Bach: Cantatas & Arias;

Tenor Ian Bostridge and Fabio Biondi, with his Europa Galante ensemble, collaborate in a hugely enjoyable program of J.S. Bach cantata arias (some transposed from their original settings) for tenor. The centerpiece is BWV 82, "Ich hab genug," more familiar in versions for bass or soprano. Here Bostridge poaches the soprano version and sings with vocal mastery and textual nuance. Throughout the varied program his effortlessly floating high register offers a sensuous touch rarely heard in most Bach performances, and it's matched by a rich, rounded sound throughout his range. Fortunately he reins in the overemoting that sometimes mars his lieder singing, while his sensitivity to the texts remains apparent everywhere. Most of the texts are about shucking off worldly cares for the glories of heaven, and the music, full of longing and hope, is often akin to a lover's pleas. Along with Bostridge's vocalism, Biondi's solos and the opulent tonal resources of his outstanding period band make this CD indispensable. --Dan Davis