A Thousand Charms invites listeners into two centuries of English song, from Campion’s intimate ayres to Purcell’s theatrical masterpieces and Handel’s deeply expressive arias. The programme traces how solo song evolved from lute-inspired simplicity to richly ornamented drama, blending poetry with music of striking clarity and depth. Grace Davidson’s pure, agile voice and Julian Perkins’s sensitive harpsichord accompaniment bring freshness and immediacy to this repertoire, emphasising its refinement, inventiveness and humanity. For anyone drawn to the beauty of early music, this recording offers an engaging journey through some of its most timeless works. ★★★★★ – BBC Music Magazine “an attentive, communicative and deeply respectful reading of the text and style, but at the same time lively and expressive.” – Sonograma
