Search - Canzona;Philippa Hyde - soprano;Rodrigo del Pozo - haut-contre;Peter Harvey - bass;Canzona :: Andre Campra: Motets

An absolute delight

scott | Calgary, Canada | 01/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Even though Campra is one of the lesser-known French baroque composers, he was a very gifted musician, and these petits motets bare that out. They are idiomatic to the French style, full of grace and charm. Most of these motets are for solo voices, but there are a few for two and three as well. Some call of continuo accompaniment, while others require obbligato violins or flutes.



The performance by Canzona is top-notch, especially the singers. Peter Harvey is a well known specialist in the French baroque repetoire, and he is up to his usual high standards here. Less familiar is Rodrigo del Pozo who is a true haute-contre. His voice is quite light, and he sings well into the alto range without strain. He has become one of my favorite singers. Also relatively unknown is Phillipa Hyde, but she too has a very fine voice with minimal vibrato and terrific control.



Campra's music is well worth knowing, and these motets would be a welcome addition to the collection of anyone who enjoys Couperin, Delalande or Lully."