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‘…an
accompanied recitative introducing… another counter-tenor
to the series in the attractive and polished warmth of Timothy Travers-Brown' ‘The
main focus of attention, however, was counter-tenor Timothy Travers-Brown … none could dispute Mr Brown’s
consummate artistry which was quite breathtaking, nowhere more so than in "He Was Despised"’ 'The undoubted
highlight of the evening was alto Timothy Travers-Brown. He gave extra
dimension to his performance and displayed such an emotional range
(harbinger and
bewailer of the holocaust in scene three and triumphant hero in
his latter appearances) that I felt I was hearing the passages
for the first time. The
fact that he turned some of the weaker moments in the oratorio
into the most memorable is a testimony to this singer’s ability.' ‘Timothy Travers-Brown counter-tenor
rendition of J Pixell’s "When rising from the bed of death" justifies
the purchase of the disc alone…’ 'The soloists
were a fine group and sang well but Mr Travers-Brown was, for me star of the evening.
He has power in plenty but he also has a real feeling for words
and his "He was despised" was a most moving expression of grief and
sorrow.’ 'One of the most memorable moments of the evening came
when the counter-tenor Timothy Travers-Brown sang the Israelitish
Priest’s aria "Jehovah, sieh" (‘Father of Heav’n’) from the pulpit. The ‘candle’ he held aloft seeming to echo the lines’ reference
to the ‘Festival of Lights.’ He sang it gracefully and touchingly,
with a real sense of the import of the words. That so relatively
small a part could be so finely sung is indicative of the standards
to be expected from the London Handel Festival, and I warmly recommend
the events of the coming weeks: such a combination of glorious music,
fine soloists and a setting that has few equals for its evocative
atmosphere (check out the gold-embossed list of every Churchwarden
the place has had since its dedication in 1724, and ponder on where
Handel himself sat at prayer) ought to make London music lovers
proud.' |
