Purcell: Songs & Chamber Music / La Rêveuse

Henry Purcell

"Cease, anxious World"
Songs & Chamber Music

La Reveuse

Cease, anxious world, your fruitless pain Z362
A New Irish Tune Z646
Soft notes and gently raised (A Serenading Song) Z510
A New Ground in E minor, Z. T682
Amidst the shades and cool refreshing streams Z355
A Prince of glorious race, from Who can from joy refrain?
When first Amintas sued for a kiss
Here the deities approve, Z.339
Prelude
Trio Sonata, for violin, bass viol and organ, Z780
Sweeter than Roses
Ground in C minor, ZD221
Music for a while, Z583
Dear pretty youth
Sonata Terza
Plainte: O, Let Me Weep


Review @ The Independent

The faintest of French inflections on soprano Julie Hassler's Ts and Ds are tiny blemishes on this otherwise flawless recital of Purcell's songs and chamber music.

Hassler's pure tone, delicate decorations, easy phrasing and profound connection to the poetry are complemented by La Reveuse's ensemble of violins, triple harp, organ, harpsichord and theorbo. Chaconnes and passacaglias wind through the programme, presented first as keyboard solos, reappearing as songs and, then leading seamlessly into the music for strings. The impression is of a world in which joy slides into sadness, sadness into joy.
–Anna Picard

2008 Mirare 033