Conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra last Thursday night, Frans Bruggen "chose a suite from Rameau's 'Nais,' a dramatic 'pastorale-heroique' from 1749, a sprawling allegorical tale of gods and mortals of the type loved by 18th century audiences. Two J.S. Bach works -- the cantata 'Geist und Seele wird verwirret,' BWV 35, with countertenor Bejun Mehta, and the Fourth Orchestral Suite -- completed the program.

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"Mehta . . . has a light, elegant voice that projected easily throughout Symphony Center. Contemplating the wonders of God's miracles, he sang with a freshness that conveyed both youthful awe and confident faith.

"In the cantata's second aria, 'God has made all things good,' his high, ornately decorated melodies floated gently above the low, husky tone of Patricia Lee's portative organ."
--from review by Wynne Delacoma at suntimes.com