Aksel Rykkvin

The prodigious Norwegian treble Aksel Rykkvin returns to disc on Signum with a new disc of Baroque works, accompanying the MIN Ensemble under conductor and trumpeter Mark Bennett and their artistic director Lazar Miletic. Featuring both instrumental pieces and excerpts from operas and other works by Handel, Rameau, Albinoni and Rittler, this disc further documents Aksel’s unique talent as a performer. Praise for Aksel’s previous release (Aksel! SIGCD435) and performances: “A mature, musical performer […] an accomplished and adult disc”.

The solo boy soprano album has a kind of intensity, born of knowing that the sound will soon end, that attracts some and puts others off, but Norwegian treble Aksel Rykkvin, with flawless schoolboy good looks, has become something of a sensation with this album of Baroque and Classical arias. His voice has a rather metallic quality, and you might think that forcing it into these big arias would be an unnatural thing. Yet in fact some of these pieces, including the tough arias from Handel's Alcina, were originally written for a boy soprano, and Bach's church music made use of them as well. Rykkvin handles the acrobatics quite well.

The prodigious Norwegian treble Aksel Rykkvin returns to disc on Signum with a new disc of Baroque works, accompanying the MIN Ensemble under conductor and trumpeter Mark Bennett and their artistic director Lazar Miletic.

Praised for his musicality and exceptional voice, Cai Thomas has already built up a global following and has featured in segments for ITV news and Classic FM. Following a successful Kickstarter funding campaign and, with the help of his family, friends, local community and hundreds of new friends from around the world, Rubicon Classics is proud to support Cai for the release of his debut album.