A very distinctive voice. What do you think of it?
Sorry to be so negative: I just hate it. It seems he is being strangled, or tortured or something. I think he totally spoiled Leonhardt's version of the St. Mathew. But them he uses a different technique from the other countertenors of which he is proud. Well, some people like it...
I would call Jacobs expressive, but too affected to my taste. I agree completely with RdS, when he says he spoilt Leonardts St Matthew. Jacobs voice seems best suited to baroque italian opera I think, but I do not like him. Cheers
Ah! So, I'm not alone. The Jacobs "hoot" has even been known to send me in search of the stop button. Definitely a minus in the otherwise enjoyable Leonhardt Bach Cantatas on Teldec. Harnoncourt wisely seems to steer clear of him.
I do not like him too well in Herreweghe's earlier version either (another soloist I am not particularly fond of is the soprano Barbara Schlick). Regards, L.
An early example of a countertenor of which there are better performers today. Jacobs is quite a good conductor however. His Purcells Dido & Aeneas is a goody.