Is it possible that a recorded performance could be too much of a good thing? Well, such an assessment probably would be unfair to a singer as gifted and in command of such astonishing technical skills as countertenor Philippe Jaroussky, so impressively exhibited on this surprising and thoroughly mesmerizing CD. While you may not have heard of this French singer, he’s part of a relatively new group of performers–calling themselves Ensemble Artaserse–who have recently joined to explore their mutual interests in “early 17th-century Italian music”. These songs by Benedetto Ferrari provide the perfect medium for Jaroussky’s art–and it’s quite formidable in both purity of tone and subtlety of expression as well as the near-inhuman technical feats he brandishes as naturally as breathing.
The melodies, accompanied by various instruments, including gamba, theorbo, and harp, demand an amazing capacity for ornamentation, for super-florid runs and whiplash-inducing turns–and Jaroussky conquers all with unruffled ease. If you enjoy countertenor singing, don’t miss this. Although the 14 selections are all very similar, along the way Jaroussky and his partners certainly will hold your interest–often astonishing you with their virtuosity–and will leave you impressed and eagerly awaiting their next release. The sound couldn’t be more complementary, and the notes provide substantial background on both music and performers, along with texts and translations. [8/9/2003]
