This is a re-release of (what I believe was) Andreas Scholl’s first opera aria CD. At the time it annoyed me that almost half the recorded music was instrumental, and it still does; while it’s nice to have a suite from Radamisto and the ubiquitous concerto grosso from Alexander’s Feast so well played, I wanted more Scholl. What we do get from him is so ravishing that another hour wouldn’t have been too much. He’s not as overwhelming an artist as, say, David Daniels, and he keeps away from the trumpet versus voice showpieces, but his lovely coloratura in “Se in fiorito ameno prato” from Cesare, with its fanciful violin obbligato, makes its exquisite, bird-song point with real panache, and “Va tacito” from the same opera is firm and handsomely sung.
I doubt whether anyone will ever hear “Verdi prati” from Alcina formed more elegantly than Scholl forms it, and even Serse’s over-performed “Ombra mai fu” sounds beautiful and new. Scholl’s sound never tires the ear; the light vibrato adds color. He embellishes the vocal line tastefully and with an understated virtuosity (the instruments embellish as well–the horn has a field day in Cesare’s “Va tacito”). Despite my gripe about the preponderance of non-vocal music, this CD delights. A point or two has been taken from the rating because of Scholl’s absence–you’ll be buying for Scholl, you should get him.
