I am pleased that Mimi Ezust has discovered the ultra-pure tones of Andreas
Scholl.
I first heard him when he sang Handel's "Ombra mai fu " with the London
Symphony Orchestra(!) during the "Gramophone" awards in October 1997.
Jaws dropped everywhere at the beauty of his singing. I then bought his
award-winning Harmonia Mundi disc of Vivaldi's "Stabat Mater" (HMC 901571
T4-7), much more grief-stricken than the recordings from stiff-upper-lip
British countertenors. This old BBC feature lists other recordings:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/artist/week925.shtml
His performance of the wise monarch in Handel's "Solomon" was a highlight
of the 1998 Promenade concerts - while the other Handel stalwarts sang
their roles with animation, six-foot Scholl stood there, immobile, and
emitted beautiful sounds. His acting skills have progressed since then.
James Kearney
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