Reviewed by Dave Massey

Compared to many boy trebles foisted upon a patient listening public, George Bartle is surprisingly good. His intonation rarely falters despite the strains put on the voice by composers anxious to utlize the whole vocal range, and he is capable of a wide range of expression. The pieces on this recording range from three beautiful settings by Chausson (a student of Massenet and Frank), to Mozart's 'Angus Dei' from the Coronation Mass and the relatively modern 'Litany To The Holy Spirit' by Hurford. The latter piece is sung with great maturity and feeling, its well crafted melody giving Bartle the chance to strut his funky stuff, as does the old Mendelssohn standard 'Hear My Prayer'. Whilst I would not queue overnight in the doorway of the Virgin megastore to get this one in the sales, it does stand as a good ambassador for the genre.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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