Acclaimed countertenor
David Daniels offers up an interestingly mixed bag of material on this recital disc, on which he is accompanied solely by classical guitarist
Craig Ogden. The program features such predictable fare as Renaissance countertenor songs by
John Dowland (the gorgeous warhorses "Come Again, My Love" and "Flow, My Tears"), a handful of Bellini arias, and settings of "Ave Maria" by both
Bach and, inevitably,
Schubert. But it also includes more unusual material, such as the rarely recorded
Leonard Bernstein compositions "So Pretty" and "Simple Song," a lovely arrangement of
Harold Arlen's jazz standard "My Shining Hour," and an even lovelier arrangement of the folk song "Shenandoah." Everything is beautifully performed -- and
Ogden deserves special praise for the elegance of his arrangements and his sympathy as an acocmpanist -- but when
Daniels moves from his chest voice into the countertenor range, that's when he really shines. If you thought you never needed to hear "Come Again, Sweet Love" again, his limpid and heartfelt rendition will change your mind. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson