On the Breath of Angels: Baroque rhetoric from voice to cornetto

Hana Blažíková, Bruce Dickey and The Breathtaking Collective

Hana Blažíková, Bruce Dickey and The Breathtaking Collective in the Laeiszhalle

By Mengguang Huang, 10 April 2025

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“no longer simply in dialogue, but a moment of suspension in time”

Reviewed at Laeiszhalle: Großer Saal, Hamburg on 10 April 2025

“Carlo G”, Panis angelicus

“Carlo G”, Mater Hierusalem

Trombetti, Emendemus in melius à 5

d'India, Dilectus meus

d'India, Langue al vostro languir

“Carlo G”, Sicut sponsus matris

Cavalli, Vespero della Beata Vergine Maria (Sonata a 3)

Carissimi, Summi regis puerpera

Wachner, The Vision of the Archangels

Bononcini, Sinfonia

Bononcini, Il trionfo di Camilla: Se Ninfa o Dea tu sei

Bononcini, Il trionfo di Camilla: E’ pur ver ch’a soffrir

Bononcini, Sonate da chiesa a due violini (Sonata a 5, Op. 6)

Scarlatti, L’Emireno overo Il consiglio dell’ombra: Non pianger solo dolce usignuolo

Scarlatti, L’Emireno overo Il consiglio dell’ombra: Senti ch’io moro

Scarlatti, L’Emireno overo Il consiglio dell’ombra: Labbra gradite

Hana Blažíková, Soprano

Bruce Dickey, Cornetto

Breathtaking Collective

Ton Koopman’s ceremonial Bach at the Elbphilharmonie

Mengguang Huang, 23rd June

Ton Koopman’s Elbphilharmonie debut brings warmth, wit and stylistic brilliance to Bach’s festive cantatas, in a radiant Early Music season finale that balances ceremonial splendour with vivid, human-scale musicianship.

****1

A peerless St John Passion in Tokyo

Nahoko Gotoh, 4th February

In celebration of the 300th anniversary of Bach's St John Passion, Masaaki Suzuki and Bach Collegium Japan gives a compelling performance of the lesser-known 1725 version of work.

*****

Luxury casting in Aix for a radiantly transcendent St Matthew Passion

Stephen Pritchard, 2nd April

Even outstanding soloists had to wait their turn in this Rolls-Royce performance in Aix-en-Provence.

*****

Spiritually uplifting Bach from the Bach Collegium Japan

Andrew Larkin, 9th March

Three beautiful cantatas from Bach and his Mass in F major made for a rewarding concert with the Bach Collegium Japan. Suzuki directs a thoughtful and heartfelt rendition and is joined by a quartet of excellent soloists.

****1

Herreweghe achieves purity and unity in Bach's Mass in B minor

Nahoko Gotoh, 14th June

There are multiple ways of approaching Bach's Mass in B minor, from the one-to-a-part advocated by Joshua Rifkin to a more conventional large choral approach, and everything in between.

****1

Gardiner steps into his Ring of Cantatas in Leipzig

Stephen Pritchard, 8th June

A taste of the opening weekend in Leipzig’s marathon Bach Festival.

****1

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Mengguang Huang

Mengguang Huang is a Hamburg-based project manager in the construction industry. With a strong passion for classical music, he was introduced to the world of early music during his time in the UK, where he developed a particular fondness for renaissance and Baroque vocal music. Driven by his love for this genre, he now makes it a priority to attend major Baroque opera productions and concerts across Western Europe whenever possible, continuing to deepen his appreciation for this rich musical tradition.