"Musical evening is worth the lute"

Emma Kirkby (Soprano) and Anthony Rooley (Lute) on 14 May 2008

Shropshire Star 17/05/08

Music from the Jacobean age at St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury

St Mary's Church was the venue for the final event in this year's season of concerts promoted by the Shropshire Music Trust, on Wednesday.

It featured soprano Emma Kirkby and lutenist Anthony Kooley, two of the world's greatest exponents of early music.

Mr Rooley prefaced their performances with an introduction to the thought and culture of the Jacobean age as well as a history of the lute, an instrument which is of Islamic origin and at least 800 years old.

The programme was called music of joy and music of mourning, assembled as two song cycles. In his playing, Mr Rooley aims to generate a sense of stillness, a way of making his audience aware of the spaces as well as the notes of the music.

The acoustics of the church were perfect for this and the listeners were silent throughout the performance.

The performers have a long history of live music making and recording, as was clear from their renderings of music by Dowland and Coperiano.

Dame Emma's voice has a clarity of diction and a purity of tone which are a delight - whether singing high notes or low, the quality is wonderful and Mr Rooley’s lute playing was of an equally high order.

In each half of the concert, Mr Rooley played a short, beautiful lute solo by the song’s composer.

The combined sound of voice and lute floated effortlessly up into the church yet the words of Dowland and Thomas Campion were always crystal clear.

This was an excellent conclusion to a well-planned concert season.

Andrew Fetch

Last Updated : 20/05/2008