Classical Concert Reviews Cinci

What a treat to hear @sevenhillsbaroque perform an all-vocal program of familiar music and otherwise unknown works from the 15th to 18th centuries in the gorgeous acoustics of Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church in Newport, KY under the collective title Singing through Life’s Journey. Performed by soprano Olivia Knutsen, alto Rachael Bell, tenor Eric Riedel and bass Stephen Michael Hanna assisted by lutenist Christopher Wilkie and cellist Dr. Joshua Bermudez, the musical variety the program provided stretched from charming French chansons to lusciously-voiced Italian madrigals to powerful English songs and sacred music.
Prominent highlights of the first two repertoire styles included an obscure, yet fun, Song of the Birds by Clément Jannequin which evoked the innocence and spry wit prevalent in one’s childhood and a set of six madrigals exploring the eccentricities and power of youth and love by Maddalena Casulana, the first female Italian Rennaisance composer to publish a collection of her own music. Rarely have I heard a group of voices as the one assembled today sing with such a polished sound a repertoire that other ensembles might otherwise ignore. Fine solo performances were also provided by cellist Bermudez and theorbo player Wilkie of works by Johann Sebastian Bach and his direct contemporary Sylvius Leopold Weiss.
Solo vocal performances scattered throughout the second half of the program were equally sublime, including Henry Purcell’s solo song If Musick Be the Food of Love, John Dowland’s Flow my teares and the final duet, Pur ti miro, from Claudio Monteverdi’s opera L’incorronszione di Poppea, gorgeously sung by Knutsen and Bell. It is fair to say that both of their voices are so effervescent and pure that the meaning of the text sung is conveyed in a heart achingly tender way as to generate tears from audiences.
What a joy it is to have a group like Seven Hills Baroque in Cincinnati to bless audiences with such an outstanding level of musicianship. I eagerly anticipate what is to come next from this group later in the year and into next season.