ED2016 4/5 Reviews ED2016 Music Reviews

Music Of Dowland, Purcell And The Stuarts (Part One) (James Laing, Susanna Pell, James Akers)

By | Published on Tuesday 16 August 2016

Music of Dowland Ed2016

The purity of counter tenor James Laing’s voice was a rare and wondrous thing; even rarer were the historical stringed instruments –Susanna Pell on bass viol and Jame Akers on theorbo – that accompanied him, in John Dowland’s songs and solo lute music. Counter tenor, the highest of the male voices, conveyed perfectly the melancholy love songs that made John Dowland the pop star of the Stuart Court. The concert began with Dowland’s biggest hit, ‘Flow My Tears’, which established his reputation for sad songs so permanently that the composer joked he was “semper dolens” (always sorrowing). And so, through the centuries, it has proven to be true. This was a treat for admirers of early music, even those not crossed in love!

St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, 10 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Louise Rodgers]



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