Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review
(6 customer reviews) 15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Great singing and excellent value for money,
September 19, 2004 JM Olmesdahl - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Purcell: Songs & Airs / Argenta, North, Boothby, Nicholson, Toll (Audio CD)
This is probably one of the best anthologies of Purcell songs around, and not just because it's two-for-one pricing means it contains twice as much music (CD1:74'24" & CD2: 77'41")! Nancy Argenta has an irrepressible sense of style and crystal clear diction. But unlike Emma Kirby, whose vocal purity can become tiresome, these renditions radiate warmth. She is also, I have found, more consistently involving than any one of the singers in Hyperion's three disc survey of Complete Secular Songs (recently reissued as a single set). One marvels at how she judiciously balances restraint and emotional forthrightness. The accompaniments (archlute, viola da gamba, harpsichord, and organ) are well judged and blend with the voice, all helped by an excellently defined recording acoustic. This is an absolute winner at any price!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
More than two hours of beautiful 17th century 'ayres',
August 1, 2001 Monkeytown (Clearwater, FL) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Purcell: Songs & Airs / Argenta, North, Boothby, Nicholson, Toll (Audio CD)
Two CDs, totaling more than 150 minutes of sparsely-arranged (never more than 3-5 instruments at a time), sweetly-sung, 350 year old 'ayres' (a typically English form of secular music). Nancy Argenta's soprano voice is lovely, silvery indeed as her name implies. The instruments are a discreet but friendly accompaniment to her solo voice. Perhaps the instruments are a little too discreet -- there are times when I wish they were a touch more prominent. But that is a very, very minor complaint. A beautiful collection, and quite well worth the money.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
PERFECT!,
October 25, 2006 V. FH "Victorio Emmanuel, Rè d'Italia" (RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Purcell: Songs & Airs / Argenta, North, Boothby, Nicholson, Toll (Audio CD)
There is only a word with which I can describe this set of discs: perfect!
The only flaw there is, is not related to the singing or playing: no text enclosed.
