Soprano Ruby Hughes, lutenist Jonas Nordberg and viola da gamba player Mime Yamahiro Brinkmann have released a captivating tribute to Renaissance composer John Dowland, marking the 400th anniversary of his death. The album, titled Amidst the Shades, features not only Dowland's works but also pieces by his contemporaries, Henry Purcell, and modern composers.
Hughes's voice retains a natural quality despite its refinement, skilfully captured in a close yet spacious recording. She colours each word individually, as in Dowland's Flow, My Tears, where she distinguishes between 'fear, and grief, and pain' as three separate emotions. The ensemble maintains a persuasive sense of line and focus, ensuring the expressivity communicates rather than indulges.
One of the most memorable tracks is a spellbinding version of the Corpus Christi Carol as set by Benjamin Britten. The album also includes four new or recent compositions based on Shakespeare's song lyrics by Deborah Pritchard, Errollyn Wallen, and Cheryl Frances-Hoad.
