A Lady to Watch
Grady Harp | Los Angeles, CA United States | 02/10/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Measha Brueggergosman continues to impress as an important soprano artist with her performances and recordings, and SURPRISE is a wise choice for her to demonstrate her gifts at this point. Hers is a voice of richness and full range of color and to this she adds intelligence and one of the finest levels of communication of text when compared to her peers. She is a fine artist at the beginning of what appears to be a very promising career.
Brueggergosman devotes this CD to songs of a cabaret nature and for those who remember Jessye Norman at the beginning of her career holding a concert hall rapt with her very personal approach to the cabaret medium, there are bound to be comparisons as Brueggergosman approaches some of the same literature. William Bolcom's 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience' is a solid theatrical collection of songs from many sources and here he has orchestrated some for one of his favored singers. Brueggergosman not only sings with a honeyed voice, but she also communicates the strange words of these songs with sensitive assurance.
Included in the SURPRISE collection are wonderfully animated songs of Satie with Bolcom serving as Brueggergosman's fluid accompanist. They work well, finding all the simple yet subtle aspects of Satie's peculiarly rewarding miniatures. Also included are Schoenberg's 'Brettl-Lieder' and here Brueggergosman manages to transmit the meanings of the German texts as though they were in the language of the listener. When the songs require orchestra the BBC is conducted by David Robertson who seems to be having as much involvement and enjoyment in his role as collaborator as his soloist.
Because the quality of her voice and her intelligent communication of text are matched by a stage presence that immediately bonds her with her audience, it is probable that Measha Brueggergosman is one her way to a bright career. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, February 08"
Measha never fails to deliver
Kathryn | 12/12/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Measha's character and sense of humour shine through in this quarky collection of Cabaret songs by Bolcom, Schoenberg and Satie (with William Bolcom himself at the piano!) Her facility with languages is also showcased, as the Schoenberg songs are in German, and the Satie are in French. This collection is not for everyone; not everyone enjoys the style of cabaret music. But if you're looking for something completely different, this is a good bet."
Track Listings (21) - Disc #1
