Music Lane

• Arleen Auger: "Love Songs" - Harmonia 03:12:49 03/27/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's posted by jazz1 on March 16, 2008 at 11:45:50

  One of the most beautiful song recitals ever recorded. Wide ranging - everything from Brahms and Schumann to Quilter and Noel Coward. Ravishing songs, exquisite performances from this creamy toned soprano. She was taken ill not long after this recording, which stands as her best disc from a distinguished career.

  Ellen Hargis (with Paul O'dette on lute) "The Power of Love", 17th century songs, lovely and melancholy. Hargis isn't one of those white-toned girlish early music singers. She has a pure toned, silvery but rich *woman's* soprano. She often sings with midwestern early music stars The King's Noyse. www.noyseproductions.com

  "Leontyne Price Sings Barber": Price was muse to Barber, who composed his Hermit Songs for her, recorded here live with the composer accompanying. He also wrote Antony & Cleopatra for her, and two pieces from that ill fated opera are also on this disc. But the big deal with this recording is Price's memorable and sensitive performance of Knoxville 1915, one of the masterpieces of the last century. It was commissioned by Eleanor Steber, whose fine recording of it is still available. But Price's word painting is remarkable, and her gorgeous instrument was never more fresh or more expressive. I normally don't care for big voices or big voice repertoire. But Price is something special here.

  Ann Sophie Von Otter "Love's Twilight" and "Wings In The Night": Yes, she's very very popular, and she releases lots and lots of albums...but she's also really really good. Loves Twilight focuses on the burnished late romantic songs of Berg, Strauss and Korngold - none of these songs sounds exactly as you might expect given the baggage surrounding these composers, prepare yourself for revelations. Dramatic stuff. Wings, OTOH, features both folkish and straight Swedish art song - I had heard none of these songs before but I now can't live without this delightful and charming disc.

  Jan DeGaetani "Charles Ives: Songs", never surpassed as a collection of Ives. Another beloved American singer taken from us much too soon, DeGaetani displays astonishing control, dynamics and flexibility here, fearless but always musical. She never overpowers the spare songs, and she sails effortlessly through the thornier material. The pitch control has to be heard to be believed. I've adored Ives songs since my vocal teacher introduced me to them as a young teen. Essential recording.

  Lorraine Hunt Lieberson - "Handel Arias": Hunt Lieberson came to prominence through performances of early music under the directions of William Christie and Les Arts Florissants. Although she excelled at baroque Hunt also was superb in classical and modern repertoire, including the works of her husband, Peter Lieberson. Gorgeous tone and dramatic intensity mark this Handelian recital, which collects her best moments from the Glyndebourne Peter Sellars production of Theodora. One of the best Handel recordings I know. This was a great singer struck down in her prime by cancer. (Yet another.)

  Janet Baker "English Song Anthology": I could name half a dozen essential discs by Dame Janet but my favorite is probably this collection of mostly early 20th century British music - Vaughn-Williams, Finzi, Warlock, Ireland and others sung by a thirtyish Dame Janet with such conviction and artistry it's a recording I return to again and again.

  Elly Ameling "Schubert and Schuman - Songs". I find Ameling a bit underrated these days. Her simplicity and emotional directness are sometimes mistaken for lack of depth. But this silvery toned soprano excells at wordpainting - her expressivity illuminates the lyric and the line, an ideal lieder singer. This great album is worth its price alone for her wonderful performance of The Shepherd On The Rock.

  Elisabeth Schwarzkopf - bet you think I'm gonna say Arabella, or Rosenkavelier, or Four Last Songs, or Mozart...but nope, I'm gonna say "Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Sings Operetta", a charming confection that finds the German superstar at her most lively and relaxed. I don't even like operetta and even I can't resist it.
  
  

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  Edits: 03/27/08
• RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's - Bob Neill 17:48:56 03/19/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's posted by jazz1 on March 16, 2008 at 11:45:50

  Anything by Suzie LeBlanc, mostly on ATMA.
  
  

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• RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's - Cosmic Closet 13:21:22 03/18/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's posted by jazz1 on March 16, 2008 at 11:45:50

  Pilar Lorengar (with Heinz Hoppe, Franz Crass):
  Gounod, "St. Cecilia Mass"; Paris Conservatoire Orch. conducted by Jean-Claude Hartemann. Angel Stereo 36214.
  
  For this recording alone, she is one of my favorites. The 'Benedictus' is stunning.
  
  Available on CD but a hard one to find; I still have vinyl and I am looking. Well worth the effort.
  
  CC.
  
  

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• None...... - Todd Krieger 18:52:27 03/17/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's posted by jazz1 on March 16, 2008 at 11:45:50

  I someone pointed a gun to my head, I'd say Rise Stevens.....
  
  
  

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• Mahler, Kindertotenlieder, Janet Baker, Bernstein /Israel Philharmonic NT - DBB 17:25:22 03/17/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's posted by jazz1 on March 16, 2008 at 11:45:50

  nt
  
  

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• RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's - eril 12:43:47 03/17/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's posted by jazz1 on March 16, 2008 at 11:45:50

  Sandrine Piau, Emma Kirkby, Suzie LeBlanc, Isabel Bayrakdarian, Maria Cristina Kiehr, Soeur Marie Keurouz.
  All great and not screechy like lots of others
  
  

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• Renata Scotto for anything bel canto, and - Tom 08:30:11 03/17/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's posted by jazz1 on March 16, 2008 at 11:45:50

  any of the available Anna Netrebko recordings for her interesting varied repertoire.
  
  

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• Virtually anything by Barbara Bonney or Magdalena Kozena (nt) - Kas 20:34:50 03/16/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's posted by jazz1 on March 16, 2008 at 11:45:50

  nt
  
  

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• RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's - Slothrop 19:58:15 03/16/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's posted by jazz1 on March 16, 2008 at 11:45:50

  Always liked Lucia on the Carl Orff stuff (the fairytale operas, Klugen Frau and Der Monde, as well as an old recording of Carmina Burana) have to check out that Strauss. Thanks.
  
  

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• Elly Ameling and Jessye Norman - oldvinyl 19:25:50 03/16/08 (1)
  In Reply to: RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's posted by jazz1 on March 16, 2008 at 11:45:50

  Elly Ameling is superb in her Schubert lieder:
  
  This is a reissue of a Phillips LP:
  Schubert: Lieder [Hybrid SACD] [HYBRID SACD]
  Dalton Baldwin, Elly Ameling
  
  This was part of the Schubert complete lieder series on Hyperion:
  The Hyperion Schubert Edition 7 / Elly Ameling, Graham Johsnon by Franz Schubert, (Audio CD - 1993)
  
  She also performed on Harmonia Mundi (LP) and some of these have been reissued as well:
  Schubert, Schumann: Lieder of Schubert & Schumann, Hans Deinzer, Jörg Demus, Elly Ameling
  
  Her Faure, Debussy and Poulenc lieder (art song) were also outstanding.
  
  
  For Jessye:
  Strauss - Last Four Songs (Phillips)
  Schubert - lieder with Philip Moll (Phillips)
  
  Jessye's Duparc, Mahler, Ravel were also good. And wow can she belt out a spiritual!
  
  
  
  
  Enjoy the music.
  
  

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  • Amen to those two. - Harmonia 17:55:32 03/26/08 (0)
    In Reply to: RE: Elly Ameling and Jessye Norman posted by oldvinyl on March 16, 2008 at 19:25:50

    I think Ameling is a bit underrated these days but she is one of my favorites.
    
    

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• I really enjoy... - jimbill 15:47:42 03/16/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's posted by jazz1 on March 16, 2008 at 11:45:50

  Kiri Te Kanawa's "Verdi & Puccini".
  
  

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• Ying Huan/James Conlon, Puccini arias. - sser2 14:39:49 03/16/08 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's posted by jazz1 on March 16, 2008 at 11:45:50

  I have hundreds of vocal records that I like, but this one is the sweetest of all.
  
  

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• Veronique Gens, Anne Sophie Von Otter.. - ArdRi 14:36:29 03/16/08 (1)
  In Reply to: RE: Female classical singers, your favorites cd's posted by jazz1 on March 16, 2008 at 11:45:50

  Angelika Kirchschlager All perform marvelously in everything they do. Can't go wrong searching those names.
  
  

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  • RE: Veronique Gens, Anne Sophie Von Otter.. - jazz1 08:28:20 03/17/08 (0)
    In Reply to: RE: Veronique Gens, Anne Sophie Von Otter.. posted by ArdRi on March 16, 2008 at 14:36:29

    Yes 2 of my fav singers, Veronique Gens "Songs of the Auvergne" on Naxos are deligtfull and the recording superb.
    Anne Sophie last cd "Terezin" to commemorate musicians that died
    during the holocaust is mesmerizing.
    
    

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