sguardo sdegnosetto
6. Adagiati, Poppea

Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger

7. La Capona
8. Arpeggiata

Barbara Strozzi

9. Udite, amanti

Bernardo Storace

10. Ciaccona

Henry Purcell

11. Saraband with Division
12. Sweeter than roses
13. Dear, pretty youth
14. Music for a while
15. There's not a swain
16. An Evening Hymn

John Dowland

17. In darkness let me dwell
18. Can she excuse my wrongs?
19. Weep you no more, sad fountains
20. What if I never speed?

Robert Johnson

21. Fantasia