The Beauty Farm ensemble does not waste any time: this is their seventh CD in four years. Beauty Farm does not have a permanent line-up but so far uses a pool of 13 singers, with the countertenor Bart Uvyn and the bass Joachim Höchbauer as permanent members. Since the summer of 2015 they have been recording famous and lesser known Renaissance music. Their productions were characterized by their
… striking design and full-fat ensemble sound. We heard clearly educated voices here, but the gentlemen performed this with more bravado than subtlety or precision. The intonation in particular suffered too often from this. It must be said, on that front this double CD is certainly better than its predecessors, although some sloppiness can be heard here and there. Incidentally, an incomprehensible carelessness mar this CD: at the beginning of the Sanctus of the Missa mi-mi (track 4), the upper voice pontifically puts in a third too high, which produces a dissonance up to the third bar, about five seconds long. Hopefully this is a matter of the wrong 'take' ending up on the CD… It is a pity, because there is also quite a bit to enjoy here for those who like the approach. Strong voices, in enormous acoustics, and of course, we would almost forget, fantastic music by grandmaster Ockeghem. (TC) because in itself there is also quite a bit to enjoy here for those who like the approach. Strong voices, in enormous acoustics, and of course, we would almost forget, fantastic music by grandmaster Ockeghem. (TC) because in itself there is also quite a bit to enjoy for those who like the approach. Strong voices, in enormous acoustics, and of course, we would almost forget, fantastic music by grandmaster Ockeghem. (TC)more
