Vocal nominations

Handel Italian Cantatas

Sabine Devieilhe (soprano), Lea Desandre (mezzo); Le Concert d’astrée/haïm

Erato 9029563362

Reviewed February 2019

Composed during Handel’s Italian sojourn, these highly-charged cantatas depict the fluctuating emotional states of their tormented female characters, brought to life with thrilling energy by these two singers.

The orchestral playing is also exceptionally vivid. As dramatic as any opera.

Si J’ai Aimé

Songs by Saint-saëns, Bordes, Berlioz, Dubois, Massenet et al Sandrine Piau (soprano); Le Concert de la Loge/julien Chauvin

Alpha Classics ALPHA 445

Reviewed Feb 2019

The title may be Si J’ai Aimé (If I loved), but there is no ‘if’ about it, for this colourful bouquet of 19th-century French orchestral songs is utterly adorable throughout. With soprano Sandrine Piau in sublime voice, you will want to play this disc of littleknown gems again and again.

Janá ek

The Diary of One Who Disappeared; Ríkadla; Moravian

Folk Poetry in Songs

Nicky Spence (tenor), Julius Drake (piano); Václava Housková (mezzo), VOICE, Victoria Samek (clarinet) Hyperion CDA 68282 Reviewed September 2019

Janá ek’s song-cycle tells of forbidden love with an immediacy that demands extraordinary responses, and Nicky Spence offers all the ardent urgency, obsessive desperation and sweet vulnerability it needs. Julius Drake’ s piano playing communicates with just as much power, beauty and subtlety.