Dawn Upshaw - Voices of Light

Title: Voices of Light Artist: Dawn Upshaw Release Date: 2004 Label: Nonesuch Records Duration: 62:00 Album Type(s): composer biography, Special essay (music history, styles, etc.), composition (work) description, lyrics/libretto UPC: 075597981223 Genre: Vocal Music Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 1 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Poèmes pour Mi, song cycle for soprano & piano (or orchestra), I/17b
   - Le Collier
2. Chansons de Bilitis (3), song cycle for voice & piano, L. 90
   - La Flûte de Pan
3. Chansons de Bilitis (3), song cycle for voice & piano, L. 90
   - La Chevelure
4. Chansons de Bilitis (3), song cycle for voice & piano, L. 90
   - Le tombeau des naïads
5. Harawi, song cycle for soprano & piano, I/28
   - L'Escalier redit, gestes du soleil
6. Harawi, song cycle for soprano & piano, I/28
   - Amour oiseau d'étoile
7. Lúa descolorida, for voice & piano
8. Poèmes pour Mi, song cycle for soprano & piano (or orchestra), I/17b
   - Priére exaucée
9. La chanson d'Eve, song cycle (10) for voice & piano, Op. 95
   - I. Paradis
10. La chanson d'Eve, song cycle (10) for voice & piano, Op. 95
    - II. Prima verba
11. La chanson d'Eve, song cycle (10) for voice & piano, Op. 95
    - III. Roses ardentes
12. La chanson d'Eve, song cycle (10) for voice & piano, Op. 95
    - IV. Comme Dieu rayonne
13. La chanson d'Eve, song cycle (10) for voice & piano, Op. 95
    - V. L'Aube blanche
14. La chanson d'Eve, song cycle (10) for voice & piano, Op. 95
    - VI. Eau vivante
15. La chanson d'Eve, song cycle (10) for voice & piano, Op. 95
    - VII. Veilles-tu, ma senteur de soleil?
16. La chanson d'Eve, song cycle (10) for voice & piano, Op. 95
    - VIII. Dans un parfum de roses blanches
17. La chanson d'Eve, song cycle (10) for voice & piano, Op. 95
    - IX. Crépuscule
18. La chanson d'Eve, song cycle (10) for voice & piano, Op. 95
    - X. Ô mort, poussière d'étoiles
19. Chants de terre et de ciel, song cycle for soprano & piano, I/19
    - Résurrection

Making song recordings with context and cohesion is one of Dawn Upshaw's specialties, and one of her best qualities. Voices of Light, with pianist Gilbert Kalish, is a masterpiece in that regard, pairing the underappreciated songs of Olivier Messiaen with those of Debussy, Fauré, and relative newcomer Osvaldo Golijov. The result is a heady and interesting program -- one that feels exciting right out of the wrapper. The Messiaen and Golijov are fantastic, and by themselves justify the purchase of the album; "Prière Exaucée" (Prayer Granted) from Poèmes pour Mi, for instance, has an electric, visceral joy; and Golijov's "Lúa Descolorida" (Colorless Moon) unfurls the kind of slow, simple beauty that makes sadness a thing to be savored. The rest of the album is somewhat uneven, largely because Upshaw's French is too wordy, too accented, and too removed from the essential melodic quality of the language to capture the music's real mojo. Debussy's Chansons de Bilitis in particular, three of the most erotic and ephemeral songs he ever composed, seem sexless and disjointed, wanting for a more syrupy and evocative vocalism. But Kalish is on the money, playing with the kind of "raindrops on a pond" color and articulation that bring the best out of impressionism. Fauré's La chanson d'Ève fairs better, benefiting from Upshaw's careful attention to poetry. In the end, this is a highly recommendable recording that offers the welcome opportunity to hear some less-familiar gems lovingly performed. ~ Allen Schrott, All Music Guide

Name Credits Barbara de Wilde Design Dawn Upshaw Soprano, Liner Notes, Soprano (Vocal) Eli Cane Production Assistant Gilbert Kalish Piano Gragg Schaufeld Editorial Coordinator Gregg Schaufeld Editorial Coordinator Karina Benznicki Production Supervisor Karina Beznicki Production Supervisor Max Wilcox Producer, Engineer Michael "Mick" Wilson Photography Michael Steinberg Liner Notes Michael Wilson Photography Olivier Messiaen Composer, Text, Liner Notes Osvaldo Golijov Text Translation, Translation, Liner Notes Paul Zinman Engineer Peter Low Text Translation Robert Hurwitz Executive Producer