The reviews are in

We have had three excellent reviews so far for Orchestra London's production of Handel's Giulio Cesare. Click each link to read the full article.

"Giulio Cesare brings two of the world’s leading counter tenors – Drew Minter (Cesare) and Ian Howell (Tolomeo) – to the stage. Both handled the intricacies of Handel’s vocal writing with marvelous finesse."
- Nicole Laidler - Beatmagazine.ca

"Arriving from opera’s international stages are American early music star and Grammy-winning countertenor Ian Howell who is remarkable as Tolomeo, Cleopatra’s fanatical, theocratic brother, and Dutch mezzo Rosanne van Sandwijk as Sesto."
- James Reaney - The London Free Press

"Ian Howell's portrayal of Tolomeo was chilling. And he has a beautiful voice. His final aria was heart-rending and also served as a reminder that his character too, was vulnerable."
- Brian Hay - norules-nolights.com

New Video - J.C. Bach "Ach daß ich Wassers gnug hätte" (Lamento) with Chatham Baroque

This is one of my favorite pieces in the baroque repertory. Written by Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703), this lament beautifully captures the German sense of intensely internalized personal piety. "Oh, that I had enough tears in my head to bewail my sins..." That sort of thing :-).
With Chatham Baroque, an amazing small ensemble based in Pittsburgh, PA. Recorded February 21st, 2010.



Translation:
Oh, that I had water enough in my head
And that my eyes were springs of tears,
So that I could bewail my sin night and day.

My sin overwhelms me.
Like a weighty burden,
it has become too much more me,
So I weep, and mine eyes flow with tears.
My sighing is great, and my heart is sad,
for the Lord has filled me with grief
In the day of his wrath.

A poem for the unexpected Spring day that makes me wonder if Winter happened at all

Life is just the total sum of all the time we've spent
We pay our rent and eat our food and now and then help someone move
The day to day flies quick away and leaves a doubt that time is real
For though we all can see what changes here right now is all I feel.

~Ian Howell c. 1996

California Chronicle | Musica Angelica to present Bach's St. John Passion

Here's a nice little preview of my upcoming St. John Passions: California Chronicle | Musica Angelica to present Bach's St. John Passion

SANTA MONICA, Calif. Although the son of J.S. Bach claimed that his father composed five Passions during his lifetime, evidence for only two – the St. John Passion and St. Matthew Passion – is documented. Music lovers will have a chance to hear the earlier work, described as "Bach´s most vivid and thrilling work" by the Gwent Bach Society, when the renowned baroque orchestra Musica Angelica presents the St. John Passion on Saturday, March 27 at 8 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Pasadena and Sunday, March 28 at 4 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Santa Monica..... more