Andreas Scholl, Handel: Oh Lord, Whose Mercies Numberless

[ See 2 Esswood interpretations back-to-back on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqg7NQYmoPI ] Perfect opportunity to compare interpretations by outstanding countertenors Andreas Scholl and Paul Esswood (an earlier video upload) of David's air from Handel's oratorio "Saul", demonstrating that the Baroque singer was "co-composer", e.g., in the repeat section.
"Oh Lord, whose mercies numberless, o'er all they works prevail: though daily Man thy laws transgress, thy patience cannot fail. / If yet his sin be not too great, the busy fiend control; yet longer for repetance wait, and heal his wounded soul." (For further information about high-male voices, check http://www.malesopranos.com )

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Andreas
• Scholl
• countertenor
• Handel
• Oh
• Lord
• castrato
• Baroque
• Saul

[AgamemnonAtreides]

On comparison with Esswood (particularly the first video) it seems to me that Scholl has a very accurate attack with pure sound; with Esswood once can revel in his voluptuous texture. Far be it from me that I should decide who is better!

[sfkcbf]

Both countertenors are great, yet each person's vocal attributes lend themselves to particular works. Scholl's focus and purity is essential in his astonishing performance of Mozart's Mitridate (uploaded on my channel), Esswood's rich voice to this oratorio air. I also enjoy Esswood's experimentation with Baroque-style, vocal ornamentations, whereas Scholl is more reserved.

[radubradu]

i detect a certain gay theme throughout the images except the first two? or am i missing something?

[sfkcbf]

After my having studied music and art for many years, I came to realize very late that many Baroque and Neo-Classical paintings and sculpture were rather homoerotic. Apparently, youthful male beauty (the "ephebe") has been highly regarded far longer than most of us realized, even with so-called religious themes, far beyond the classic Greek era, ironically contrasting with a common perception today that such beliefs were an anomoly of acncient times.

[sfkcbf]

To be honest before the concert, I wondered (after my having heard so many Scholl CDs & DVDs) whether I had exaggerated my estimation of his voice. On the contrary, his live voice is even more beautiful that the colder, digital recordings. I could tell how hard he was working to master and control each and every note to make them beautiful, yet he seemed truly to enjoy singing for us. I wonder if full-voiced singers realize how much more difficult countertenor singing is.

[RussianDivas]

I saw Andreas sing this live last night at Carnegie Hall. By the end of this piece, tears were flowing down my face. Simply divine!

[sfkcbf]

Yes, I heard him sing this (along with 5 other handel works) on April 30. Surprisingly to me, a number of "sophisticated concert-goers" said they did not know what a countertenor was and never had heard one. Were THEY astonished! Paul Esswood's recording is wonderful, too.

[brychar66]

Such passion and compelling com-passion. The roundness and mellow quality of the voice are supreme. Comparisons are odious I know, but I would prefer Andreas for the very human quality of his voice and the passion I have already noted. I think it would not be too silly to say that he has a 'sexy' voice and it is this that I like in him so much. A joy to hear him singing an English text. And enjoyable to hear them both.

[firebreathone2]

Exquisite

[tvitek64]

Whose version, Scholl's or Esswood's is wholly a matter of taste, since Scholl sings with a far straighter tone than Esswood. What you cannot take away from Eswood is that he was the first truly great countertenor, with only middling predecessors on whose achievements to build. When you consider that Esswood was singing in the early 70s, he is nothing short of amazing (compare his sound to that of Rene Jacobs, the star countertenor who followed Esswood in the 80s). Scholl is a 2000's singer.

[xeasternxz]

Superb, thank you.

[serenaluce]

@fourmi1060 I agree. Restrained and beautiful! Clear etheareal tone! Bravo! I still prefer both Paul Esswood's versions!

[fimetic]

@sfkcbf "The hours of folly are measured by the clock, but of wisdom no clock can measure" :))

[MiraclesAreConstant]

was he uncomfortable sitting next to you?hahaha..kidding! ok you win!

[viechbaderin]

He was sitting next to me drinking a Coke in Grafenegg..HAHAHAHAHAHA.Beat THAT!!!! :-)