Charles T. Downey, Countertenor Iestyn Davies and lutenist Thomas Dunford at the Kennedy Center
Washington Post, April 10, 2014
 The Art of Melancholy: Songs by John Dowland, I. Davies, T. Dunford (Hyperion, 2014) |
Both countertenor Iestyn Davies and lutenist Thomas Dunford have given first-rate concerts here in the last few years, the former at the Phillips Collection and the latter at the French Embassy. We have Vocal Arts DC to thank, however, for presenting the combination of the two musicians in an immaculate and affecting concert on Tuesday night in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.Iestyn Davies (countertenor) and Thomas Dunford (lute)
Davies possesses one of the most refined and lucent countertenor voices, with flawless intonation, ease and beauty across its range and not even a hint of shrillness. With his love of text, intelligent phrasing and clean but not overdone English diction, Davies is a natural match for the English Renaissance lute-song repertory, and Dunford, who has a similarly delicate approach to his instrument, matched him phrase for phrase. [Continue reading]
Vocal Arts D.C.
Kennedy Center Terrace Theater
SEE ALSO:
David Gordon Duke, The enchantment of the lute song (Edmonton Journal, April 1)
Iestyn Davies:
Midsummer Night's Dream (Metropolitan Opera, 2013)
Phillips Collection, 2011
Thomas Dunford:
La Maison Française (2011, 2012)
With William Christie, Les Arts Florissants
He has such a beautiful voice. I hope he will return and do some Baroque repertoire (I was hoping for something Baroque in the encore, but was disappointed). His "Arias for Guadagni: the first modern castrato" CD is wonderful for various reasons, including the fact that he sings some arias by Johann A. Hasse -- a somewhat obscure composer I love.
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