Customer Reviews

Barbara Bonney - Diamonds in the Snow (Nordic Songs) / Pappano

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A nice program to introduce Scandanavian art songs to an audience by a premier American soprano is a welcome relief from the stream of German lieder recordings. To my mind Scandanavian music is a relatively unmined motherlode waiting for an adventurous listener to discover. Ms Bonney's intelligent singing made this recording a feast of song. The vivid vocal characterization in such pieces as Grieg's "Princess" or the 2 settings of "Girl comes home after seeing her lover" by Sibelius and Stenhammar was as real as it was heartbreaking. Her tone of pure youthful innocence is known to this writer, and has impressed me in the past. I only wish she had chosen another pianist instead of opera conductor Pappano. Comparing this recording to Anne Sofie Von Otter's recordings of the same songs of Sibelius and Grieg did not fare well for the accompanist on the Decca recording. Bengt Forsberg plays with more intensity, and is matched step for step with Otter. The Grieg songs are delightful, with "Last Spring" containing some tempo freshness that reminded this listener of the warming qualities of Spring's return. I wished for more depth in the swirling eddies in "with a water lily", but was touched by the glowing intensity of "A Swan", and fell in love with a colorful "From Monte Pincio", Grieg's musical travel-portrait of a Roman hill. The "Quiet Nightingale" was discrete, and needed to be with Ms. Bonney's sex appeal made manifest in her retelling of the sound of the bird in the poem. The Sibelius set is wonderful, with a fantastic jaunt through the forest to a romantic rendevous in "Lost in the Forest" made exciting with descending swirls of chromaticsm suggesting swaths of birds upset by the protaganists happening upon them. The heartbreak in the quasi-operatic "Sigh, rushes, sigh" was palpable and dramatic, as was the rising feeling of abandonment and the rush of emotion not quite reaching it's climax (isnt that so Finnish?)of "Was it a dream?". As if to continue the heartbreak, the betrayal of the daughter in "Girl came home from meeting her lover" was made manifest in an outraged tone at the conclusion. The quality of Stenhammar's setting of the "Girl coming home" is less lustrous than the high melodrama of Sibelius', but is rich in inspiration. His refined elegance created a quieter mood, as though the daughter were more fragile and less sure of herself than the Sibelius protaganist, and Ms Bonney matches the pale daughter with a pale, hollow tone that is unforgettable. The lulling "Adagio" is like a hot summer's day that goes on a bit long and unrelenting, and "Sweden" is a patriotic paean to the country that never seems to go anywhere musically. Luckily we return to more inspirational territory in "Guiding Spirit" and "In the Forest" with more longing and mystery, the latter containing some lovely piano writing. Hugo Alfven's orchestral music sounds like Strauss, and the 2 songs here sound like early Strauss songs, although not quite as daring and rich. In "Take My Heart", Bonney's fragility is disarming. Stars twinkle in the gentle "Forest Sleeps", with Bonney's voice glowing in a reassuring warmth. Sjoberg's "Music" is the Swedish "An die Musik", a paean to the mysery of the soothing power of music. Again, Bonney's intelligent phrasing yields much pleasure. This disc is a lovely collection for fans of art songs, and is a feather in the cap of Ms. Bonney. I only wish Pappano would match her refinement with more personality.

My wife and I have attended every recital that Barbara Bonney has given in New York City. At the last recital, she focused on songs by Scandanavians, and sang many of the songs which appear on this marvelous recording. The CD truly captures her beautiful voice, her incredible musicianship, and the sensitivity and perception she brings to each song. Her singing of Alfven's songs introduced a wonderful Swedish composer to me. I went out and bought some of his lovely orchestral music on Naxos (his Symphony #3 is very beautiful.) By all means, buy this marvelous recording, and consider her other CD's. You may want to buy van Otter's recital of Grieg songs which are also very beautiful, and are interpreted in a very different way from the way Bonney interprets them.

This disc joins my Cecilia Bartoli/James Levine recital cd in a tie for most perfect blending of singer and acompanist. This is just a poetic blending of talents and the music on this cd isn't just pretty or interesting-- it is-- in the words of another reviewer on this site-- "music to dream by." These songs inhabit their own spaces-- intimate and pure. Barbara Bonney's tone is beautiful and Pappano seems to understand her mind and intentions in a deep way. At first, its obscure songs (read: not Schubert or Schumann) made me question buying this cd. As soon as I pressed play though, my hesitancy evaporated and there was only intimate music. Terrific.

I've seen Ms bonney perform live and have fallen under the spell of a great artist, but the repertory contained of this disc made me hesitate, as I have come to know most of it through Anne Sofie von Otter and I could not imagine a lyrical soprano such as Barbara Bonney adding anything at all to my powerful impressions of Von Otter. How I love to be proven wrong. Her approach is lighter, yes, but her understanding of the music is every bit as valid as the Swedish diva's. Comparing the interpretations are fascinating and, after listening through the recital once, I kept on changing between discs to savour the delight of how two supreme artists can put different but equally valid personal stamps on great music. One can really sample anything on this disc for pure delight. The mood is generally intimate and lyrical, with a few wonderfully crafted dramatic moments (try the Sibelius op. 37 no. 5 - my keyboard cannot do the title!) to stir the romantic juices. Pappano's playing is unobtrusive, which is sometimes the best thing which can be said for an accompanist, and one actually has to concentrate on it to realize exactly how perfectly he is in tune with his singer, musically and emotionally. This is a great recital which cannot be too highly recommended.

I was introduced to Barbara Bonney at a Boston Symphony performance of Barber's "Knoxville" and was knocked out. I've heard her several times since and decided to purchase "Diamonds in the Snow" on a lark. This amazing collection has since replaced my "marooned on a desert island" choice from Dawn Upshaw's "Songs of the Auvergne" (although I would beg to please take both). Bonney's smooth, supple voice and lyrical interpretation of Grieg and Sibelius soothes me in the darkest hours.

Barbara Bonney, one of my favorite sopranos, released this wonderful Nordic songs album. Her silverly voice is suited well to these songs. As a matter of fact, I'm not so familar with them. But I found they are wonderful. Bonney and Pappano does a great job. If you like "Home for Christmas" by Anne Sofie von Otter, you'll love this album.

Barbara Bonney's voice has never sounded more delightfully radiant than in this beautiful collection of Nordic songs. I found her detailed word-painting and subtle touches with the resonance between lyrics, melody and harmony to be like the fine work of a great miniaturist.

Her German is very good indeed; Scandinavian language seems to pose few problems for her; perhaps her Finnish is a little accented, but that's a tricky language in which to sing for a non-native singer.

The Sibelius songs are particularly beautifully interpreted. A delicate richness given by Ms Bonney matches the rich fairy-tale colorisation of the snow in which these "diamonds" are birthed.

In short... beautiful. Truly beautiful.

I can also recommend the complete Sibelius songs sung by Elizabeth Söderström - another artist who sings with the heart as well as the voice.

Well, what else can be said... I will only say that this CD was my best friend at every possible place: at home, on the buss, vacations abroad... It has never ceased to amaze me, and as an opera student I heard it- admiringly- over and over again, trying as much as I could to learn from this ever so intelligent singer. For as you know, good voices are all around the place but being able to use them wisely while making a real difference - now that is not as common.
2 songs which entered my Lieder-hall-of-fame are the 2 versions of "Flickan komm...". I was never so deeply touched as I was, listening to those two, ever so different from eachother, yet both so moving. the Grieg cycle (op.48) is a favourite of mine as well.
I HIGHLY recommend it! Enjoy .

Barbara Bonney's voice and interpretive skills truly showcase these songs of Grieg, Sibelius, and the others. Her tone is clear, radiant and she exhibits warmth and stylistic versatility. The interpretation is really the main thing here. She communicates the subtleties of the poetry in these songs.

Grieg is, of course, the best known, on an international scale, for his songs, and some of these are indeed familiar.

Sibelius wrote over a 100 songs, but his reputation for symphonic works has overshadowed these songs...they are well worth our acquaintance.

The other composers are unfamiliar to those outside the Nordic countries and again we are rewarded by becoming acquainted with them.

This is a beautiful, exquisitely delivered compilation which is sure to please those who love the art song.

My wife and I have attended every recital that Barbara Bonney has given in New York City, including her most recent appearances at which she sang many of the songs contained on this CD. The CD -- "Diamonds in the Snow" -- accurately reflects the marvelous sensitivity and musicianship that Ms. Bonney brings to each song. I can't think of these wonderful Scandanavian songs being sung any better! I can also highly recommend two CD's by Anne Sophie von Otter on which she sings many of the songs that Ms. Bonney sings, but with a very different interpretation. If you have the money, buy all the CD's. They have already given my wife and me many happy moments of listening.