3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Previn, Bonney and Fleming, November 11, 2001
This review is from: André Previn - Diversions · Songs / Fleming · Bonney · Wiener Phil. · LSO · Previn (Audio CD)
To say that Andre Previn has had an eclectic musical career would be an understement. He has written movies scores ("Two for the Seesaw"), opera ("A Streetcar named Desire"), played jazz piano and composed symphonic music. In his "Diversions/Songs" he has written both a suite in four movements and 2 long songs: one, sung by Barbara Bonney based on Michael Ondaatje's poem about Billy the Kid and the other sung by Renee Fleming based on Isak Dinesen's "Out of Africa."
All of the music is quite beautiful and in the Suite in particular you can hear echoes of all his former musical lives: jazz, blues, etc. The Dinesen piece was written especially for Ms. Fleming and in it.. she shines. Her tone is bright yet very human and womanly....a little sexual even. Bonney also acquits herself well in the Billy the Kid piece. This is a perfect CD for those just beginning to appreciate Classical music: it's accessible on a very basic level because of it's surface beauty yet sophisticated, diverse and complicated enough to please those with a history of enjoying classical music.
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