Matthew Wadsworth, Carolyn Sampson - Robert Johnson: Away Delights - Lute Solos And Songs From Shakespeare's England (2004)

Matthew Wadsworth is one of the foremost lutenists of his generation. Since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in 1997, he has quickly gained recognition as one of leading exponents of the 17th-century lute repertoire. This includes the works of Robert Johnson, the last of the great English lutenists and the only known composer to have provided music for Shakespeare’s plays. Much of Johnson’s output is, remarkably, rarely recorded. On this CD, alongside well known songs such as Where the bee sucks and Care charming sleep, are many previously unrecorded masterpieces. Joining Matthew is soprano Carolyn Sampson, who has been described by The Gramophone as “now the best British early music soprano by quite some distance.”

Recorded October 2003 and April 2004, St. Mary's Church, South Creake, Norfolk