Hugh Cutting and Sergio Bucheli tug on our heartstrings with a cleverly crafted programme.
Sergio Bucheli & Hugh Cutting (Photo: Marc Eskenazi)
From ‘kind Amaryllis, the wanton country maid’ (Thomas Campion, ‘I care not for these ladies’) to ‘I love you, I love you, I love you, like never before’ (Fleetwood Mac, ‘Songbird’) this neatly planned recital traversed the many stages of love, every song given its special character by the countertenor du jour Hugh Cutting and the outstanding lutenist Sergio Bucheli. If the latter is a new name to most, his sound definitely isn’t for those who attend concerts by, among others, The English Concert, La Nuova Musica and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, who have all taken advantage of his exceptional virtuosity and expressiveness.
Hugh Cutting has won just about every major award going, including having been the first ever counter-tenor to win the Kathleen Ferrier prize, and it’s not hard to see and hear why given his dulcet, expressive tone and confident stage presence. Robert Johnson’s ‘Have you seen the bright lily grow’ was given nuanced phrasing and sensitive word portrayal, finely accompanied by Bucheli. Schumann’s ‘Wenn ich in deine Augen seh’ from Dichterliebe was an unusual choice in the midst of Renaissance and 20th century songs, but it bridged them beautifully and left you feeling that you’d like to hear more of the composer’s songs interpreted by this pair.
“…this neatly planned recital traversed the many stages of love…”
Campion’s ‘Never weather-beaten sail’ with its pleading ‘Oh, come quickly sweetest Lord, and take my soul to rest’ is a challenge for both lutenist and singer, and here both rose to it splendidly. Ireland’s poignant ‘Spring Sorrow’ with its heart-rending final line, ‘And my heart puts forth its pain’ was sung and played with ideal simplicity.
An enthusiastic audience was rewarded with the perfect encore in the shape of Handel’s ‘O Lord, whose Mercies numberless’ from Saul, played with hushed sincerity and sung with beautifully rounded tone.
Ripon Concerts are held in the acoustically splendid surroundings of Holy Trinity Church, and feature some of today’s outstanding musicians – readers may recall Beth Taylor’s superb recital here, and the next in the series brings Raphael Wallfisch playing Bach’s ‘cello suites.