Emma Kirkby has enchanted audiences with her almost supernaturally clear and agile soprano ever since she first appeared on the Early Music scene in the 1970s. As the art of historically informed performance has become more and more widely appreciated, so has her style of singing to the extent that she was included in a listing of ‘the 20 greatest sopranos ever’ made by the BBC Music Magazine in 2007.

Released on the occasion of her 60th birthday, the present collection celebrates her collaboration with BIS and includes highly acclaimed performances of works from her repertoire such as Handel solo cantatas (with London Baroque) and Dowland songs (with Anthony Rooley and Jakob Lindberg) as well as pieces by less familiar composers, such as Ariosti and Amodei, de Lalande and Schimmelpfennig. This collection provides an opportunity to sample the work of an exceptional singer in all its variety.

The accompanying booklet includes a personal appreciation of the performer by music critic Brian Robins, as well as the texts – in the original languages with English translations where applicable – of all the works featured.

Artists

Emma Kirkby (soprano) with Jakob Lindberg (lute), Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord), Anthony Rooley (lute), Agnès Mellon (soprano), John Abberger (oboe), Thomas Georgi (viola d’amore), Lucas Harris (lute) & Mime Yamahiro Brinkmann (cello)

London Baroque, Royal Academy of Music Baroque Orchestra & Theatre of Early Music