Bach: Agnus Dei / Alfred Deller

This recording was made in 1954. Alfred Deller was introduced in Japan as a pioneer of countertenor music by NHK FM and other radio stations. Today, counter tenors are no longer rare, but at that time, they were regarded as something quite strange. Deller sings Dowland, Purcell, Bach, etc. in this record here. His co-stars include Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Gustav Leonhardt, Eduard Melkus, Michel Piguet, and many other prominent figures of the past. Two solo cantatas for alto from Bach’s church cantatas are included. As one might expect, they sound old-fashioned, but they are good. I like especially Deller’s performances of Dowland’s Lute Songs and Purcell’s pieces. He also recordes Couperin’s Lecons de Tenebres, which is a surprisingly good performance. What is most notable about Deller’s singing is its dynamic range. The skillful shifts from fortissimo to pianissimo are very natural. #baroque #bach #片山俊幸