Time Warping

Les Violons du Roy is a magnificent chamber orchestra based in Quebec City. While playing on modern instruments, they use Baroque bows and bowing techniques. There is an energy to this group's playing that makes all of its performances transport the audience back in time. As the music critic for the Toronto Star said after their presentation of Messiah in Toronto it was convincingly authentic sounding. I was there and can only agree.

One of their most recent recordings has them paired with Vivica Genaux, the American mezzo soprano who is staking out a great international career in baroque repertoire. The CD presents Handel and Hasse arias. The discipline of the singer and the orchestra is perfectly matched with enthusiastic and joyful energy they have discovered in the arias.

The aria from Alcina is peerlessly performed. I last heard Jennifer Laramour sing this in the Chicago production of Alcina, and thought that was the finest baroque singing I had ever heard. This rendition at least matches that evening.

Next up from Les Violons du Roi is a new CD of Handel's Water Music in early November. I am looking forward to grabbing it as soon as it is available, not least because the work is the first piece of classical repertoire that I remember actually liking.