by Kerryn Chan
The first sounds that struck my ears when I first heard this disc was the sheer beauty of Scholl's voice. His vocal instrument possesses and soon displays its clarity, power and interpretive colours. In one word, his voice can be classified simply as ravishing. ▶This album is also available at mid-price in the Harmonia Mundi Bach Edition (HMX 2951644, cover above). This German countertenor (b.1967) was trained under Ren?Jacobs and Emma Kirkby, the former a famous countertenor (now known for his conducting) and the latter a soprano, both recognised in their own rights as period specialists. Having come thus far from his successful debut recital at the Theatre Grevin in Paris, Scholl has recorded on numerous recordings with Jacobs, Philippe Herreweghe, William Christie, Christophe Coin, John Eliot Gardiner and Chiara Banchini. Scholl has been lauded as the countertenor extraordinaire from all corners; "The quality of his voice and the rare sensibility he seems invariably to show towards music and text are such as to win over the most ardent detractors of the art of the male falsetto." (Gramophone). I had plenty of difficulties in putting words on screen for this review. First and foremost of the reasons was the voice itself - faultless and seamless across registers, full, focused and yet warm. Next, being German, he sang through each word and imbued it with meaning and colour, and then strung the words to make completely beautiful phrases. This disc comes with a bonus second disc, featuring a varied programme of works in English, German, Italian and Latin. I was elated to hear Scholl's quiet and dignified delivery of "But who may abide the day of His coming?" from Handel's Messiah (the full set - reviewed here - is now available in a special budget-priced reissue). His English and Italian diction, like his first language German, is faultless. To fully appreciate the arresting beauty of Scholl's voice, one only has to hear King Henry on the bonus sampler disc; this is one of the few secular pieces that is highlighted in this set. This song, set simply in its barest and most naked form without any accompaniment, showcases the beautiful signature Scholl tones. Bach wrote three of his four cantatas for solo alto in Leipzig between 1723 and 1729 where he was Kantor of the Thomasschule. During this period, sometimes dubbed the "Cantata Years", Bach instructed the choirs of and provided music for the St.Thomas School, performing in the four principal churches in Leipzig. As with the usual practice of the time, the sacred cantatas written were to be performed on specific Sundays and services in these churches. The first cantata on the main menu, Cantata BWV 170: Vergn?te Ruh, Beliebte Seelenlust ("Contented rest, beloved heart's desire") opens to a lilting melody, not unlike "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring". Listen to the aria "Wie jammen mich doch die verkehrten Herzen" - when he sings the line "Ich zittre? ("I tremble?), he inflects the word "tremble" with a very quick trill that gives the right colour and nuance to the work and verse itself. Strings hail the opening of the second cantata, the shortest one amongst the three showcased here. In terms of colour, Cantata BWV 54: Widerstehe doch der S?de opens with dark tones, forewarning the message in the text. Whilst cantatas BWV35 and 170 deal with the theme of resurrection and the preference of death against living in the painful world without the presence of the Almighty, the alto bids us to be strong in the face of transgression! The second aria is florid and yet, Scholl carries it with steady grace. Timing is everything here; the imbalance between the orchestra and singer in any such instance can ruin a piece by appearing to run astray!
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Bach will not be proclaimed a genius if he had not been able to marry text to music successfully. As apparently captured in the selection here, there is no end for the study of Bach's genius - the way his music invokes mood and colour to further heighten the depth of the words of the text. Geist und Seele wird verwirret tells of the mind-boggling effect of God's creation and wonder. However, there is no celebratory trumpet hailing this amazement; yet we are constantly reminded this through the flowing accompaniment to the voice that "laughs" whilst telling us of the joyous world. There are numerous other instances when Scholl colours his voice upon inflection on certain words - "verwirret" ("bewildered") in the opening aria of Cantata 35, Geist und Seele wird verwirret, receives this same treatment. I have heard this disc over ten times now, and am still amazed with this voice: subtlety, beauty, interpretive colours, confidence, ease of production, naturalness of sound - you name it, Scholl's got it! It is no wonder that he has been likened to the great Arleen Auger. In true Herreweghe style, Scholl is accompanied with much grace and confidence by the Orchestre du Collegium Vocale, with the sound engineers securing excellent balance between orchestra and solo voice. The playing is extremely crisp and clean. Markus M?kl gives a brilliant organ performance in the opening concerto and the sinfonia of Cantata 35. I am looking forward to hearing more from this fabulous countertenor. Indeed, in the current fervour of the countertenor revival, pioneered by Alfred Deller and followed on by Michael Chance, James Bowman, Derek Lee Ragin and Drew Minter, Scholl stands tall with his peers Brian Asawa and David Daniels. He performed twice at the Sir Henry Wood Promenade Concerts in 1996, and had, on both occasions, the packed Purcell Room eating out from his hand. I would love to hear Scholl in operatic repertoire - I believe he would handle any of Handel's demanding operatic roles most comfortably, with his vocal capacity to run with much ease. Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice and Bellini's Capuletti ed Montecchi would be excellent dramatic and plump roles for him. Final quote from this humbled reviewer - go out and buy this disc. If you cannot buy it, beg, steal or borrow! You will not be disappointed, guaranteed!!! |