Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Antonio Caldara :: Matthew White - Italian Oratorios

A voice teacher and early music fan

George Peabody | Planet Earth | 12/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A RISING STAR FROM ACROSS THE BORDER (CANADA)!

Matthew White, Canadian countertenor produces an extraordinary performance in these excerpts from Italian Arias. His voice is strong and rich; his technique fluid, and his delivery confident. In part, this is a result of the repertoire, which is quite operatic and virtuosic. He delivers the opening Zelenka arias with golden sonority and soaring lines. But, in truth, he is aided by Zelenka's stylish, sophisticated, and very attractive music,which ranks among the finest of the genre, and is the best in this well-chosen program.



White also shows his stuff in the slower, more lyrical arias, such as Vivaldi's 'Noli o cara te adorantis' (Do not rebuff, o dearest) and Scarlatti's 'Perche momora il ruscello' as well as Zelenka's 'A Che ricerbano', with the sensitively set text 'Great God, the tears of a wretched Mother are asking for mercy' which is preceded and followed by some of the more exciting vocal writing (and performing) you'll ever hear!



As indicated in the liner notes, the three movements opening to Scarlatti's 'Cain, over il primo omicidio' (the first murder) is nothing less than a 'mini-concerto for solo violin', and Lamon's appropriately exciting interpretation sets the stage perfectly for White's enthralling vocalising in 4 widely varied arias selected from larger works.



CD 2 is a compilation bonus featuring 13 tracks from various 'Analekta' releases. It includes my personal favorite Bach aria 'Ich habe genug' featuring Matthew White.



These two discs contain a truly wonderful line-up of performers; talented, creative and entertaining, not the least of which is Matthew White."

The CD I want to lend to everyone . . .

George Peabody | 04/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

". . . except that it's the CD I don't want to lend to anyone. As masterful and elegant as anything you'll ever hear, but also highly accessible (in fact I caught my 18-year-old definitely-not-a-baroque-fan brother whistling the first Zelenka aria -- rather spiritedly, too -- after just one incidental hearing). Tafelmusik's playing is a pleasure throughout, for its trademark freshness and immediacy -- I especially enjoy Vivaldi's "String Concerto in C Major" on this disk -- and the arias practically seem to be made for Matthew White. From the lively brilliance of Zelenka, to the gentle "Noli o cara te adorantis" from Vivaldi's "Juditha triumphans" (the words are actually kind of sinister, but could you really cut off the head of anyone who sang to you like this?), to the whole varied set from A. Scarlatti's "Cain" (for pure beauty, just listen to "Miei genitori, addio"), you can only increasingly admire White's unerring musical sense and command -- and of course that stunning, lovely voice."