Volume 9 Issue 4 - December 2003

opportunities to develop his decidedly
flawed character. Laurent Nouri
- is magnificent, tenderly expressive
in the top notes of 'Sibilar l'angui',
and breathtaking in the notorious twoand-a-hal
f octave leaps of 'Fra
i 'ombre'. He is nimble and strong .
throughout his huge range, playing up
both the comedy and the danger.
When the buffoonish Polyphemus
shows up in the second act of Acis &
Galatea, he is already a lascivious,
murderous thug. Nathaniel Watson,
who delivers the great line 'I rage - I
melt - I burn' with effective irony,
gives a wonderfully characterized 'O
ruddier than the cherry'.
In Aci, Galatea e Polifemo, Aci is
a soprano - presumably the part was
written for a castrato. Sandrine Piau
is sublime in Aci's exquisite dying
aria, 'Verso gia !'alma'. As Acis,
tenor Marc Bleeke is compellingly
ardent, particularly delightful in the
air· 'Love in her eyes'.
Sµzie LeBlanc gives the Galatea
of Acis & Galatea an endearingly
plaintive quality, with depth and shading
enriching her sparkling soprano,
whereas gorgeous contralto Sara
Mingardo offers a wiser, less girlish
Galatea in Aci, Galatea e Polifemo.
Along with the soft-edged tenor
Marc Molomot as a shepherd
Damon, the soloists oi· Acis &
Galatea make a colourful, wellmatched
chorus.
Both ensembles play, on period instruments,
with verve, momentum
and dramatic style, led from the harpsichord
by their skilled leaders,
Emmanuelle Haim and Eric Milnes.
These two superb new recordings
are both well produced, with fine
booklet notes and librettos with
translations.
Pamela Margles
J.S. Bach: Leipsiger
Weichnachtskantaten
Collegium V ocale Gent, Philippe
Herreweghe
Harmonia Mundi HMC
801.781.82
J.S. Bach: Christmas .i1Jri
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