"Discovering the Italian style in
Handel
's London," reads the subtitle of this release by the historically oriented chamber ensemble
The Counterpoints
, and further: "discover why baroque composers were so fascinated by the Italian style." Some of the music here is not from
's time at all, and Italy as a source for new stylistic developments is a question with a larger scope than this album. If one is simply being invited to discover the riches of the Italian style in Baroque-era London,
delivers in spades. There are well-chosen instrumental sonatas by
Purcell
,
Geminiani
, and
, clearly showing the thread of development, and these are mixed in with some delightful vocal pieces by lesser-known composers. Sample the final work on the album, the aria
Farfalletta festosetta
("
Blissful Butterfly!
"), by
Maurice Greene
; with its wistful humor in the reading by soprano
Kristen Witmer
, it is just about worth the price of admission by itself. The instrumentalists of this new group are fetching indeed in the slow movements of the
and
sonatas, and they provide something that is often missing in Baroque music, namely a sense of humor; they ornament the music lightly in clever ways, and it feels idiomatic to the style. The freedom of the music is somewhat undercut by
Challenge Classics
' rather formal church sound. This wasn't music for churches, but the album offers a lovely collection of music containing items that will surprise even confirmed Baroque music lovers. ~ James Manheim