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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
The German countertenor Andreas Scholl takes risks on his latest CD, Wayfaring Stranger, and not all of them pay off. It is a recording of 17 English-language folk songs, some of them very well known, such as "Down by the Salley Gardens" and "My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose". This is not usually a repertory tackled by classically trained singers who can sound prissy, but Scholl's clear, plaintive alto with its rich low notes and gentle top range is quite a plausible vehicle. "Wild Mountain Thyme" evokes real sadness while "Barbara Allen" aches with unhappy love. A surprise awaits in the ballad "Henry Martin" as Scholl uses his rough, nondescript baritone to identify the hero. It is rather a jolt. At least it is good to know his voice has actually broken. In this song, too feminine endings in the lyric fall clumsily on stressed beats. Scholl does nothing to counter the infelicity--English, of course, is not his mother tongue. In the beautiful title track that opens the disc, he sings endearingly of a "why-farring straincher". The accompaniments for various combinations of chamber orchestra, lute, dulcimer and harp tend to be slushy, sentimental and over-fussy. The bass uncomfortably parallels the tune in "Salley Gardens" and would have won a big red line through it in old-fashioned harmony classes. Still, on the whole this is a worthwhile disc. Scholl clearly loves the songs which he sings with great tenderness and deserves credit for his courage even where the experiment fails. --Rick Jones
Product Description
CD Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Bold words, this title, and we're fully aware of it. Though countertenor Andreas Scholl is better-known for his acclaimed rendering of pure classic (and, hence, does take risks at singing some classics in the British folk repertoire), his achievement on this cd remains largely flawless. To be true, other reviewers have dotted i's and crossed t's about Scholl's pronunciation, but to me, they just add a little spice to the traditional school in British singing. The selection of songs has been most carefully made and will not cease to strike you by its difference to the renderings you have so far been used to. The cd-box and musical notes are a gem.
My personal favourites are Wayfaring Stranger and the sublimely moving Salley Gardens. Will easily capture your ears and imagaination.
My personal favourites are Wayfaring Stranger and the sublimely moving Salley Gardens. Will easily capture your ears and imagaination.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By "2pinkshoes"
Format:Audio CD
as a singer myself, other singers rarely have me on the edge of my seat; but having heard andreas scholl at the proms, i had to buy some of his CDs immediately to experience more of the same.
this recording raises the hairs on one's neck with the purity & warmth of the vocal instrument; the meticulous and yet unmannered phrasing and the deceptive simplicity of delivery.
the pronounciation - well, yes. it's certainly idiosyncratic; but to me it's all part of the charm of this performance.
andreas scholl (for me) has more control and colour than any other counter tenor that i've ever heard. i would recommend to anyone and everyone.
this recording raises the hairs on one's neck with the purity & warmth of the vocal instrument; the meticulous and yet unmannered phrasing and the deceptive simplicity of delivery.
the pronounciation - well, yes. it's certainly idiosyncratic; but to me it's all part of the charm of this performance.
andreas scholl (for me) has more control and colour than any other counter tenor that i've ever heard. i would recommend to anyone and everyone.
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
I had never heard of 'countertenors' until 2 weeks ago. It was a wonderful discovery - this is a beautiful type of voice. Andreas Scholl is magnicent; his voice sounds almost medieval and pure, and the tunes he sings here are at once familiar and delightful, and intriguingly different. The songs are well-loved folk songs arranged in a sympathetic way. Scholl has a clear mastery over what he is doing and the result is deeply satifying and moving. The accompanying musicians likewise are just wonderful. It all seems so ethereal and... right. I'm a convert and recommend this to people who like classy, intelligent music. My parents are getting copies for Christmas as are friends my age (28) - I am convinced they will all be won over the beauty of it.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sophisticated beauty
This singing is new to me, having heard Andreas on the radio - this cd is beautiful sophistication. Just love it!
Published 2 months ago by Fussy Betty
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant couter-tenor
I've only come across Andreas Scholl recently, but the quality of his voice is superb, and this recording does him full justice. He's one of the best counter tenors in the world. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Anthony Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Captivating
This CD is worth buying for the track "Annie Laurie" alone. This is the song which introduced me to Andreas Scholl for the first time - I was entranced, completely blown away. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Blaumeise
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's like hearing them properly for the first time
Time to weigh in to the debate over this CD, which seems to have polarised opinion, and I'm casting my vote at the 5* end of the spectrum. Read more
Published on 7 Jun 2010 by T. Mason
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous Effort
In this collection Scholl delivers great English tunes with a pure flawless tone.
The orchestration is lush but still a real treat. Read more
The orchestration is lush but still a real treat. Read more
Published on 13 April 2010 by Graffhamboy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sublime
I've had this CD for years now, and I see there are people who seem to hate it and others who love it. Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2009 by Acoustica
2.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely voice - shame about the background music
His voice is incredible, his delivery immaculate, but the backing music on this cd is intrusive. cheesy and Disneyesque. Read more
Published on 6 July 2008 by Florence
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fromage
Cheese. Utter, utter, UTTER cheese.
Oh - but SUCH cheese!!! Buy it, just to hear him try and sing baritone and alto alternately.
Oh - but SUCH cheese!!! Buy it, just to hear him try and sing baritone and alto alternately.
Published on 23 July 2006 by J. Hutchings
2.0 out of 5 stars
A well intentioned mistake?
While folk music has provided a great deal of valuable inspiration for classical composers this album shows the dangers encountered when a classical singer tries to cross over and... Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2005 by PNL
1.0 out of 5 stars
What a Shame
Andreas Scholl has made reasonable recordings of English folk songs in the past (though he's not a patch on Alfred Deller in this repetoire). But this is horrible. Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2002 by Peter Piper
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