Review: "Facce D'amore" - Jakub Józef Orliński, Emelyanychev

Following countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński’s previous album, programmed around a single theme of sacred arias (“Anima Sacra”, 2018), this album uses the same group of musicians and main collaborator, musicologist Yannis François. The current release examines the theme of a male lover in the Baroque era.

Purchase on Amazon

Comparing the two albums, it’s clear Orliński’s voice has evolved. He is still supremely lyrical even in the most turbulent of arias, yet his voice now shows deeper shades as well as superb control over his falsetto and vibrato. That, along with his inherent feel for tempo and clear Italian diction, make for a highly enjoyable listen throughout.

Highlights are many, but pointing out just two particularly impressive arias, listen to Giuseppe Maria Orlandini’s “Che m’ami ti prega” (track 10), a world premiere recording that showcases Orliński’s control over all registers. Handel’s “Pena tiranna” from “Amadigi di Gaula” (track 11) is not the first recording of this fabulous aria, but it’s now the best in the catalog. It finds Orliński attentive to every harmonic change and in tight collaboration with the woodwinds of Il Pomo d’Oro under Maxim Emelyanychev.

Related Classical Music Reviews

Indeed, the orchestral accompaniment has a lot to do with the success of this release; at last, the string section is big enough to give ample support, and the rest of the ensemble shows great affinity to the music and their soloist. Emelyanychev’s playful continuo adds to the spontaneity of the performance.

Seven out of the 18 tracks in this album are debut recordings, carefully selected by Orliński and François. Those are intelligently spaced around better-known pieces and composers, including Handel and Cavalli. The aria that closes the album, interestingly, was written for Farinelli by a Johann Adolf Hasse.

Good recording quality too, intimate and close enough to allow hearing the sang texts but also atmospheric enough not to sound clinical. This is a must for any baroque lover. Orliński is clearly a rare talent, and I for one can’t wait to see and hear what he does next.