Handel (CD)

Hille Perl is the most successful viola da gamba player of our time. Now she has found a fabulous combination of musician friends for her new Handel album: Dorothee Mields, one of the best baroque sopranos, along with lutenist Lee Santana and the redoubtable La Folia Barockorchester. Rarely has this varied and interesting repertoire been recorded at such high quality. The cantata of 1707 that gives the album it's title - Tra le fiamme (HWV 170) - unites the myth of Phoenix rising from the ashes and the Greek tale of Icarus and Daedalus. It thrills us with the great vivacity of it's music and it's impressive interplay of soprano and virtuoso viola da gamba. Cantata spagnuola (HWV 140), probably dating from the same year, employs a chitarra spagnuola (Spanish guitar) to give the work a fiery Hispanic tinge. It is also unique in exploiting the viol's triple function as a melody instrument, second vocal part and continuo instrument. Further interesting works are the cantata La bianca rosa (HWV 160c), the Sonata in G minor (HWV 364b), two chaconnes and a hornpipe for solo harpsichord. An impressive recording full of musical colour, dynamism, virtuosity and compositional diversity.