Album

Canadian soprano Suzie LeBlanc has done quite a bit of recording in the years leading up to this release with Les Voix Humaines, Ay que sí, particularly with Canadian label Atma Classique. You wouldn't know it by the raves about these albums in Gramophone, because it seems as though that most esteemed of classical publications isn't really paying attention to LeBlanc. A pity, but it's their loss, as if Ay que sí is any indication of what the rest of her 20 or so Atma Classique recordings are like, they must be a treasure trove indeed, as this album is just about perfect.

This is a recital of early Baroque Spanish vocal music, a genre so readily identified with Jordi Savall and his wife Montserrat Figueras that one might assume that nothing could be in their class. Think again—the purity of LeBlanc's voice floats effortlessly over the sensitively stated, yet rhythmically propelling accompaniment of Stephen Stubbs' Baroque guitar, Susie Napper and Margaret Little's viols, Maxine Eilander's Spanish harp, and Rafik Samman's quiet, tastefully applied percussion. The program is also wisely laid out, as there are liberal instrumental interjections from Les Voix Humaines so that Ay que sí doesn't get stuck too long in one groove. This sense of varying the instrumental texture also applies well to the accompaniments played behind LeBlanc. The 28-page booklet offers informative and useful notes that are laid out in an attractive and non-fussy way; important as these composers—José Marín, Manuel Machado, and Juan Hidalgo—are hardly household names, with only Diego Ortiz and Gaspar Sanz being reasonably familiar from their instrumental works. We also get artist biographies and the song texts in three languages, formatted in an easy-to-follow manner that does not strain the eyes or create confusion.

In other words, with Ay que sí, Atma Classique got it right. Ay que sí is a disc that one will want to put on repeat and let the thing play all day long. Atma Classique's recording is loud and clear, with just the right amount of reverb so that these quiet Baroque instruments don't get lost in the "hall." Amazing!

© Uncle Dave Lewis , Rovi

CD 1
Manuel Machado Composer Dos estrellas le siguen, coplas a 4 Work Les Voix Humaines Ensemble, Suzie LeBlanc Soprano, Susan Napper Viola da Gamba, Maxine Eilander Harp, Margaret Little Viola da Gamba, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
1	Dos estrellas le siguen, coplas a 4	4:35			$0.99
José Marín Composer Mi señora Mariantaños, for voice & guitar (continuo) Work Les Voix Humaines Ensemble, Suzie LeBlanc Soprano, Susan Napper Viola da Gamba, Rafik Samman Percussion, Maxine Eilander Harp, Margaret Little Viola da Gamba, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
2	Mi señora Mariantaños, for voice & guitar (continuo)	3:15			$0.99
José Marín Composer Ojos pues me desdeñais, for voice & guitar (continuo) Work Suzie LeBlanc Soprano, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
3	Ojos pues me desdeñais, for voice & guitar (continuo)	3:26			$0.99
Francisco Repilado Composer Buena vista (Chan Chan) Work Les Voix Humaines Ensemble, Susan Napper Viola da Gamba, Rafik Samman Percussion, Maxine Eilander Harp, Margaret Little Viola da Gamba, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
4	Buena vista (Chan Chan)	3:03			$0.99
Juan Hidalgo Composer En los floridos páramos Work Suzie LeBlanc Soprano, Rafik Samman Percussion, Maxine Eilander Harp, Margaret Little Viola da Gamba, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
5	En los floridos páramos	2:34			$0.99
Diego Fernández de Huete Composer Españoleta Work Maxine Eilander Harp, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
6	Españoleta	6:38			$0.99
José Marín Composer Niña como en tus mudanças, for voice & guitar (continuo) Work Suzie LeBlanc Soprano, Susan Napper Viola da Gamba, Rafik Samman Percussion, Maxine Eilander Harp, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
7	Niña como en tus mudanças, for voice & guitar (continuo)	4:12			$0.99
Diego Ortiz Composer Recercada No.2 (Tratado de Glosas) Work Les Voix Humaines Ensemble, Susan Napper Viola da Gamba, Maxine Eilander Harp, Margaret Little Viola da Gamba, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
8	Recercada No.2 (Tratado de Glosas)	2:37			$0.99
Juan Hidalgo Composer ¡Ay, que sí, ay, que no!, tono Work Les Voix Humaines Ensemble, Suzie LeBlanc Soprano, Susan Napper Viola da Gamba, Maxine Eilander Harp, Margaret Little Viola da Gamba, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
9	¡Ay, que sí, ay, que no!, tono	3:15			$0.99
Diego Fernández de Huete Composer Guardame las vacas Work Maxine Eilander Harp, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
10	Guardame las vacas	2:40			$0.99
José Marín Composer Aquella sierra nevada, for voice and guitar (or continuo) Work Les Voix Humaines Ensemble, Suzie LeBlanc Soprano, Susan Napper Viola da Gamba, Maxine Eilander Harp, Margaret Little Viola da Gamba
11	Aquella sierra nevada, for voice and guitar (or continuo)	3:28			$0.99
José Marín Composer No piense menguilla ya, for voice & guitar (or continuo) Work Suzie LeBlanc Soprano, Rafik Samman Percussion, Maxine Eilander Harp, Margaret Little Viola da Gamba, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
12	No piense menguilla ya, for voice & guitar (or continuo)	4:34			$0.99
Francisco Guerau Composer Marionas for guitar Work Maxine Eilander Harp, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
13	Marionas for guitar	4:04			$0.99
Juan Hidalgo Composer Esperar, sentir, morir Work Les Voix Humaines Ensemble, Suzie LeBlanc Soprano, Susan Napper Viola da Gamba, Maxine Eilander Harp, Margaret Little Viola da Gamba, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
14	Esperar, sentir, morir	2:50			$0.99
Gaspar Sanz Composer Pavanas for guitar Work Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
15	Pavanas for guitar	2:53			$0.99
José Marín Composer Turvéme Çelinda hermosa Work Suzie LeBlanc Soprano, Maxine Eilander Harp, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
16	Turvéme Çelinda hermosa	2:27			$0.99
Francisco Guerau Composer Españoleta Work Maxine Eilander Harp, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
17	Españoleta	4:49			$0.99
Juan Aranés Composer Un Sarao de la Chacona Work Les Voix Humaines Ensemble, Suzie LeBlanc Soprano, Susan Napper Viola da Gamba, Rafik Samman Percussion, Maxine Eilander Harp, Margaret Little Viola da Gamba, Stephen Stubbs Guitar (Baroque)
18	Un Sarao de la Chacona	3:58			$0.99