KATHLEEN BATTLE AND JEAN-PIERRE RAMPAL IN CONCERT....

KATHLEEN BATTLE AND JEAN-PIERRE RAMPAL IN CONCERT. Sony SK 53106. Pretty chirpy stuff, this. The vocal world of Handel, Purcell and Rameau traveled by a light, high soprano and a light, high flute can be wearying. Battle does manage to inject some humor into “What can we poor females do?” Her enunciation is good. Things pick up marginally with Saint-Saens and Roussel but not by much. Michael Head’s “Bird Song” is a nod to contemporary music, but it sounds as old-fashioned as Bishop’s “Lo! Here the gentle lark,” which follows. Independently, there is some serious music-making in the Martinu sonata, where Rampal can relax and savor the Romantic lines and dance rhythms. Battle shines in her Obradors songs, where she doesn’t have to imitate a calliope, but can settle into a sensitive lyric line. Laughter and applause intrusions (the performance was recorded live at Lincoln Center) are irritating.