Customer Reviews

Previn: Honey and Rue; Barber: Knoxville; Gershwin: Porgy And Bess / Battle, Previn, et al

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

 

 

This C.D. is a real gem. It stands as a testement to the sheer beauty and artistry that is Kathleen Battle as well as the genius of Andre Previn, author Toni Morrison and the various other American Composers and librettist featured on this disc. Kathleen Battle's voice is at it's silvery best, rich with emotiveness, expression and artistic grace. A wonderful blend of neo- classic, post-romantic and twentieth century music this is any music buffs forte, and worthy of being in any singers library.

"Honey and Rue" is a song cycle with lyrics written by Toni Morrison and music composed by Andre Previn, performed by Kathleen Battle and the Orchestra of St. Lukes with the composer at the helm. The work received its premiere at Carnegie Hall in 1992.

With such an all-star team behind it, it is no surprise that "Honey and Rue" is a great success. Morrison's lyrics present "images of yearning, satisfaction, resolution" and Previn's eclectic score combines early 20th century classical ideas with jazz and blues. As for Miss Battle, well I'm afraid that I'm an adoring fan and can't be relied upon. The disc is filled out with Barber's glorious "Knoxville: Summer of 1915" and two selections from "Porgy and Bess."

I love this disc. A wonderful singer performing wonderful music. The Morrison poems are hauntingly set by Previn, and the Barber gives Dawn Upshaw a run for her money, the Gershwin as near-perfect as one could hope for. But it's a total cheek to charge this kind of money for a 40 minute disc. In keeping with the American flavour of the disc, how about some orchstrated Barber songs or his opera arias? Copland? More Gershwin? Adams? Even some of Previn's other wonderful music could have notched this into 50 minutes. I feel ripped off.

I play this CD with great frequency -- it offers a huge range of classical vocal performance.

I listened to Kathleen Battle sing most of these selections LIVE last year in her hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio at Shawnee State University, (I don't know why she comes back here but, thankfully, she does!), and the minute I arrived back at home I got online and ordered this CD. This is an incredible compendium of predominently modern classical vocals with a tinge of 19th-Century Southern Black nostalgic flavour worked in.

At the live performance I attended, Ms. Battle was accompanied by the incredibly talented renowned pianist, Ted Taylor, and I only wish I could obtain a CD in that sort of performance as well; however, the orchestral accompaniment is, of course, nothing short of outstanding -- it's just a little different rendition from what I originally heard.

World-class composer and conductor, Andre Previn, specifically wrote the lion's share of this music for Ms. Battle and he clearly did her right by it. The modern, nearly atonal selections, test Ms. Battle's broad vocal skills... she meets and exceeds the worthy challenge with an apparent ease which is truly astonishing.

Certain cuts are actually chilling -- they will raise the hair on the back of your neck in the proper acoustic environment. Such a composition is "I Am Not Seaworthy". This song is superbly surreal and, like "The Rite of Spring," I have heard nothing like it either before or since it's original publication.

Maybe it took Janis Joplin's raspy bellowing to popularize the song "Summertime" to American Baby Boomers but you never heard a more astonishing performance of that great old Jazz-noir tune than the one on this CD. And if you wish to retain a belief that music cannot break a wine glass, don't turn the volume up too loudly on Ms. Battle's a capella performance of "Do You Know Him?"

Obviously this is some of Kathleen Battle's early work (look at the cover photo!) but it's some of her most spectacular. To me, it's really representative of something that we have little of: American Operetta. Folks, you'll get your money's worth and more on this one -- don't miss it!

The poetry The music The orchestra The singer

All in perfect equal parts that gives us a recording of 20th century music that sets the standard for sublime. Wonderfully recorded, and tailored.

A brilliant recording. A must buy.

Just put it on and dim the lights. A glass of wine would go nicely with it also.

On this Cassette:
Honey and Rue, song cycle for soprano, jazz ensemble, & orchestra
Composed by Andre Previn
Performed by Orchestra of St. Luke's
with Kathleen Battle
Conducted by Andre Previn


Knoxville: Summer of 1915, for high voice & orchestra (rev. for voice & chamber orchestra), Op. 24
Composed by Samuel Barber
Performed by Orchestra of St. Luke's
with Kathleen Battle
Conducted by Andre Previn


Porgy and Bess, opera I Loves You, Porgy
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Orchestra of St. Luke's
with Kathleen Battle
Conducted by Andre Previn


Porgy and Bess, opera Summertime
Composed by George Gershwin
Performed by Orchestra of St. Luke's
with Kathleen Battle
Conducted by Andre Previn