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The Reviewers Say...
Mignarda make the song wistful and reflective...turning a piece so familiar it's almost hackwork into something of heart-stopping beauty.
Ron Andrico's playing is superb, with a real understanding of pulse and tempo: when he plays a galliard or an almain you can dance the steps to it.
Stewart...is simply astonishing. Conversational, dramatic, or elegiac as the lyrics dictate, never out of balance with her accompanist, she decorates and varies as naturally as a sean nos singer, with perfect diction and a real concern to communicate the meaning of the words.
- Meic Goodyear, Lute News (UK)
Laden with elegance...an adventure in sound made all the more bewitching through the talents of Renaissance past-master Andrico and enchantress Stewart.
The Renaissance harmonies take on a surprisingly modern feel in Stewart’s rendition of the epic ballad of Helen of Troy from Horestes…[the] languid Willow Song, Desdemona’s famous lament from Othello, pulls at the heart strings -- as it surely was intended to do centuries ago.
- Bonner Cutting, Shakespeare Matters
Essential listening for any lute player interested in the late 15th/ early 16th century repertoire.
Donna Stewart sings these superbly, expertly negotiating the technical difficulties and bringing to life their refined but passionate emotion. Ron Andrico's lute gently interweaves the lower voices of the chansons. This involves some quite dextrous playing, but it always supports and never overwhelms the vocal part.
- Denys Stephens, Lute News (UK)
Donna Stewart is a mezzo with a clear yet rich voice that injects life and appeal into the most doleful pieces of Dowland. Sadness becomes meditation in her skillful tones. The lute, too, is a calming, reflective instrument, easily tinged with melancholy. Ron Andrico’s strong and sensitive performance brings out these qualities, while articulating the structure and tempo of the pieces with fine determination.
- Elizabeth Imlay, De Vere Society Newsletter (UK)
The duo have a peculiar talent for giving gentle and dreamy performances...yet never drifting into the realms of background music.
- Christopher Goodwin, Early Music (UK)
Ron Andrico's mastery of the lute puts him in the distinguished company of a handful of accomplished musicians. Their performance puts Sting to shame!!
- Russell Rucky, CD Baby customer review
The recording is superb, with Ms. Stewart's exquisite vocals lending an ethereal air to the delicate lute playing of Mr. Andrico. This CD is a treasure.
- Earl Showerman, Amazon customer review
Subtle and effective variety within an artistic unity…this CD reminds of how good these songs are just as musical sound. A very beautiful recording.
- Christopher Goodwin, Lute News (UK)
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