The Pure Sound of Elin Manahan Thomas

Arias by Handel, Bach, Vivaldi and others are brought to life by this wonderful talent.

Composer: Handel, Purcell, et al.
Repertoire: Eternal Light
Artists: Elin Manahan Thomas (sop), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/Christophers
Rating: 4/5

Genre: Vocal
Label: Heliodor 476 5970

It’s not hard to see why Universal Classics (the umbrella group which includes Decca, Philips and DG) has resurrected the early-music label Heliodor for the young Welsh soprano Elin Manahan Thomas. With her crystal-clear, light Emma Kirkby-ish voice and photogenic features, she’s almost got the complete package and sounds dreamily sweet as she floats through arias by Handel, Bach and Vivaldi. Almost? Well, I longed to hear a bit more variety of tone and expression and a bit more rat-a-tat accuracy in Handel’s ‘Let the Bright Seraphim’. I enjoyed her pure sound nevertheless.