New York Festival of Song, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Joseph Kaiser Spanish Love Songs Genres:Pop, Latin Music The late Metropolitan Opera star Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, partnered by the brilliant young tenor Joseph Kaiser, and pianists Steven Blier and Michael Barrett, gave a concert of Spanish Love Songs in 2004. Their memorable a... more »nd wide-ranging New York Festival of Song program includes Spanish and Spanish-related songs by Granados, Turina, Ravel, Schumann, Wolf, Sondheim and others. The release of Spanish Love Songs coincides with the Metropolitan Opera debut of Joseph Kaiser, singing the role of Romeo in Gounod's Romeo et Juliette, conducted by Placido Domingo. This will be followed immediately by Met performances singing Tamino in The Magic Flute. (Kaiser's Tamino has been widely seen in Kenneth Branagh's recent film of The Magic Flute. Lorraine Hunt Lieberson was the winner of the 2007 Grammy Award for 'Best Vocal Recording', for her performance of her husband Peter Lieberson's Rilke Songs (BRIDGE 9178), accompanied by pianist Peter Serkin. Ms. Lieberson's performances were highly regarded for their searing intensity and searching commitment.
Spanish Love Songs takes a whirlwind tour of Iberian culture, from the mystically introspective to the opulently romantic. On Spanish Love Songs we hear the great masters Robert Schumann, Hugo Wolf and Maurice Ravel, fascinated by the beauty of Spanish culture, alongside the music of Spain's greatest composers of song. As an encore, the four performers combine for a delightful performance of Barcelona from Sondheim's Company.« less
The late Metropolitan Opera star Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, partnered by the brilliant young tenor Joseph Kaiser, and pianists Steven Blier and Michael Barrett, gave a concert of Spanish Love Songs in 2004. Their memorable and wide-ranging New York Festival of Song program includes Spanish and Spanish-related songs by Granados, Turina, Ravel, Schumann, Wolf, Sondheim and others. The release of Spanish Love Songs coincides with the Metropolitan Opera debut of Joseph Kaiser, singing the role of Romeo in Gounod's Romeo et Juliette, conducted by Placido Domingo. This will be followed immediately by Met performances singing Tamino in The Magic Flute. (Kaiser's Tamino has been widely seen in Kenneth Branagh's recent film of The Magic Flute. Lorraine Hunt Lieberson was the winner of the 2007 Grammy Award for 'Best Vocal Recording', for her performance of her husband Peter Lieberson's Rilke Songs (BRIDGE 9178), accompanied by pianist Peter Serkin. Ms. Lieberson's performances were highly regarded for their searing intensity and searching commitment.
Spanish Love Songs takes a whirlwind tour of Iberian culture, from the mystically introspective to the opulently romantic. On Spanish Love Songs we hear the great masters Robert Schumann, Hugo Wolf and Maurice Ravel, fascinated by the beauty of Spanish culture, alongside the music of Spain's greatest composers of song. As an encore, the four performers combine for a delightful performance of Barcelona from Sondheim's Company.
CD Reviews
Musical to the Core
Lois C. Fleming | Chicago Suburbs, USA | 10/21/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you're under the Lorraine Hunt Lieberson spell, or you've not yet heard her and you're wondering about the effusive reviews of those who are avidly snapping up every recording she made during her too-short life, you won't be disappointed by this addition. It's classic Lorraine, with a pleasing variety of songs, the inimitable passion and depth of musical and dramatic engagement, in addition to "the voice."
Since it's a live recording, you are transported to an occasion in time, with an audience responding. The reminder that no further such occasions are possible, make a release like this all the more treasured. The booklet contains interesting comments from her fellow musicians about her musical impact and artistry.
When are we going to get her singing Didon on a Les Troyen release from the Met - both audio CD and DVD, please?!"
What's Not to Love?
Jerry Floyd | Washington, D.C. USA | 11/20/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This compilation is a reminder of the stunning artisty of the late Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. It's also a nice introduction to the young tenor Joseph Kaiser near the very beginning of his rapidly ascending career.
Mezzo-soprano and tenor take turn singing a variety of songs written by Spanish composers or inspired by Iberia. Occasionally the two talented singers sing together, in "La paloma" and Charbrier's "Espana". And most fetchingly, in "Barcelona", from Sondheim's musical "Company". Rarely have two opera singers enunciated English so clearly as happens in this wry number.
Sterling accompaniment by Michael Barrett and Steven Blier helps steer this assortment of popular and classical songs, recorded at a 2004 New York Festival of Song recital. The accompanying booklet include evocative tributes to Ms. Lieberson by the two pianists."
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson & Joseph Kaiser in recital
Ronald W. Johns | Boston, MA USA | 11/25/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This live recording from Caramoor in 2004 of Lorraine Hunt Lieberson & Joseph Kaiser w/2 excellent supporting pianists is a total pleasure. The rising Canadian tenor Joseph Kaiser shows that he can be persuasive in the song literature as well as in opera. Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, of course, is a superb dramatic interpreter but proves in the Ravel vocalise that she can act with her voice even without words. The solos are wonderful but the duet work struck me as the most rewarding, particularly the unexpected and well dramatized Sondheim "Barcelona" encore. Any LHL fan will have to have this!"
Spanish Love Songs
Neil Haslett | Naples, Fl. USA | 11/25/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"No one excels Lorraine Hunt. Her impact is so strong on someone who appreciates fine singing. Unfortunately now, her outstanding contribution to the art of singing exists only on her recordings. This album is another example of her versatility along with Schumann, Brahms and Mahler songs, Handel and Bach Operas, Oratorios and Cantatas. I only wish there were more."
