Customer Reviews

Grace Bumbry: A Portrait

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This compilation album of recitals and operatic performances featuring "her royal" Grace is long overdue. Grace Bumbry's fiery interpretations have garnered praise the world over, and this compilation features several of her calling card roles, in addition to roles many thought would put a stop to her career.
This intimate portrait of sorts allows one to hear first hand how roles such as Santuzza, Tosca, Salome, and both Aida and Amneris should be sung. Ms. Bumbry's dramatic interpretations of roles often sung by lyric sopranos give these "dramatic" heroines new life.
Of the 2 CD set, the second CD is the most valuable, for it includes several in depth interviews with "her Grace" and allows the listener to witness first hand a proud (not arrogant) diva whose self assured attitude found its way into her concert and operatic performances and sustained this singer who I feel is the greatest living mezzo/soprano of our day!

These CDs show a wonderful artist. Grace has an amazing voice and tackles several roles well. Also great is her interpretation of one of Dvorak's song cycle. The treasures in the set are the interviews which I think allow us to hear how Grace interprets her rolls and it shows a bit of sass on her part. Wonderful set for a wonderful artist.