sports
February 7, 2026
Amidst the Shades album review
Ruby Hughes / Jonas Nordberg / Mime Yamahiro Brinkmann(BIS)Joined by lutenist Nordberg and Brinkmann’s viola da gamba, the soprano’s homage to the Renaissance composer is captivating and persuasive
TL;DR
- The recording is a captivating tribute to John Dowland, coinciding with the 400th anniversary of his death.
- It features soprano Ruby Hughes, lutenist Jonas Nordberg, and viola da gamba player Mime Yamahiro Brinkmann.
- While the album includes music by Dowland, it also features a song by Purcell and a Britten arrangement of the Corpus Christi Carol.
- The performance is noted for its capture of Elizabethan melancholy, with Hughes's voice described as natural yet refined.
- Hughes's vocal delivery is praised for its individual coloring of words, conveying distinct emotions.
- The ensemble maintains a balanced expressivity, avoiding indulgence and focusing on clear communication.
- The recording includes music by Dowland's contemporaries, Purcell, and four new or recent compositions based on Shakespeare's song lyrics.
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