Search - George Frideric Handel, Olga Pasichnyk, Robert Pomakov :: Handel - Apollo e Dafne · The Alchemist, Incidental Music / Pasichnyk · Pomakov · EU Baroque Orchestra · Goodman

Good effort, less than mediocre results

08/06/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This recording falls short in almost every respect. Though Roy Goodman does a fine job coaxing lively playing from his young orchestra, too many technical and artistic discrepancies prevent one from fully enjoying this charming cantata by the ever ebullient and brilliant Handel. The biggest fault lies with, I must say, the producer. The voices are placed so forward, seemingly 100 feet in front of the orchestra, that the latter is heard primarily only when the singing has stopped. The effect is irritating, unbalanced and all together unpleasant to listen to. The overexposure the voices are subjected to work to the detriment of the singers, especially Robert Pomakov, who's pleasant, lyric bass voice is inclined to instability and problems with intonation in the lower register. The liner notes state that Mr. Pomakov is still a student and at the risk of seeming unjust, this recording very clearly gives evidence to that fact. A more experienced singer should have been used for this recording. Though this may not be Handel's most demanding vocal work, it still requires more than merely capable singers. The Dafne, Olga Pasichnyck sings well and shows the ability to maintain a beautiful vocal line throughout, but, again, a more sympathetic producer would have proven far more flattering to her voice. What should have been, could have been a charming reading of this work is instead tiresome and almost unbearable. Sadly, I gave my copy away, as I doubt I will ever return to it, again."