Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Both soprano Olivia Hunt and keyboard player John Hosking have appeared in previous Cross Rhythms reviews, indeed Miss Hunt featured as a soloist in Mr Hosking's "Requiem" on the 2016 album 'All Angels Cry Aloud'. Wearing his organist's hat John Hosking has also been reviewed twice as a soloist at Truro Cathedral and St Asaph's. 'Musick To Heare' is Olivia Hunt's debut solo recording and showcases a wide range of songs throughout the ages, from Tudor to contemporary. John Hosking accompanies on three notable instruments: an Italian replica harpsichord built by Goble, the Hill, Norman & Beard organ designed by George Guest and William Mathias at Bangor University in North Wales, and a Steinway concert grand piano. As an accompanist John Hosking is first class and his organ solo on the appropriately martial "Batalla del 5. Tono" by Fra. Antonio Martin y Cole (c. 1660-1735) is well worth hearing. However, the success of this collection is built on the excellence of the soprano soloist who does not disappoint. Chronologically we start our journey with William Byrd's heartfelt tribute to his teacher in "Ye Sacred Muses - An Elegy For Thomas Tallis" and if the closing line "Tallis is dead, and music dies" does not touch you then all I can say is you must have a hard heart. The most contemporary piece comes from John Hosking himself, being born as he was in 1976. He gives us a setting of Shakespeare's eighth sonnet, "Music To Hear" that was written in 2014 specifically for Olivia Hunt (the music that is, not the sonnet). This is a challenging showcase piece and Miss Hunt sings it very well. The other living composer represented is Judith Pook (born 1960) with a setting of a poem by Edgar Allan Poe, "Bridal Ballad". This was used in the 2004 film adaptation of 'The Merchant Of Venice' and works very well as a recital piece. My personal highlight is Gershwin's atmospheric "Summertime" from 'Porgy & Bess' which suits Olivia Hunt's voice very nicely and as a listener who likes collections to be full of contrasts anything that opens with Henry Purcell ("If Music Be The Food Of Love" and "Dido's Lament") and ends up with E A Poe will get my vote. It has to be said that explicit Christian content is not to the fore with Isabella Leonarda's song in praise of the Virgin Mary, "Quam Dulcis Es, Quam Cara" ("How Sweet, How Dear") being the clearest example. However, there is spirituality a-plenty spread across the 70 minutes of this collection with some excellent musicianship from both artists. This music is indeed well worth hearing.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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