Customer Reviews

Ian Bostridge - The English Songbook

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ian Bostridge has emerged as the finest tenor of a generation. This CD, one of the best solo CDs I have heard, is remarkable not only for Mr. Bostridge's incredible musicianship, but also for its remarkable song content. His performance of William Denis Browne's "To Gratiana Dancing and Singing" is a powerful interpretation of an equally powerful song. Mr. Bostridge can deliver robust songs as marvelously as he does tender ones...he has an ability to pull in the listener, in a manner which I have not heard for years. Each of the 24 songs is a gem, carefully accompanied by Julius Drake. It is a privilege to own this recording and I highly recommend it.

Ian Bostridge has one of the most beautiful voices on record, and he has consistently shown courage and wisdom in selecting material that will extend and develop his gifts. Not all of this material has been a perfect match for his young and soaring tenor voice, notably some of Schubert's more dramatic "lieder". In contrast, nothing could be more perfectly suited to his voice than this generous and beautiful collection of traditional English poetic settings by Britten, Finzi, Grainger, Warlock and others.

Bostridge brings more than just a beautiful tone and a subtle musical phrasing to these songs. The challenge any intepreter of English songs has to face is that, in contrast with the pure syllables of most continental languages, the complex vowels of "Southern British English" are formidably difficult to render attractively in song. It's not just a question of singing them prettily. Think how accurately the pronunciation of a word like "house" or "bath" can betray someone's geographical and social background; our vowels are a caste-mark as well as a means of communication. But somehow Bostridge himself, in his fruitful partnership with Julius Drake, manages to transcend our socio-linguistic divisions and deliver these songs in a way that places no barrier between the listener and the music.

The material is wonderful in its own right - a collection of lilting pastoral airs and occasional boisterous ditties. They are at one and the same time ancient and modern, embracing at once the mutual cross-fertilisation between classical and "pop" sensibilities that has always underpinned the best of English music. Even the most trivial of these songs (e.g. "Jillian of Berry") are memorable, and some of them (notably Sir Charles Stanford's chilling musical setting of the Keats' poem, "La Belle Dame Sans Merci") would not have been beneath Schubert himself.

It has been fashionable over the generations to belittle British classic music. "The land without song" England was dubbed, as the sleeve notes poignantly remind us. This CD is a healthy reminder that the global success of English popular music in the latter four decades of the 20th century did not appear out of nowhere; it was built on a solid foundation of past accomplishment that it was for too long fashionable to dismiss. Highly recommended.

I already liked Ian Bostridge, but I thought "English songs" would be rather light and without substance. But I have fallen in love with this CD and never tire of it! I was already an admirer of Vaughan Williams, Britten, Finzi, Warlock and Delius, and I'm glad for this introduction to other composers as well. Also, much beautiful poetry is chosen, from Shakespeare, Yeats, Rossetti, Keats, and others, and each is treated with careful consideration by the composer, *partnering* music with poetry rather than simply enhancing or overshadowing the lyric. Bostridge seems to have the perfect voice for this music, light and charming when appropriate, heart-breaking at other times, always an engaging storyteller. He obviously understands intimately each word and note that he sings. The listener can hear his facial expressions and body language! The English Songbook is a beautiful collection of excellent craftsmanship, and one of the best CDs I have.

Unlike the reviewer "A music fan from California, USA" I realize that this is not a recital program of music (as even noted in the liner). This is though, an unequaled collection of some of the most beautiful English Songs ever. Ian is on top of his game and J Drake plays, well, I don't have the words. He never fails to impress with his skills. Each key under each finger sings! Back to Ian. As a professional tenor, I am in awe of his voice. It is tender, moving, all the things you want in a good recitalist, and (unlike any of the opera tenors I can think of) it is note perfect. Yes, there are times when his voice seems a little light for the song he may be performing, but it is passionate and caries the pathos of each note/word he sings. BUY THIS CD - you will love it for ever!

Bostridge is astonishing. English music is largely unknown in the United States, and this album introduces you to some truly remarkable composers: Finzi, Stanford, etc., etc. The songs are achingly beautiful and cover the range of human emotions. Altogether a lucky day when I happened across it.

This disk is a wonderful treasure. "To Gratiana Dancing and Singing" is an exquisite song that you should not go another day without hearing. I am speaking literally.

Mr. Bostridge's interpretation of Browne's song is amazingly compelling. His ability to express goes beyond that of most other singers - even some great ones. He notes the problems in singing in English (the "extra" vowels, the English vs. German approach to word painting, etc.) and I have to say he triumphs on this disk.

As he also notes, this is NOT a recording of a recital program nor are the songs "English" in nationality - the songs are just set to texts in the English language. I had not heard of some of these composers, but I am enthusiastic in saying that every song on this disk has something very nice to recommend it - at least at the voice and hands of Ian Bostridge and Julian Drake.

I must say a few words about Mr. Drake's playing. Overall he is simply incredible. He has a beauty of tone and a singing style that is not in anyway mere accompaniment. It really isn't even a partnership. It is a unity of artistry that creates this single entity, a song. There aren't many that can pull this off and Mr. Drake should be treasured for this ability. Just amazing artistry.

Please get every disk that Mr. Bostridge and Mr. Drake have done together. You will thank me for recommending this if you didn't know this already. Feel free to email me with your thoughts on this disk or any comments you have about Bostridge and Drake.

Just look at Ian on the cover photo of this CD. He's sitting there looking coy, playing with his finger, hair a little mussed, with a very cute boyish smile, as if to say, "I didn't do anything wrong mommy, honest." Well he has done it this time.

This CD was my first exposure to Ian Bostridge. I bought it because I was very surprised to know that one of my favorite poems, the Cloths of Heaven by Yeats, was set to music. I spent 17 bucks for one song, and ended up cashing in on 23 others.

To Gratiana Dancing and Singing quickly became a favorite, as did Bold William Taylor. This last one was my first realization of Ian's gift of storytelling. Somehow he is able to make his voice sound like a woman, namely Sally Gray, and the narrator, and the macho Captain, all in the same song. The multiple personalities come out to play similarly in The Death of Queen Jane. I am lulled into quiet reflection and relaxation when Ian sings the Cradle Song.

Check out his CDs of Schubert Lieder, also accompanied by Julius Drake. Ian may be even more at home in German than he is in his native English! Julius is at home with Schubert, especially the water songs, and we are at home listening to this wonderfully weird, warm voice paired with masterful piano playing.

The bulk of the songs on this collection are classified as British Art Song. They are well-known to students of singing and are a staple of the vocal eisteddfod. I have many CDs with many versions of most of the songs in this collection, sung by male and female singers. I love and them and reckon you can't have too many of them.

I bought this CD a few years ago, listened to it once and found it strangely unsatisfying. I got it out again recently and it suddenly occurred to me why it's lacking.

It's the accompaniment. It not that it's not technically perfect - it is. But it's too delicate, too understated; too anaemic. I own much of the music for these songs. This is not retiring music - it is robust music requiring in most cases an AMusA level of performance. On this recording it tends to be background music - a polite tinkle rather than a co-performance.

Another reviewer mentioned he found this recording rather sing-songy and enjoyable as background music. I sympathise. This is a nice collection but it's not outstanding. I would not recommend this recording as an introduction to the British Art Song.

A similar program is found in the recording 'Favourite English Songs' featuring Felicity Lott and Graham Johnson. The balance is ideal and the overall performance far more enjoyable.

This cd is very english---all songs here are typically 'english music', and they are well-selected, from original works of some great composers to anon. folksong. Ian gives us a beautifully calm and warm voice, and his noble temperament is incomparable .Thus the whole cd is in a peaceful and pastural mood. However sometimes his voice is too light to carry the weight and the depth of the word. Drake's accompaniment is competently well.

My early disclaimer is that this is my first exposure to Mr. Bostridge, and I am unfamiliar with the specific repertoire. But, that said, I found the recital to be a tad sing-song-y and monotonous, a kind of longish lullaby. "Not that there's anything wrong with that", to quote the Seinfelds...but, I ask recitals to reach out to me at least once to tempt me into a quiet concentrated sit through it. This is background music for me so far...3rd time through.

There is no doubt that this is an elegant singer with a lovely light tenor voice.