Concerto Caledonia - The Red Red Rose

(March 2005)

This collection of eighteenth century Scottish songs and tunes is performed with voices, harpsichord, violins, cellos, guitar, viola and viola d’amore. It features the first ever recording of the original version of Robert Burns' most famous love song, My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose, to the tune by Italian singer Pietro Urbani.

Supreme playing and singing, and a strong sense of levity. Concerto Caledonia obviously take their music seriously, but no so themselves - there's passion and perfection here, but no pomposity.

Alongside songs by Burns in his own settings, and a Purcellian ode to friendship by theAberdeen lutenist and countertenor John Abell, there are tunes and variations by flame-haired fiddle wizard Robert Mackintosh, and Highland and Lowland fiddling extravaganzas.

Concerto Caledonia, directed by David McGuinness, with Mhairi Lawson (soprano), Jamie MacDougall (tenor) and David Greenberg (violin).

"Svelte and stylish" (The Scotsman)

"The funkiest album of Burns songs I've ever heard" (BBC Radio 3)

"Playing of the highest order" (Early Music Review)