La Sposa Dei Cantici
Acis, 2023
8/10
Listen to La Sposa Dei Cantici
The vocalists Meghan Lindsey, John Holiday, Jay Carter and Ryland Angel flesh out the work of Alessandro Scarlatti, where Matthew Dirst’s artistic directing and meticulous musicianship guide the large scale listen.
“Sinfonia, Largo-Presto” begins the affair with pretty and bare strings that abrupt into lively waves, which set the pace for “Sinfonia, Allegro” and "Se la fiamma che m’avviva", where the former emits bright instrumentation, and the latter welcomes Lindsay’s expressive and articulate pipes.
Further into Disc 1, "Ohime qual tormentosa" showcases tense bouts amid the melodic gestures, while "Ne’ chiusi Regni mie" meshes Carter and Angel’s countertenors for the rich and radiant album highlight.
The back half of the listen leads with the dancing strings of "Qual colomba al caro nido", where Lindsay’s animated pipes are quite playful, and "O voi, che l’universo" arrives later and allows Carter’s intimate voice to display poetic and dreamy song craft. The final piece, "Dolce nome, amato figlio", then pairs Linday’s soaring soprano vocals with Holiday’s warm countertenor alongside the upbeat and melodic string interaction.
The Ars Lyrica Ensemble are nothing short of stunning, here, and they certainly illuminate the powerful singing of this rarely heard work that captivates from beginning to end.
Travels well with: Matthew Robertson- Monteverdi Vespers Of 1610; Michele Kennedy- Agave: In Her Hands