Orlando

Clare Higgins's supple, silky voice does justice to Woolf's literary landmark. The language of Orlando, peppered with alliterative phrases, flows effortlessly with perfect pacing by Higgins, and Woolf's dry wit shines through her performance. As the character of Orlando changes genders and situations through the centuries, the story is sustained by Higgins's fluid reading. While an enhanced experiment in gender identity is the focus of the story, the star of this recording is Woolf's language. The combination of her words and Higgins's voice is an ideal convergence. The rich descriptions of Orlando's surroundings linger pleasantly in the listener's ears. R.F. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine