Bach: Alto Cantatas Vol.2

Iestyn Davies at recording sessions, October 2020. Image (c) Julian Forbes

Following their first Gramophone Award-winning recording of Bach’s cantatas for solo alto, Arcangelo and Iestyn Davies reunite to complete their survey with cantatas BWV35 and BWV169, richly-orchestrated works which also feature extensive writing for solo organ. Also presented are intimate confessional works by Bach’s two great Germanic forebears, Heinrich Schütz and Dietrich Buxtehude. 

Featured works

• Bach: Cantata BWV169 ‘Gott soll allein mein Herze haben’
• Schütz: Erbarm dich mein, O Herre Gott SWV447
• Buxtehude: Klaglied ‘Muß der Tod denn auch entbinden’ BuxWV 76 / 2
• Bach: Cantata BWV35 ‘Geist und Seele wird verwirret’

Press & Praise

RECORD OF THE WEEK, BBC RADIO 3

“A lovely recording, effectively balanced, all the busy instrumental lines framing the solo voice.”

PIZZICATO.LU

“Arcangelos fein differenzierter, transparenter und wunderbar beschwingter Ensembleklang bieten den idealen Nährboden für Davies’ kunstvollen,  beglückenden Gesang. Sein Gesang hat ausdrucksstarke Farben, und die Koloraturen erklingen mühelos und leicht.”

LIMELIGHT MAGAZINE

“Davies might be the headliner, but there’s a scene-stealing turn in both cantatas from organist Tom Foster, whose opening Sinfonias (organ concertos in disguise) dazzle and burst with bell-like freshness and vigour. He’s not alone; the whole ensemble bounds and romps under Cohen’s direction, Leo Duarte’s oboe da caccia and a pair of viola da gambas (Kinga Gaborjani and Reiko Ichise) periodically grounding the brilliance with their grit and bite.”

MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL

“These radiant performances are superlative in every way. Iestyn Davies’ stylish and idiomatic renderings of these masterful scores are enhanced by the beauty and technical dexterity of his exceptional voice. His wonderful contributions are complemented by the outstanding partnership of Arcangelo, under the inspirational direction of Jonathan Cohen. It’s a match made in heaven. Hyperion’s stunning sonics are the icing on the cake.”