"Behold a virgin/O thou that tellest"Ian Howell Countertenor

A Montage of paintings by Flemish artist Jan Van Eyck (1385-1441) set to music from a live performance of Handel's Messiah. There is no live concert video in this movie, but please enjoy these wonderful images on the themes of the annunciation, the virgin with child, and the adoration of the lamb.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ian
• Howell
• countertenor
• Handel
• Messiah
• New
• Haven
• tellest
• baroque
• scholl
• david
• daniels
• larry
• zazzo
• michael
• chance

[classyteacherdiva]

I have listened to this at least two dozen times! This is THE most marvelous, innovative rendering I have ever heard. You are giving David Daniels a true run for the money. I would like to know more about your background and how long you have been singing.

Someone made a comment that you had slurs--I don't know what he was talking about.  Sounds like a hater.

Ian, from one fellow musician to another, may I ask how you came up with the rendition you did on the video?

[ianthecountertenor]

(cont')

The interpretation is basically mine. I've known this song since I was a kid, and have assimilated many opinions re: ornaments, tempi, etc... This was a live recording with a group in New Haven, CT, USA.

I've studied with David Daniels, and am flattered that you would make the comparision.

Thanks for listening!

Be well,

~ian

[mogemoets]

This IS a fantastic rendering!

Ian is marvelous!

I LOVE the << lack >> of vibrato....

I wrote----on another site---that "Vibrato is like VOODOO-----nobody should us it---if he/she can't CONTROL it-----because----it'll get AWAY from you and RUIN EVERYHTHING!"

Martin

[ianthecountertenor]

Hi martin,

I'm glad you like this recording.

I wouldn't say, however, that I sing without vibrato. The sound is spinning and vibrating, and certainly is not held. We don't, IMHO, make a big enough distinction between bad vibrato and healthy vibrato!

~ian

[ianthecountertenor]

Hi nfahring,

I do not have any major label solo disks out, however that is all going to change soon. I am scheduled to record BWV 170, D. Scarlatti's "Salve Regina," and an assortment of Handel opera and oratorio arias with the west coast orchestra The American Bach Soloists. The sessions are April of 2008 with a release in the Fall? Not sure when yet.

I can be heard on 7 CDs and one DVD with Chanticleer (everything released from 2001-2005).

be well,

Ian

ianhowellcountertenor(dot)com

[loshem]

you truly have a gifted voice. I love watching your recitals. I was wondering, have you ever done a Bach Passion? If not I think you would be great for it, and f you have.... then I bet you were great in it.

[ianthecountertenor]

I did the St John a few months ago. Es ist vollbracht is one of my favorite arias!

[looterish]

Ian, this is wonderful stuff! Is there a complete recording available of this performance?

[jpblagoeva]

Divine!

[brownmullins]

This is as perfect as I have heard...perfect pitch is a gift. Beautiful, delicate as it should be. I cried.

[haygraphics]

This is fabulous Ian. i was fortunate enough to see you're performance with Orchestra London in their production of Giulio Cesare and was blown away.

Anyone who gets the chance to see you perform live should do it. The recordings are great but they don't do full justice to the richness of your voice. Your performance in 'Cesare' was chilling but the warmth of your tone retained of the character's humanity even through the depths of his depravity.

Great to find this.

Brian

[glorialeeyoung8]

Ian,

Do you have any more solo's from the Messiah on You Tube.

I once had a video many years ago where the music was all

done by men countenors doing all that we have usually thought

to be female parts and it was absolutely lovely.

This was so inspiring and I feel this work by Handel

to be so inspiring and it is a shame that it isn't even

played on PBS anymore.

[meesterschilders]

placed into my playlist of Jan van Eyck, thank you

[GoddessElvina]

Jean Harlowe, Mother Theresa I think we are getting warmer....

[GoddessElvina]

Such beauty & purity of ours before the conflict. She is not the Virgin Mary. The Next Virgin out of Elizabeth captured by the Angels. No mother of Christ likely Emmanuel indeed. Possibly of ArchAngel Michael & then you see his unwitting repremand for the Virgin Mary. Rapsody's Flame the sacred Pagan unio. The cleft in her chin........

All behold our love & our divide!

[olialto7]

I don't think Ian Howell's voice is that similar to Scholl or Daniels. I would say it's more similar to Daniel Taylor's, but somewhat fuller and warmer, rather like an American Michael Chance (now that is a compliment!) before he started singing all those high notes and made his lower register disappear.

[reginajulianna]

Beautiful video.