The Talk of the Town
Rosa Ponselle is the singer who had it all.
“Du bist die ruh” was one of the first art songs I ever knew.
Respighi‘s liriche can be as colorful, poetic, and downright lovely as any selection from other art song traditions. Case in point: Rosa Feola‘s recording of the first song from Quattro rispetti toscani.
This task feels near impossible, as I listen to a LOT of art song singers on repeat, across decades and continents (from piano to orchestral works) — mostly for pleasure, but also for study.
I listen to about as much art song as I do opera and could have filled every day of April with favorite selections.
This performance of Poulenc‘s “Les Chemins de l’amour” is a gem.
A very haunting Hugo Wolf song sung exquisitely here by Arleen Auger.
I had heard the renowned Dutch soprano on recordings and was an admirer of hers. I was unprepared, however, for such a truly memorable evening.
Thanks to Elly Ameling, I made it through college.
What a shaded and elegant delivery William Mattteuzzi brings to this lilting setting of D’Annunzio‘s “O falce di luna calante”!
Does this count as an art song?
I have always loved this recording of Canteloube‘s Chants d’Auvergne sung by Dawn Upshaw and conducted by Kent Nagano.
Jessye Norman really embraces elements of the song falling somewhere between classical art song and popular ballad.
Janet Baker sings Elgar‘s Sea Pictures with such honesty and clarity and fervor.
It’s not where you start but where you Finnish
Wolfgang Holzmair‘s performance was amazing in its personal and intimate approach.
William Parker‘s career launch coincided with the closet door fully opening for American male classical vocalists; the cruel irony is that Will was also an early AIDS casualty, gone in 1993 at 49.
This song has always been one of my favorites.
The song recitals I remember most vividly were, unsurprisingly, the most vivid ones.
The staggeringly great Ukraine-born Jewish bass Mark Reizen sings “The Ebullient Kura Swirls” a/k/a “The Persian Love Song” by Moldova-born Jewish composer Anton Rubinstein.
Frida Leider is a major Wagnerian soprano who does not sound like a Wagnerian soprano.
As a (former) bass singer myself, I’ve always been captivated by this aria.
Pure class. Kurt Moll really knew his own voice inside out.
As we reach the end of “Bass Month” I’d like to call attention to the superb American Gregory Reinhart who particularly shone in music by Jean-Philippe Rameau.
Tell us: What’s your favorite Verdi performance?
Hasten thee to feed another quarter of conversation for The Talk of the Town!
