Product description Andrea Rost ~ Brian Asawa - The Dark Is My De .com As one of the leaders of an exciting new generation of countertenors, Brian Asawa benefits not only from his distinctive voice, but also from his record label's publicity machine, which has made his name and his first two recordings strongly recognized by critics and listeners. Asawa's success at the Metropolitan Opera Auditions in 1991 and his many opera performances in the United States and abroad certainly haven't hurt his career. The voice we hear is unquestionably pretty and technically refined, but its throaty, dark timbre sounds more like the efforts of a man trying to sound like a woman. He just doesn't have that uniquely male countertenor quality exemplified by three of Asawa's more engaging colleagues--Andreas Scholl, David Daniels, and Daniel Taylor. That's not to say that these performances of some of the 16th century's loveliest songs are not eminently listenable and occasionally sublime. Asawa's agile voice projects a strong character coupled with an effortless delivery that will appeal to many listeners. He has an annoying habit, however, of singing slightly behind the beat and gradually leaning into longer-held notes. --David Vernier
W**T
Five Stars
Beautiful and lyrical. This music performed by such talent really comes alive.
S**H
Perfection
Since reading the sad news of the early death of great countertenor Brian Asawa, I have been playing this record, and again being swept away in rapture over the purity of his tone and the impeccable musicality of the singing. I own lots (and lots) of lute song recordings and this is certainly one of the very best ever.
Z**N
Beautiful
Sadly reading of Brian Asawa's death I turned to this disk and encountered again the beauty and fluid grace of his voice. Asawa more than sings these songs: he communicates them from within himself. There are many countertenors and Asawa holds a high place amongst them all. Highly recommended.
M**N
Mischievous and Bewitching
Brian Asawa's voice is distinctive and that has not always worked to his advantage. There is no danger of confusing him with any other countertenor. In tone and quality he ranks with Scholl and Daniels and perhaps has a more fluid command of the higher notes. In this CD, he performs songs from the traditional countertenor repertoire with considerable freshness, spirit and humor. These are the popular hit songs of Shakespeare's era and while we don't know the details of how they were performed I like what Brian has done with these songs.
M**A
Too Rushed, Low on Feeling
I've really tried to like Brian Osawa but when I hear this CD, it sounds to me like he's faking his way through the songs, though I doubt he in fact is. It's passionless.Thankfully I bought this CD used for only $9.99 CDN. Regretably, I will likely be selling it back to the used CD store from which it came. Daniel Taylor and James Bowman's Love Bade me Welcome would be a much better selection, i bought it new and its worth every cent!
G**R
la voix d'un ange
Brian Asawa est passé tel une etoile filante, ce jeune artiste etait dans les années 90 un des plus doués de la nouvelle generation de contre tenors, avec David Daniels et Andreas scholl, il fut un trés beau Farnace dans le Mitridate de Rousset aux cotés de Dessay et Bartoli, un de ses derniers enregistrements.Cet enregistrement de 1997 nous permet de le retrouver au sommet de son art, dans une collection de chansons anglaises du XVIeme S, de Dowland et Campion, superbement accompagnées par le luth de David Tayler, et d'apprecier la beauté et la pureté de cette voix angelique.Dés le "Come again, sweet love" qui ouvre ce programme, on est seduit et captivé par le talent de ces 2 artistes,une époque ou une voix et un luth suffisaient à vous tirer des larmes, vraiment un trés beau disque.
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