If you're going to write in it or name yourself after it, you've got to have guts to call what you do the
Stylus Phantasticus. Dietrich Buxtehude wrote it in extravagantly brilliant music, music virtuosically composed with incredibly complicated but immediately self-evident forms setting in wildly expressive but intensely controlled emotions. The Swiss ensemble
Stylus Phantasticus performs a program of Buxtehude's chamber music built on ostinato bass lines with a style that is indeed fantastic. All the players are virtuosos but their ensemble is nevertheless superbly balanced between freedom and responsibility. With the addition of soprano
Maria Cristina Kiehr in the opening Cantata Herr, wenn ich nur dich habe and baritone
Victor Torres in the closing Ciaccona Quemandmodum desiderat cervus, this is as varied and compelling as a program of ostinato bass lines can be, which is to say, multitudinously varied and relentlessly compelling. Alpha's recording is deep and round and clear and the packaging is beautiful.