SearchsearchUseruser

Honey from the Hive: Songs by John Dowland - Kirkby / Rooley

Honey from the Hive: Songs by John Dowland - Kirkby / Rooley

BIS  BIS-SACD-1475

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Vocal


"Honey from the Hive, Songs by John Dowland"

Emma Kirkby
Anthony Rooley


If the court of Elizabeth I could be compared to a bee-hive, John Dowland was one of its workers, tirelessly bringing in news from the Continent which he constantly visited, and as tirelessly producing the spiritual sustenance vital for the court's existence. It is this honey that Emma Kirkby and Anthony Rooley have gathered in an imaginative recital that focuses on Dowland's relationship to his various patrons – among them Elizabeth I and the Earl of Essex.

Ever since the 1970s Dowland has been a constant companion and golden thread for Emma Kirkby and Anthony Rooley, both as members of The Consort of Musicke, and in their separate careers. Now they return to him together, and their pleasure in doing so is evident. In her opening notes, Emma Kirkby explains why this music continues to fascinate her: 'It speaks of anguish, delight and ineffable beauty, allowing the singer freedom to embody thoughts and emotions which listeners have recognized and shared ever since! Is it any wonder that returning to Dowland always feels like coming home?' And in his liner notes, Rooley describes how Dowland responded to his patron's – 'sometimes with humour, or with pathos, or in complex narrative, but anyway, always with creative dialogue' – and relishes the opportunity of recording 'a "mature Dowland", revisiting works known and loved for more than 35 years.'

Kirkby and Rooley first appeared together on a BIS disc in 1985, performing madrigals from the court of Christian IV of Denmark (incidentally another of Dowland's patrons) and their most recent collaboration was on Classical Kirkby – a disc which one reviewer described as 'essential listening for all admirers of English song.' Extending the invitation to all music-lovers, the same applies to the present disc!

Support this site by purchasing from these vendors using the paid links below.
As an Amazon Associate HRAudio.net earns from qualifying purchases.

bol.com
 
jpc
Presto

 

Add to your wish list | library

 

7 of 7 recommend this, would you recommend it?  yes | no

All
show
Recording
show
hide
PCM recording
Reviews (1)
show
hide

Review by John Broggio - July 26, 2006

The disc is grouped into four parts, mirroring the material that patrons who inspired (but sometimes neglected to pay!) Dowland. First, we have three songs written for the Earl of Essex (the third provides the title) which is followed by perhaps, in six songs, the most inspired and moving music on this disc for Lucy, Countess of Bedford. A set of seven songs for Queen Elizabeth provides some relief before a group of three songs for Sir Henry Lee rounds out the balance of this highly creative compilation of Dowland's songs.

Emma Kirkby provides an introduction to this disc in which she says:
"the name of Dowland... speaks of anguish, delight and ineffable beauty.", "Lanna church, the perfect recording venue for this repertoire... its acoustics, and the surrounding silence, are like velvet."

On both counts I have to wholeheartedly agree as Kirkby, Rooley (who will be familiar to many from his work with Consort of Musicke) and the BIS team have captured this music & acoustic to what must surely be judged as perfection - the high degree of expression is not in the least self-regarding or irritating. Age has been kind to Kirkby and her radiant voice shines as brightly as ever. To Kirkby;s comments I can add that the music itself is almost unbearably poignant at times and is a model of what word-painting can achieve.

Quite simply, this is a beautiful disc.

(Purchased)

Copyright © 2006 John Broggio and HRAudio.net

Performance:

Sonics (Multichannel):

stars stars