DOWLAND // 'In Darkness Let Me Dwell' by Alexander Chance and Toby Carr

Album release date → April 2023

Named Gramophone’s One to Watch and winner of the 2022 International Handel Singing Competition, Alexander Chance makes his recording debut on Linn. Drop not, mine eyes is a recital of English lute songs that soaks up the zeitgeist of the past couple of years to create a programme full of melancholic works by Dowland, Campion, Danyel, Purcell and others. If the ever-popular Dowland was readily prone to sadness, as exemplified by the pair I saw my lady weep and Flow, my tears, or indeed In darkness let me dwell, the polymath Thomas Campion favoured a more sober style, as shown in I care not for these ladies. Thomas Ford displays his more profane side here with Fair, sweet, cruel and What then is love. When it comes to melancholy, John Danyel’s Grief, keep within and Drop not, mine eyes are every bit as good as Dowland. The programme closes with Purcell, the other English Orpheus. Toby Carr provides sympathetic accompaniment on lute and theorbo.

#ClassicalMusic #OhMusic #LinnRecords

[gerdaziegler]

Magnificent! A voice like an ancient instrument. What a pleasure to listen!

[АндрейРешетин-гэ]

Прекрасно, Александр! Браво! Вы достойный сын Вашего божественного отца!!!

[achessjourney]

I've heard this song with Deller and Jaroussky before. First time I hear Toby and I'm very impressed.

[ayrtonfreitas]

I love this song, and your interpretation 😍

[ohmy]

Extraordinary music, suitable & exquisite playing & singing.

[reneburger]

Best version I've heard, including Jaroussky and Sting. Just enough emotion to express real acceptance, bravo!

[nickfosterxx]

Lyrics:
In darkness let me dwell; the ground shall sorrow be,
The roof despair, to bar all cheerful light from me;
The walls of marble black, that moist'ned still shall weep;
My music, hellish jarring sounds, to banish friendly sleep.
Thus, wedded to my woes, and bedded in my tomb,
O let me living die, till death doth come, till death doth come.

Second stanza included in the Coprario 1606 setting:

My dainties grief shall be, and tears my poisoned wine,
My sighs the air through which my panting heart shall pine,
My robes my mind shall suit exceeding blackest night,
My study shall be tragic thoughts sad fancy to delight,
Pale ghosts and frightful shades shall my acquaintance be:
O thus, my hapless joy, I haste to thee.

[from Wikipedia]

[ducdeblangis]

Le chanteur est sans doute un contre-ténor, magnifique!

[mariovalencia]

Preciosa voz de contratenor, me recuerda a los clásicos como Michael Chance o James Bowman. Enhorabuena 👏

[franbenitez]

castrati? the voice, reminds me of Farinelli

[el]

Quite ordinary performance.

Lack of dynamic variance, any sweetness. He looks and sounds bored singing it.