Festival diary: Bach cantatas for solo voice

he name was something of a misnomer as we got only two Bach cantatas, together with the second orchestral suite (the one flute and strings) and two cantatas by Buxtehude. That's the only thing I had issue with - well, apart from the acoustics (again), which masked a lot of the intricate counterpoint in the orchestral suite, particularly in the overture. The whole work was done with great verve, despite the overture still seeming far too long, no matter how many times I hear it.

The wonderfully-named Leonora Dawson-Bowling (the Sorceress in Dido) kicked things off beautifully with a moving rendition of the alto cantata Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust, after which Ben Carter got a disappointingly short moment in the spotlight singing Buxtehude's bass cantata Mein Herz ist bereit. I could have listened to him for much longer.

Rosamund Lee joined the other two for the other piece of Buxtehude (not hugely memorable) and brought the concert to an end with Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, in which - again, because of the acoustics - it was sometimes difficult to hear her over the trumpet. A great shame, because despite an occasional weakness on the highest notes (her earlier performance as Dido suggests she's more of a mezzo) her runs were something to be cherished.

Edinburgh Symphony Baroque's last concert as part of this year's Fringe Festival is Music for the coronation of George II at the Canongate Kirk (8pm, Sunday 21st August). Phone the Festival Fringe box office (0131 226 0000) for details.

(21st August 2005)

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