This is the first all-German disc from the countertenor Philippe Jaroussky, and about time too: two of JS Bach’s most glorious cantatas find him at his vibrant best. The five movements of Bach’s Vernügte Ruh trace a compelling journey from contentment through agitation to resolution, all the while showcasing Jaroussky’s bright, fluid tone; the few notes where the music dips lower than his comfort zone are all on words for which a rasp of aggression is entirely apt. In the title aria of Ich habe genug he is matched nuance for nuance by Ann-Kathrin Brüggemann’s mellow oboe d’amore, and there follows a performance of Schlummert ein that rivals that of David Daniels for gorgeousness. He’s equally persuasive in two cantatas by Telemann. Though less consistently compelling musically than the Bach, these are still rewarding, and they come alive in the Freiburg Barockorchester’s dramatically aware playing.
