Named Gramophone's One to Watch and winner of the 2022 International Handel Singing Competition, Alexander Chance makes his recording debut on Linn. Drop not, mine eyes is a recital of English lute songs that soaks up the zeitgeist of the past couple of years to create a programme full of melancholic works by Dowland, Campion, Danyel, Purcell and others. If the ever-popular Dowland was readily prone to sadness, as exemplified by the pair I saw my lady weep and Flow, my tears, or indeed In darkness let me dwell, the polymath Thomas Campion favoured a more sober style, as shown in I care not for these ladies. Thomas Ford displays his more profane side here with Fair, sweet, cruel and What then is love. When it comes to melancholy, John Danyel's Grief, keep within and Drop not, mine eyes are every bit as good as Dowland. The programme closes with Purcell, the other English Orpheus. Toby Carr provides sympathetic accompaniment on lute and theorbo.

Tracklist:

Can she excuse my wrongs?
Praeludium
I saw my Lady weep
Flow, my tears
Captain Digorie Piper, his Galliard
I care not for these ladies
cypress curtain of the night
Never weather-beaten sail
Mignarda
What then is love
Fair, sweet, cruel
Pavan
Mrs. M. E. her funeral tears for the death of her husband~Grief, Keep Within
Mrs. M. E. her funeral tears for the death of her husband~Drop Not, Mine Eyes
Mrs. M. E. her funeral tears for the death of her husband~Have All Our Passions
He whose desires are still abroad
In darkness let me dwell
O solitude, my sweetest choice, Z. 406
Prelude
Now that the sun hath veiled his light 'An Evening Hymn', Z. 193

UPC: 691062071123
Label: Linn Records
Release Date: 4.28.23
Format: CD

Chance / Carr - Drop Not, Mine Eyes (CD)