What a surprise this is! One can only rejoice when any further recordings of the greatly-missed Lorraine hunt Lieberson turn up, and this one is a stunner. In the notes we are told by pianist Blier that he was trying for a long time to get together with Lieberson to record some of the very works on this program, but they never could schedule a date, especially as Lieberson’s star had risen and her consequent bookings made such an undertaking more and more difficult, since she also had moved to the west coast. But then he remembered this recital from the New York Festival of Song at Caramoor in 2004, one he had tried to get down on disc in a studio but failed, and decided that this testament of her great artistry, and his own desire to be presented in recital with her on CD should not go unnoticed. Fortunately for all it was recorded live, and though the sonics are not state of the art, they are still excellent, and the program is simply fabulous.
The theme of course is “Spanish Love Songs”, and Lieberson does not restrict herself to Spanish composers alone by any means. Though I must confess to being a little saddened when we leave the purely Spanish composers for the likes of Schumann and Wolf, who, great as they are, lack the distinctive flavor that the genuine articles impart into their music, the concept is wonderful, and all four artists pour their hearts into this music. The opening song, “The Gaze of the maja” by Enrique Granados, is a song that Lieberson discovered in 1991 while attempting to come up with program ideas for the NYFOS, and Blier relates that the room fell silent when she was finished singing, so powerful was her interpretation. This power is felt here also, and the song sets a wonderful tone for the rest of the recital. Other oddities of wonder: Chabrier’s vocal version of Espana and a vocalise done to the unspecified instrumental work of Ravel called Habenera. The standards by the aforementioned Schumann and Wolf are given terrific readings, and the quirky finish of “Barcelona” from Stephen Sondheim’s 1970 masterwork Company caps a perfect ending to a nearly-perfect evening. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Fans will have to have it, and if you do not yet know the radiant singing of the late great Lorraine Hunt, this is as good a place to start as any.
TrackList:
GRANADOS: The Gaze of the maja
GRANADOS: Let the reason for my secret anxiety be revealed
GRIGNON: April Song
TURINA: Farruca
RODRIGO: Cancion de cuna
RODRIGO: I have loved a shepherdess
MONTSALVATGE: The Lizard is Crying
MOMPOU: Above you, only flowers
ROUSSEL: The Salamanca Student
RAVEL: Vocalise-Habenera
CHABRIER: Espana
SCHUMANN: Romance (from Spanische Liebeslieder)
WOLF: Within my bosom (from Spanisches Liederbuch)
WOLF: All have gone to rest, heart (from Spanisches Liederbuch)
WOLF: From her green balcony (from Spanisches Liederbuch)
WOLF: Come, O Death, shrouded in night (from Spanisches Liederbuch)
TORROBA: From this peaceful corner of Madrid
LUNA: I come from Spain
YRADIER: The Dove
SONDHEIM: Barcelona (from Company)
— Steven Ritter
