Sunday 15 November 2009

1827 World's Great voices?

My Friday 13th of November 13th ended with an orgy of great singing which continued until the early hours of the 14th. The cause of my ecstasy was the arrival of the Readers Digest album- The World’s Greatest Voices. There are five programmes each on a separate audio disk and an extensive booklet with info on each track.

Programme one is entitled Enchanting arias with an emphasis on tenderness and subtlety rather than in popular context power ballads. It begins with Charlotte Church, (01) Tell me what is from Mozart’s the Marriage of Figaro and which describes the pleasure and pain of first love and sung in English. This is followed by a duet which I have heard several times before but would not have been able to identify, Dame Joan Sutherland sings with Jane Berbie the Flower duet (02) from Lakme by Delibes.

Teresa Boganza and the Ambrosian singers then perform one of the most famous female arias in opera L’amour Est Un Osseau Rebelle from Bizet’s Carmen(03) which I first saw in Croydon as a schoolboy with my birth and care mothers and their eldest sisters, I even liked the Hollywood version of Carmen Jones buying the Long Play record now some 50 years of age. I have various version on video tapes and a CD with Regina Resnik as Carmen and Joan Sutherland as Micaela. In the morning I was able to buy tickets for Met Opera Relay in January. My only disappointment with the opera is that it is written and sung in French rather than Spanish.

Another familiar Aria of previously unknown origin is M Appari Tutt Amor from Martha (Flotow) sung in Italian by Roberto Alagna (04)

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa then sings Oh My Beloved Father in Italian, one of Puccini’s most loves arias from the rarely performed Gianni Schicchi. (05) She then sings the Dream of Doretta from Puccini’s La Rondine (06) Again it is an aria I have heard before although the opera is rarely performed.

Placido Domingo gives his first performance with O Paradis from another opera long since excluded from the Grand Opera scene, Materbeer’s L’Africaine (07). British Lesley Garrett then sings Casta Diva from Bellini’s Norma (08) which is beautiful and followed by the similarly romantic sounding duet from Bizet’s the Pearl Fishermen with Placido Domingo and Thomas Hampson.(08).

Power and range is trademark of Luciano Pavarotti who commences with On with the Motley from I Pagliacci (09) and likely to bring the house down who ever sings but Pavarotti is extraordinary. This is followed by what the booklet describes as the daftest plot in opera and therefore appropriately named La Wally, Ebben? Ne Andro Latino is performed by Leslie Garret, a piece I believe I have heard before and matches the emotional intensity of Pavarotti. (10). There is more magic to follow with Jose Carreras and Bellini’s Fenesta Che Lucive (11) and Pavarotti with the first of two arias from Puccini’s Tosca, Recondita Armonia is one of the best known (12) and Placido Domingo, The Stars were brightly shining (16) closing the first programme. In between the French tenor Marcello Alvarez performs Pourquoi Me Reveiller from Massenet’s Werther and is a revelation(13), and Robert Alagna then follows with another of the best known loved of all male arias Che Gelida Manina (14) followed by Jose Carreras with the Flower song from Carmen(15). By this time goose pimples were electrifying and I abandoned everything else to concentrate on listening and making notes until close on 4am.

The second programme is headed voices of Tranquillity which would have better titled Sacred or Spiritual Music and begins again with Charlotte Church and I vow to thee , my country by Holst (17). Lesley Garrett follows with Bless This House the onetime regular favourite for radio broadcasting.(18). Dame Kiri Te Kanawa sings Let the Bright Seraphim from Handel’s Samson Oratio (19), a well known aria and Emma Kirby, But who may Abide The Day is Coming from his sung by everyone, the Messiah (20).

Robert Alagna then has two performances with first Sanctus from the Berlioz Requiem with an ethereal back choir (21) and then Agnus Dei from Bizet’s L’Arlesienne. (22) Dame Kiri then contributes Laudate Dominunum from Mozart’s Solemn Vespers (23), new music to me although I have a collection of his Masses.

Anthony Way sings the well known O for the Wings of a Dove Mendelssohn (24) and Angela Gheorghiu the more familiar to day Pie Jesu from Faure’s Requiem (25) followed by Crucifix with Roberto Alagna (26) and Dame Kiri O Divine Redeemer (27)

Sir Harry Seacombe was originally known as a Comedian who could sing, as a member of the cast of the Goon Show but in his later years he became a much loved presenter and contributor to the Sunday evening’s religious programme. His contribution is his most well known Bach’s Ave Maria arranged by Gounod (28) He is followed by one of the best known school boy singers of recent generations Aled Jones and All Through the Night (29) and Franck’s Panis Angelicus with Russell Watson (30). Sir Harry then gives his well known rendering of the Lord is my Shepherd(31) and the sessions ends oddly with Nan Mouskouri Plasir D’Amour, perhaps as a bridge to the third programme which covers Classics from the Stage and the Screen (32). A feature of this programme is the contribution of the choirs

(33) I did not see the stage production of West Side Story, and as with many my introduction to show was through the Film and it was only when looking up Stockyard Channing from the West Wing that I realised she played a key part. Tonight is sung by Jose Carreras.

I also loved the 1960 film Can Can with Frank Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine and Maurice Chevalier. Dame Kiri Kanawa sings (34) I love Paris. I also enjoyed Love Story with Ali Mcgraw and Ryan 0’Neil. Placido Domingo sings (35) Where do I begin. I am confused by the programme notes which appears to indicate that Placido Domingo sings The Second Time although the heading says is Tito Beltrain(36) and is in my view one the great surprises of the whole collection as a passionate show stopping tour de force.

Stranger in Paradise from Kismet, here sung by the Opera Babes was my introduction to Borodin and is sung by the Opera Babes (37). I saw the film when it was released.

A long time favourite of mine is Yesterdays from Roberta with Dame Kiri (38) and Lover come back to me became a jazz standard I think, here with Leslie Garrett and the Romberg and Hammerstein number from New Moon (39). Three Coins in a Fountain is a film from childhood with Love is many Splendid sing played for years on the radio and now sung by Jose Carreras (40), in contrast to the sophisticated Smoke Gets in Your Eyes from Roberto with Dame Kiri (41) Smiling Through has Lesley Garret (42)

Because Your mine is on my Mario Lanza recording and comes from the film of the same title, here sung by Joseph Carreras (43). Lesley Garrett follows with My Blue Heaven from follow the Boys a star studded film for the USA and Britain at War(44). I have not been a great fan of Gilbert and Sullivan although I was taken to performances of the Doyle Carte Opera company on tour as a child and have seen a few stage productions since then. Three Little Maids from School one fo the well known pieces from the Mikado is performed by Leslie Garrett, Joan Rigby and Susan Bullock(45).

Similarly the music of Franz Lehar and his Merry Widow has not been my cup of tea. Lesley Garrett sings Vilja (46). This contrasts with. Climb Every Mountain with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. I saw The Sound of Music with a bevy of Child Care officers when working for Oxfordshire at the city centre cinema and then took my birth and care mothers with their eldest sister to see the film at first opportunity. I acquired the video tape edition as part of some deal I cannot now remember but still watch the film every time it comes on TV, usually at Christmas. I particularly enjoyed the programme made on the lives and reunion of the seven children when they went together in Heidelberg(47).

The Disk ends with I could have Danced all night from My Fair Lady sung by Angela Gheorghiu, I had to book tickets for the central London Cinema performance of the show taking the three aunts. I have seen the film several times since and always enjoy (48).

Programme four is a collection of sentimental songs beginning with of my favourites marking the passing of time, September Song by Kurt Weil and sung by Lesley Garrett.(49)

Irving Berlin’s Always is performed by Kiri Te Kanawa was part of childhood (50)

Noel Coward songs are for the mature of experience and I know him more from his films. Ian Bostridge who is unknown to me performs one of 300 songs written and composed by the master of communicating the life experience of the upper classes(51).

Renée Fleming with Daniel Barenboim shows a side of her work which perhaps explains her popularity in the USA with Ellington’s Do nothing Till you hear from me(52).

In contrast I am familiar with Tenderly, the evening breeze, here sung by Jose Carreras, although the version which I and most people know was that of Nat King Cole, frequently heard on Family Favourites which overtook Forces Favourites at the end of World War II (53).

This is followed by another of my great songs of all time, Cole Porter’s Every Time We Say Goodbye I die a Little, here with Kiri Te Kanawa (54).

You Belong to my hear was sung by Bing Crosby among others from 1945 and is performed by Jose Carreras and the arrangements maintains the original Latin feel(55).

Lesley Garret performs Someone to Watch over me which I believe comes from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess but I may be wrong, the composer who came to international fame through is Rhapsody in Blue in 1924(56).

Another of my top songs is I’ve Got you Under my Skins with Kara Te Kanawa undertaking one of Cole Porters much performed standards and which won an Oscar as the title song of the James Stewart 1936 production (57).

Renée Fleming gives another Ellington Song, Prelude to a Kiss, her special treatment (58)while Ian Bostridge takes on the second Noel Coward song, The Dream is over (59).

Because is another great standard which I know from the Mario Lanza version here sung by Jose Carreras (60) while Lesley Garrett gives her treatment to With a song in my heart from Spring is here (61) Love is guiding star is the creation of opera tenor Richard Tauber and is sung by Placido Domingo (62) Be my Love is another Marion Lanza adopted number which is the work of Sammy Cahn’s and sung by Tito Beltrain (63)

Any Williams made Moon River is own and this version with closes the programme is by Luciano Pavarotti (64). Could the contrast be greater!

The final programme is the most exciting for its range of choices as indicated by its title Grand Moments and begins with O solo Mio, the most well known Italian song and of course sung here by non one else than Pavarotti (65). It was Saturday lunchtime before I was ready to complete the five programmes with a lunch of Chinese style chicken thighs and baked beans followed by dates, grapes and coffee, Asda gas its own brand of firm and juicy dates for £1 tucked away towards the end of an aisle at the end of which there is a display of more well known branded ones in the same size box for £1.50.

Jose Carreras performs the well known La Danza from Siorees Musicales by Rossini (66) and this is followed by Joan Sutherland singing the Mad Scene from Lucia di Lammermoor and others at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden(67) and then Dame Joan Baker performs Che Faro Senza Euridice from the opera Orfeo and Euridice by Gluck(68).

Marilyn Horne who was regularly heard on the radio contributes Softly awakes my heart with the Vienna Opera Orchestra from Saint Saens Samson and Delilah (69). Dame Joan Baker then sings Dido’s Lament When I am laid to earth from Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas (70).

Marcelo Alvarez sings Seul Ser La Terra from Don Sebastien Donizetti (71) and then a song described as exquisite, I am a poor Wayfaring Stranger with Andreas Scholl (72). This leads to Bryn Terfel in Handel’s Where’er You Walk from Semele (73).

Angela Gheorghiu provides Depuis Le Jour from Louis by Carpentier(74) and onto the Choir of New College Oxford with The Blue Bird( 75) and back to Bryn Terfel for the Welsh folk anthem We’ll keep a welcome (76) Another ensemble work is the D’Orly Carte with My Gallant Crew from HMS Pinafore (77) and then Jose Carreras in his final contribution Mattinata the Neapolitan song by Leoncavallo (78) and the final two are La Donna E Mobile with Sir Harry (79) from Verdi’s Rigolett0 and the much loved Kathleen Ferrier Blow the Wind Southerly which was one the great musical memories of my childhood and youth And is thought to have originated in Northumbria (80) WOW indeed and more WOW. Music for concentrated enjoyment.

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