Heinrich Schutz, Dietrich Buxtehude, Johann Christoph Bach, Franz Tunder, Giovanni Legrenzi, Giovanni Rovetta, Philipp Heinrich Erlebach, Ignazio Albertini, Andreas Scholl, Brian Franklin, Friederike Heumann, Markus Markl, Stephanie Pfister, Brigitte Gasser, Karl-Ernst Schroder, Pablo Valetti - Andreas Scholl - Kantate

Sublime is the only word for it. We're talking about the voice of countertenor Andreas Scholl--and you will be talking about it too, between many repeat plays of this outstanding disc, which deserves to win whatever awards are given this year for vocal performance. Although this magnificent program of German Baroque cantatas for solo voice and various accompaniments (including viols, lute, and harpsichord) has much to offer purely on the strength of its astonishingly beautiful music, it's the voice of Scholl, served by faultless musical instincts and unequalled technical facility, that elevates these mortal scores to the most rarefied realm of high art. Scholl's voice--which has no discernible register break--and his interpretive delivery have been accurately described as "seductive," "alluring," and "potent." You'll certainly find your own descriptive terms, but one thing is certain to be shared by all who listen to this disc: your CD library will grow in direct proportion to the number of Scholl discs in the catalog. --David Vernier Amazon.com

simply wonderful

This is an outstanding recording that does full justice to the beauty of German pre-Bach song. Scholl is unparalleled in the subtle way he treats every single song. The listener gets carried away by the different moods the tunes carry: once brooding and sad, other times very exuberant and full of joy. Having grown up with the music of Schutz and Buxtehude in a northern German medieval town, I have heard many weak renderings of this music that do not do justice to its inherent pious beauty. Scholl lets it sparkle and shine the way it deserves to be sung. December 20, 2000

Hypnotizing

This was my first Andreas Scholl CD, I purchased it immediately after hearing it played in a store. From the first listen over a year ago until now it still profoundly affects me. Alternatingly slow and brooding to more uptempo, the beautiful music and haunting voice are the perfect accompaniment to those moments of pensive introspection. August 28, 2000

Sublime truly is the word.

I loved Heroes, but this is my favorite Scholl collection so far. Alternatingly exuberant, forceful, and delicate, his enchanting voice is refined and controlled yet emotive. Countertenor fans will not be disappointed. July 6, 2000

Sold out in the shops

This is a beautiful collection of pre-Bach German sacred music, which probably has the distinction of being the first such to break into Classical charts. Clever programming and marketing by Harmonia Mundi obviously hasn't hurt any there, but this still remains a great disc.

Most of the tracks are well known and oft recorded, notably by Scholl's teacher Rene Jacobs. Schutz features three times (SWV307,308,348), Buxtehude twice (BuxWV76, Jubilate), along with two standards of the genre: JC Bach's Ach dass ich Wasser's g'nug, and Tunder's Ach Herr lass deine lieben Engelein. The only discoveries are Philipp Heinrich Erlebach 1657-1714: Wer sich dem Himmel ubergehen, and a protestant reworking of Rovetta's Salve Regina into Salve mi Jesu. The disc also features two short instrumental pieces by Legrenzi and Albertini.

The only weak point of the package is exactly that - the packaging. The CD comes in a transparent plastic sleeve and then has a trendy (Made in Italy) 3-leave card case with the booklet (as illustrated above.. the cover has Herr Scholl looking dapper in a white tie) hidden in an envelope at the back. Novelty apart this is no improvement on the usual CD case. Also the sleeve and booklet err in getting Rovetta (original composer of Salve mi Jesu) and Tunder (as above) mixed up. December 28, 1998

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