The Virtuoso Handel: Cantatas and Sonatas.

The Virtuoso Handel: Cantatas and sonatas. Patrice Michaels, soprano; John Mark Rozendaal, Chicago Baroque Ensemble. Cedille Records CDR 90000 057.

If The $ensible Sound gave ratings to discs for their sound quality, this one would get five stars, 10 out of 10, top-of-the-pile. I know I've said this before but it bears repeating: Cedille is making some of the best-sounding recordings in the business right now. Part of that credit must go, as always, to engineer Bill Maylone. If he were here I'd shake his hand for providing me with so many hours of sonic enjoyment. The sound of the Chicago Baroque Ensemble, a small group of six musicians playing on period instruments, plus Patrice Michaels, soprano, is as natural as can probably be achieved in the confines of a home living room. The group is not so close that they spread from speaker to speaker but more centered as they might be at a reasonable distance from the audience in a live environment. The instrumental sound is clear and detailed without being overly bright or analytical. The voice is realistic and well placed in the surrounding acoustic. It's simply as perfect a recording of this or any ensemble as one could hope for.

As to the music, well, to be frank, one Handel cantata sounds about like every other Handel cantata to me. Ms. Michaels' singing is sweet and pure throughout and her accompaniment is lucid and supportive. The cantatas involved are "Un' alma innamorata,' quite lovely; "Chi rapi la pace al core?," and "la Lucrezia." The Sonata in C for Viola de Gamba and Harpsichord and several other short instrumental pieces round out the program. Suffice it to say it's all beautiful music beautifully rendered both by the musicianship and the engineering. Highest recommendations.