(4 / 5)

It would be another trip to London where I almost missed the transport to get me there. To add to this, Alice Coote who is a fine singer, had to bow out of this afternoon concert due to knee issues. I don’t recall ever seeing her before and this cocnert was hopefully the first.

I’ve no qualms with the replacement: that of Iestyn Davies & Sergio Bucheli. This most wonderful of recitals was a pinpoint in time and geography. I’ve interviewed Iestyn in the past and have always been taken with his counter-tenor. It is so pure and light, even the newer music he works on is thrilling. Though it is his look back to the baroque that is most potent, the time when the previous form of the singing range for men reached it zenith.

This splendid set of John Dowland, Purcell and more was so intimate, the hall became a clear space of tranquillity. Arias by Purcel define the early idea of Englishness in music, their openness shine through. ‘Lord, what is a man’ was one thoughtful highlight of many. The Toccata No. 6 on lute, from a rarer heard, Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger was incredibly touching. Bucheli had a solo and it was almost time travel to its bygone past, pianoissimo abound. Another Purcel and his ‘Sweeter than roses’ stood out, ‘O solitude, my sweetest choice’ had depth and longing in its extremity.

A contemporary turn from Nico Muhly (born 1981) with a selection of his 4 Traditonal Songs  seeing both artists each having solos. Perhaps the most profound was ‘The cruel mother’, a horrific story of infanticide, made moral threat of damnation. Certainly the most moving passage in this concert. The other extracts had skipping melodies and considerate charms. John Dowland’s ‘The Frog Galliard’ and ‘Flow, my tears’ were other swell choices in a programme that has no doubt been finely tuned, such was it’s eleventh hour offering. We don’t hear enough Dowland, its beauty is rare for the era, its listenablity an ease.

Ending with Handel and the Saul song O Lord, whose mercies numberless, gave us a fine way to wrap up, maybe more Handel in the future. The sincerity from the German born composer never wains. Iestyn proving how strong he is here and excelled, Bucheli remains a master of the lute, gentle and proud.

Listen to this concert on BBC Sounds.