Lloyd Singer

For one of Bellini's less popular works, I Capuleti has seen a remarkable number of recordings, with some of the starriest stars in the operatic firmament taking part. A self-recommending and self-damning bastardized version from the 1960s in which the role of Romeo was transposed from mezzo to tenor (by Claudio Abbado) can still be found with Giacomo Aragall as Romeo, Renata Scotto (or Margarita Rinaldi, in another pirate) as Giulietta, and Luciano Pavarotti as Tebaldo. Muti's set with Gruberova and Baltsa manages to be both exciting and sterile at the same time, a couple of other entries have come and gone (where is the Sills?), and the only competition for this current release is RCA's with the marvelous, expressive Vesalina Kasarova as Romeo and the pretty, fragile Giulietta of Eva Mei. But for my ears, this one, handsomely led by Donald Runnicles, takes the lead.

A New York based, Danish, singer/songwriter, Juul is one of those artists who creep up on you and grow upon you and, as you absorb the melodies and the intriguing lyrics, suddenly you're in love with a voice. Just some of the lyrical gemstones delivered by Juul in a voice that projects gentle, laid back emotion. Nothing twee or cute but words dealt straight from the heart as Shirley Horn used to do and with a voice that makes you want to book the next flight to Copenhagen which I don't advise as the lady is now a New Yorker! Fellow Dane, Hess, is on piano and history may be re-written and say a dog was named after him. Akinmusire provides the excitement that adds to the emotive content. A disc to relax to but not to sleep to - the words are so compelling…