Customer Reviews

David Daniels - Serenade

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What a brave and diverse group of pieces to appear on one recording. When you have heard 20 renditions of Dowlands "Lute Songs", no matter how beautiful, they simply get OLD. These pieces, ranging from old Italian (arie antique) through Romanticism and 20th century (albeit not my first choice of works) are ALL given a smooth and emotive performance. The only real fault I have with this disk at ALL is that the recording levels are a little inconsistent. This is barely an issue, but one that bothered me just a touch. Daniels moves full force into these pieces with NO reluctance to reach and stretch his voice throughout it's rich and magnificent range. While some may criticize his use of Vibrato and extreme variations in dynamics (which I particularly enjoy), this unique sound sets him apart from other well known counter-tenors. (like Brian Asawa, Deller and Otten) His technique and production are faultless throughout with only the VERY rare "odd' intonation or vowel. (as a composer and countertenor, I am must say that some of these pieces are NOT written to avoid these sounds <particularly the Vaghan Williams, but to a lesser extent, also the Gounod> and thus they are completely natural to both the countertenor voice and the artistic integrity of the piece.) Perhaps it is inherent in the production of the counter-tenor voice that Italian and German are more at home than English.

My favorites so far: Nacht und Traume -- beautiful legato and sensitivity

Pur dicesti -- such a fun song anyway.. Daniels sounds perfect here.

Absence -- exquisite artistry on the chanson style

La belle Jeunesse -- Vocal fireworks here.. I do not ever expect to hear this recorded by another counter-tenor, even the adventurous Me!

All in all, this is a REQUIRED purchase for countertenor fans and singers, and a STRONG RECOMMEND for anyone who loves good classical art songs.

Stephen Jackson thornblack@aol.com

For lovers of a beautiful voice, used with consummate artistry, this wonderful recital is a must. I first heard David Daniels only recently and was immediately struck by the sheer beauty of the sound, his faultless technique and his innate musicianship. This adventurous programme takes the counter tenor into unusual repertoire and is a delight throughout. I particularly enjoyed the French melodies; maybe he will consider another disc devoted to some Massenet, Bizet and Faure as well as more Gounod and Poulenc? As a professional musician and an admirer of fine singing it has been a great joy to discover this gifted young artist. I hope he will provide us with many more disc of this calibre!

There have been a number of countertenors lurking around providing us with a very pleasant sort of sound in recent years. Nice and pleasant as these voices can be, one can't really compare them with Daniels. He shows us how he is in control, in different ranges of the voice, and in different repertoire.

This disc consists of a very well chosen programme and Daniels demonstrates his ability to do everything, whether it's lirico-cantabile-pianissimo, or espressivo-con fuoco-fortissimo. I really hope that with this voice and excellent technique, Daniels can change people's conception of the countertenor as a voice: it's not simply a novelty or token voice part for Baroque only.

If you like vocal music / opera and are sick of one of the following:1. Sopranos with no control over dynamics, with a squeeky voice, sing with synthesizers or digital remixed arias, and demonstrate no sense of phrasing; 2. Contraltos who vibrate their way through arias; 3. Tenors who are Pavarotti-wannabes; 4. Basses with no diction, grumble loudly and can't join two notes in a phrase.

...this disc gives us all some hope.

I cried while I was listening to Daniels sing the Vaughn Williams songs. All the rest were pretty good too, especially the Gounod and Italian songs. I have heard Daniels in his earlier discs and in performance, and I think he is maturing and deepening in both his range and his ability to convey nuance and feeling. Some of my friends have said that his rendition (both) of "Adelaide" were underpowered and wispy, but he is NOT a Heldentenor, has never pretended to be one, and I think an interpretation of "Adelaide" that does not evoke Tristan singing of his Isolde is just as valid. The beauty of his tone is wonderful. His increasing technical prowess as well as ability to project emotion is, in my humble opinion, gaining as the years go by. Do listen to this CD.

I've heard David Daniels in recital several times, so it's wonderful to have some of his recital repertoire on this CD. Daniels' voice is more thrilling live, as it is with the greatest singers, but this terrific recording gives the listener a good idea of how beautiful and expressive Daniels' voice is. I can't stop playing "Nacht und traume" and "Serenade." What will he record next? I've heard that a complete Rinaldo is due out in October. Can't wait!

When I played this cd for the first time, I was breathless as I beheld once more the masterful vocal talent and passion that is David Daniels. I enjoyed the switch from baroque opera to art songs. I commend Mr. Daniels for broadening his horizons. Also, the addition of some English language songs was very welcome because I've always wondered how his angelic voice would sound in our own language. The German Lieder songs were gorgeous. But although I enjoyed this cd so much, it pales in comparison to the beauty of his triumphant Handel CD. Still, "Serenade" is a work of art. Here's to many more years of David Daniels' wonderful music.

Daniels has a remarkable voice, and it is displayed beautifully in this recording. Fantastic legato and sustained tone quality with a great depth of color and character. Katz was very attuned to Daniels, producing a great team effort. Daniels is surely in a vocal class all his own, definitely not the usual countertenor but beyond mezzo too. Strongly recommended.

Daniels brings thoughtful musicianship and sensitive understanding of the texts to a recital of Lieder, chansons, and songs in Italian and English that include many, like the German Romantic lieder, that have attracted voices in all ranges, including greats like Fischer-Dieskau. As a teacher of German and collector of Lieder, I find Daniels's understanding of both the lyric and dramatic aspects of these pieces close to perfect, but his chansons are perhaps more expressive of emotions he has felt in his own life. I believe Daniels's musical education, training, and sensitivity will last him a lifetime. Even if Handel goes out of favor again, or Daniels's falsetto register begins to fade, the other elements of his voice will continue to stimultate and bring joy to listeners. It will be interesting to see in which other direction(s) he chooses to develop his repertory.

At first it seems odd...countertenors are supposed to stay within certain boundaries. We let them have Baroque music, and even Gluck, and of course we let them have 20th century things written specifically for them, especially Britten. But to hear a countertenor singing Schubert, Beethoven or French melodies goes against our expectations. So we think, this must be a gimmick. But then Daniels voice takes over and such questions disappear.

Daniels sings this music as if it was inteneded for the countertenor. His sensitivity to the intimate marriage of text and music is phenomenal and his tone is always light and lyrical. I prefer this to many overblown sopranos that I've heard. Daniels weaves a spell that few singers of any voice type can match.

The Gounod is particularly beautiful. I had not been familiar with Gounod's art song before, and I've been missing something. L'Absent brought tears to my eyes just as the best Melodie of Duparc or Faure. And he sings Schubert as if he was born to it.

If you think you are sick of run of the mill vocal recitals, get this CD. The fresh voice and sheer artistry will astound you!

From the exquisite opening phrases of Beethoven's "Adelaide", David Daniels sings sublimely and thrillingly through all the song groups on his first recital disc. It's hard to imagine something more beautiful than Daniels' "Nacht und traume" or the entire Gounod group. It recalls the freshness and beauty of Leontyne Price's debut, "A Program of Song." An incredible disc.