Winter Dawn

Winter Dawn
Originally uploaded by tamaranth

Cold and clear: the winter weather I prefer.

[concert] Andreas Scholl and Philippe Jaroussky, Purcell arias, Barbican 7.12.10

Barbican listing
Guardian review

Two countertenors -- one German, one French -- plus one French early music ensemble (Jaroussky's band Ensemble Artaserse, on genuine period instruments if the frequent retuning was anything to go by) singing Purcell's quintessentially English songs, nicely arranged to flow into one another. The two singers have very different voices. Jaroussky, who I hadn't heard sing live before, has an incredibly agile voice and a vast range: Scholl's is deeper, darker, smoother and was considerably harder to make out from our nosebleed seats. (This may have been due to the Barbican's acoustics: I've been spoilt at the Festival Hall.) Some duets, some solos and a very funny reprise -- countertenor versus countertenor -- of 'Now the Night' as their final encore.

I could have done with some of the livelier Purcell numbers: there seemed to be rather too many plaints and not enough vivacity. But the music was lovely and the voices delightful.

I went home wanting to watch Farinelli again, just for the Baroque splendour of the costumes after Scholl and Jaroussky's staid grey suits and (sometimes rather cliched) gestures.

And could whoever was kicking the heating vent during the most restful moments please not.

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