The gender-bending beauty of THE DARK IS MY DELIGHT is due to the amazing instrument of countertenor Brian Asawa. As countertenors return to the fore, often replacing mezzos in roles that were originated by castrati, recording and performance opportunities abound. Asawa, along with colleagues David Daniels, Jochen Kowalski, and Michael Chance stand alone as the preeminent interpreters of the countertenor repertoire.
Asawa's voice is indisputably precise and a delight to the ear. The songs of Dowland are darker in tone, and the anonymous popular songs and those by Campion are filled with mixed emotions, but all give Asawa the opportunity to show the listener that this was the music of the people, of everyday life and all of its ups and downs.
This collection of Elizabethan songs for lute and voice is perfectly suited for Asawa and lutenist David Tayler. Instead of potential monotony, we hear continuous spontaneity and freshness. Tayler, who transcribed the lute parts from original sources, uses numerous instruments tuned to different pitches to keep in accordance with performance practices of the time. His playing matches the flowing lyricism of Asawa and together they have created a unique and compelling recording.