Posted by Steve Brock on July 23, 19101 at 13:00:41:

I've been listening to classical music all my life but still consider myself a neophyte. I've decided to become a more serious listener and am using Online Classics (http://www.onlineclassics.com) as my guide. Each week, they provide a new performance that you can download or watch online.

This week's feature (from last month at The Wigmore Hall) is a performance of lute songs from the court of Charles I, sung by Emma Kirkby, accompanied by Christopher Wilson.

This is my first exposure to Kirkby, and I found she has one of the most resonant voices that I have ever heard. Her use of inflection is suberb, and I agree with The London Times, who said in a review that Kirkby provides "...consummate command of pacing, of the breath and nerve system of both word and note." But then The Times mentions something that I haven't come across before. They compliment her use of half-voice. Can someone tell me what that is? Does it mean she sings at half-volume? Or with only one vocal cord?

I'd also like to hear what others think of Kirkby and what I should listen to next. -- Steve

Follow Ups:

• Re: Emma Kirkby Stephen Walsh 09:42:02 7/06/102 (3)
  • Re: Emma Kirkby, C. Hogwood's Messiah John Rasmussen 16:49:41 7/15/102 (2)
    • Re: Emma Kirkby, C. Hogwood's Messiah Stephen Walsh 01:52:47 7/22/102 (1)
      • Re: Emma Kirkby, C. Hogwood's Messiah John Rasmussen 09:54:40 7/23/102 (0)
• Re: Emma Kirkby John Rasmussen 12:22:26 6/25/102 (0)

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