Arts Music

Just about but not quite completely negligible, Diego Fasolis' disc of three of Bach's darker Cantatas performed with the mealy mouthed Coro della Radio Svizzera of Lugano and the fumble-fingered I Barocchisti is almost but not altogether terrible. In Bach's doleful Trauer-Ode, Fasolis' tempos are far too fast, his understanding way too superficial, and only Nancy Argenta cool soprano saves the performance from ignominy. In Bach's consoling Actus tragicus, Fasolis' rhythms are far too flaccid and his understanding is still way too superficial and Nancy Argenta's icy soprano does nothing to save the performance from embarrassment. In Bach's ardent Der Herr denket an uns, Fasolis' textures are turgid, his understanding is even more superficial and while the conspicuous addition of tuned bells to the orchestra does nothing to save the performance from disgrace, it sure does add to the amusement value of the disc. After all, how many other discs featuring "authentic" performances of Bach include tuned bells? Arts' sound is shallow, dry, and close. © TiVo