This is a simply outstanding Bach disc. I’ve heard a lot of Iestyn Davies, both on disc and live, but I’m not sure I’ve hear him do anything better than this. His singing is expressive, nuanced and extremely stylish and the voice falls pleasingly on the ear at all times. He consistently puts across the meaning of the words. The playing of Arcangelo is expert and unfailingly stylish and, as I’ve already commented, one has the sense of chamber music-making. Add to all this that the Hyperion recording is very fine and the documentation is up to the label’s usual high standard and this release is a sure-fire winner. I do hope this team will go on to record Bach’s other cantatas for solo alto.

As I write this there are still a couple of weeks of 2016 left. However, this disc will almost certainly be on my shortlist for Recordings of the Year 2017 and it’s going to take something pretty special to dislodge it.