Danielle de Niese, The English Concert, Harry Bicket - Beauty Of The Baroque (2011)

Soprano Danielle de Niese gives her boundless energy to this album of all-Baroque arias. Her warm sound and rich timbre are her hallmarks, along with her lively stage presence, as those who have seen her performances can attest. These qualities are unmistakably evident here. In "Let the bright Seraphim" the music never sags or lags anywhere, for she feels it. Sometimes, however, de Niese gets overdramatic when it is not necessary. "Come again" shows that her emotions are genuine and not manufactured, but the excess becomes distracting. Her vibrato is fast, and sometimes the voice thins out in it, as well as in the melismas (which are, to her credit, on time and in place). It is when she exercises restraint and has longer, lyrical lines that she is at her best on this album. "Thy hand, Belinda… When I am laid in earth" is one example where it's easy to hear the beauty of her voice. The same goes for "Heart, the seat of soft delight," which has a lovely smoothness and a mature sound. She exercises good control in the melismas, and the result is a gem of an aria. Her duets with countertenor Andreas Scholl are all solid and well done. The purity of their voices matches well, as one can hear in both Monteverdi arias, and Pergolesi's Stabat mater (with its heartbreakingly beautiful string introduction) is simply gorgeous thanks to perfect control in both voices. One could conclude that de Niese's straight tones are also her forte. Supporting the voices is the musically solid, graceful ensemble, the English Concert under the direction of Harry Bicket, whose understated elegance deserves praise. De Niese saves the best for last: two arias from Bach's cantatas. Here, de Niese is like a different artist; it is instantly clear that the German repertoire suits her wonderfully. In "Sich üben im Lieben" she captures a perfect bouncing rhythm and accents, and one truly feels her emotion; compared to other pieces where she seems to be emoting dramatically, this piece moves the listener. "Schäfe können sicher weiden" also demonstrates this emotional honesty, and recalls Kathleen Battle in its sweetness; it is like a pastoral breath of fresh air. De Niese is a veteran singer and performer, but at the time of this 2012 album, it is probably fair to say that she is still developing and is likely to grow into an even more impressive artist.