CCMusic.com

The famous alto solo cantatas by J. S. Bach not only display an extraordinary musical variety, but also place the highest demands on the virtuosity of the singing voice. Now-adays, these cantatas are mostly performed by countertenors. The exceptional alto Seda Amir-Karayan is bucking this trend. She is accompanied by the young baroque orchestra Camerata Vivaldiana under the direction of Fritz Kramer. And as a further speciality, she combines this magnificent figural music with the ancient, simple a cappella church chants from her Armenian homeland, which on the one hand form a captivating contrast, but at the same time show an astonishing closeness to the cantatas of the Thomaskan-tor in their spiritual content.