JOHN DOWLAND : The John Dowland Collection (2007) 2CD / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Does this two-disc set contain John Dowland's greatest hits? Yes, indeed, it does. With "Flow, My Tears," "In Darkness Let Me Dwell," "Come, Heavy Sleep," seven "Larchimae" of various sorts, plus his greatest hit of all, "Semper Dowland, semper dolens," all the melancholy Elizabethan English composer's best-known and best-loved hits are here. Are these the best performances available of Dowland's greatest hits? While some might argue that there are other equally worthy performances available, few would argue that these aren't at least among the best ever made. With the sweet Barbara Bonney, the sensuous Anne Sofie von Otter, and the ethereal Emma Kirkby handling most of the vocals and lutinists Anthony Rooley and Jakob Lindberg plus guitarist Göran Söllscher handling most of the fretwork, these performances have the right blend of the soulful and the poetic with just the right touch of urbane to make them wholly convincing. Although Dowland's predominantly melancholy art may not appeal to everyone, those for whom it does appeal will surely enjoy this superbly chosen and sumptuously recorded two-disc set. by James Leonard  

JOHN DOWLAND (1563-1626)

CD1
1    Lachrimae, 1604: Lachrimae Antiquae 4'45
Directed By – Anthony Rooley
Ensemble – The Consort Of Musicke
2    First Booke Of Songes, 1597, No.4: If My Complaints Could Passions Move 4'48
Lute – Jacob Heringman
Soprano Vocals – Barbara Bonney
3    First Booke Of Songes, 1597, No.5: Can She Excuse My Wrongs 2'39
Lute – Jakob Lindberg
Mezzo-soprano Vocals – Anne Sofie Von Otter
4    First Booke Of Songes, 1597, No.11: Come Away, Come Sweet Love 2'25
Directed By – Anthony Rooley
Ensemble – The Consort Of Musicke
5    My Lady Hudson's Allemande 1'22
Guitar – Göran Söllscher
6    A Piece Without Title 0'48
Guitar – Göran Söllscher
7    The Shoemaker's Wife 1'05
Guitar – Göran Söllscher
8    Lachrimae, 1604: Lachrimae Antiquae Novae 4'05
Directed By – Anthony Rooley
Ensemble – The Consort Of Musicke
9    First Booke Of Songes, 1597, No.17: Come Again: Sweet Love Doth Now Invite 2'43
Lute – Jacob Heringman
Soprano Vocals – Barbara Bonney
10    First Booke Of Songes, 1597, No.20: Come Heavy Sleep 4'29
Directed By – Anthony Rooley
Ensemble – The Consort Of Musicke
11    Mr. Dowland's Midnight 1'30
Guitar – Göran Söllscher
12    Sir John Smith, His Almain 2'23
Guitar – Göran Söllscher
13    Lachrimae, 1604: Semper Dowland, Semper Dolens 3'39
Guitar – Göran Söllscher
14    Lachrimae, 1604: Lachrimae Gementes 4'22
Directed By – Anthony Rooley
Ensemble – The Consort Of Musicke
15    Second Booke Of Songes, 1600, No.1: I Saw My Lady Weep 5'34
Lute – Thomas E. Binkley
Tenor Vocals – Nigel Rogers
16    Second Booke Of Songes, 1600, No.2: Flow My Tears 4'45
Lute – Jacob Heringman
Soprano Vocals – Barbara Bonney
17    Second Booke Of Songes, 1600, No.12: Fine Knacks For Ladies 2'08
Directed By – Anthony Rooley
Ensemble – The Consort Of Musicke
18    Second Booke Of Songes, 1600, No.19: Shall I Sue 3'25
Lute – Thomas E. Binkley
Tenor Vocals – Nigel Rogers
19    Lachrimae, 1604: Lachrimae Tristes 4'35
Directed By – Anthony Rooley
Ensemble – The Consort Of Musicke

CD2
1    Third Booke Of Songes, 1603, No.5: Me, Me And None But Me 2'41
Lute – Thomas E. Binkley
Tenor Vocals – Nigel Rogers
2    Forlorne Hope Fancy 4'10
Guitar – Göran Söllscher
3    Weepe You No More, Sad Fountaines 5:24
Lute – Jakob Lindberg
Mezzo-soprano Vocals – Anne Sofie Von Otter
4    Lachrimae, 1604: Lachrimae Coactae 4'14
Directed By – Anthony Rooley
Ensemble – The Consort Of Musicke
5    A Pilgrim's Solace (1612), No.9: Go Nightly Cares 5'47
Directed By – Thomas E. Binkley
Ensemble – Studio Der Frühen Musik
Mezzo-soprano Vocals – Andrea von Ramm
6    The Right Honourable Ferdinando, Earl Of Derby, His Galliard 2'19
Guitar – Göran Söllscher
7    The Most Sacred Queen Elizabeth, Her Galliard 1'15
Guitar – Göran Söllscher
8    A Pilgrim's Solace (1612), No.8: Tell Me, True Love 7'14
Bass Vocals – Karl-Heinz Klein
Countertenor Vocals – Grayston Burgess
Lute – Thomas E. Binkley
Mezzo-soprano Vocals – Andrea von Ramm
Tenor Vocals – Nigel Rogers
9    Lachrimae, 1604: Lachrimae Amantis 4'30
Directed By – Anthony Rooley
Ensemble – The Consort Of Musicke
10    In Darkness Let Me Dwell 4'26
Lute – Jakob Lindberg
Mezzo-soprano Vocals – Anne Sofie Von Otter
11    A Fantasia 4'08
Guitar – Göran Söllscher
12    My Lord Chamberlain His Galliard 2'23
Guitar – Göran Söllscher
13    Far From Triumphing Court 5'07
Countertenor Vocals – Andreas Scholl
Lute – Edin Karamazov
Viol [Bass] – Christophe Coin
14    I Shame At Mine Unworthiness 2'30
Directed By – Anthony Rooley
Ensemble – The Consort Of Musicke
15    Lachrimae, 1604: Lachrimae Verae 4'18
Directed By – Anthony Rooley
Ensemble – The Consort Of Musicke

Bass Vocals [The Consort Of Musicke] – David Thomas (pistas: 1-1, 1-4, 1-8, 1-14, 1-17, 1-19, 2-4, 2-9, 2-14, 2-15)
Countertenor Vocals [The Consort Of Musicke] – John York Skinner (pistas: 1-1, 1-4, 1-8, 1-14, 1-17, 1-19, 2-4, 2-9, 2-14, 2-15)
Lute – Julian Crème (pistas: 1-1, 1-8, 1-14, 1-19, 2-4, 2-9, 2-15)
Lute [The Consort Of Musicke] – Anthony Rooley (pistas: 1-1, 1-4, 1-8, 1-14, 1-17, 1-19, 2-4, 2-9, 2-14, 2-15), Christopher Wilson (pistas: 1-1, 1-4, 1-8, 1-14, 1-17, 1-19, 2-4, 2-9, 2-14, 2-15)
Soprano Vocals [The Consort Of Musicke] – Emma Kirkby (pistas: 1-1, 1-4, 1-8, 1-14, 1-17, 1-19, 2-4, 2-9, 2-14, 2-15), Glenda Simpson (pistas: 2-14)
Tenor Vocals [The Consort Of Musicke] – Martyn Hill (pistas: 1-1, 1-4, 1-8, 1-14, 1-17, 1-19, 2-4, 2-9, 2-14, 2-15)
Viol [Bass] – Jane Ryan (pistas: 1-1, 1-8, 1-14, 1-19, 2-4, 2-9, 2-15)
Viol [Tenor] – Ian Gammie (pistas: 1-1, 1-8, 1-14, 1-19, 2-4, 2-9, 2-15), Trevor Jones (4) (pistas: 1-1, 1-8, 1-14, 1-19, 2-4, 2-9, 2-15)
Viol [Treble] – Catherine Macintosh (pistas: 1-1, 1-8, 1-14, 1-19, 2-4, 2-9, 2-15), Polly Waterfield (pistas: 1-1, 1-8, 1-14, 1-19, 2-4, 2-9, 2-15)