enargeia

A very different and highly imaginative debut album from Italian-Canadian mezzo Emily D’Angelo blends ancient and modern to wonderful effect. The 12th-century composer Hildegard von Bingen provides the impetus that is picked up by the 21st century’s Missy Mazzoli and Sarah Kirkland Snider, who provide their own mesmerizing arrangements, hauntingly performed, as well as original works. The album has an organic feel, each track emerging from the one before, and the cumulative effect is immensely powerful. Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir seems to reach back through the centuries to create music of an almost medieval character. D’Angelo’s expressive voice is just perfect for this music. Unmissable.

"Enargeia" is an ancient Greek word meaning extreme vividness, the evocation of a visual scene.