Leonard Berstein Arias & Barcarolles ¿ Songs & Duets

Leonard Bernstein (Composer), Michael Barrett (Performer), Steven Blier (Performer), Judy Kaye (Performer), William Sharp (Performer), The New York Festival of Song (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Michael Barrett, Steven Blier, Judy Kaye, William Sharp, The New York Festival of Song
• Composer: Leonard Bernstein
• Audio CD (April 20, 1994)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch
• ASIN: B000001SCZ
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #224,227 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Bernstein collection, December 22, 2003

By	Alan (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

The song cycle "Arias and Barcarolles" was Leonard Bernstein's last completed work. This recording documents the interpretations of the performers from the New York premiere: soprano Judy Kaye, baritone William Sharp, with Michael Barrett and Steven Blier on piano.

The piece is one of Bernstein's most successful concert works. All but one of the texts are in English and are by Bernstein (well, one is attributed to his mother, recreating a bedtime story she used to tell him when he was a child). The exception is "Oif Mayn Khas'neh" ("At My Wedding") for the baritone, from a Yiddish text by the poet Yakov Yitzkhok Segal, which Bernstein set in a way that creates a rather nightmarish atmosphere that you might not expect from reading the poem. Some of the pieces are for just one singer, while others are duets. There is no particularly obvious throughline holding the individual numbers together.

The music is in Bernstein's standard, eclectic concert-music style, with some twelve-tone sections but with other parts in a style not very diffferent from that of his musicals.

The performances are excellent. Judy Kaye has the ability, not often encountered, to sing this kind of music strongly while skillfully and clearly conveying both the words of the text and the feelings behind them. William Sharp matches her with powerful and disciplined performances, their voices blending well when necessary, and there is a palpable sense of communication between them in the duets.

The CD is filled out with songs and duets from musicals, as well as two selections from "Songfest," another Bernstein song cycle. Kaye really shines here, especially in the duet "Storyette H.M." from "Songfest," an exquisite "Dream With Me," and a swinging "I Can Cook Too." Sharp is also very good, if occasionally a little stiff in the musical-theatre songs, but particularly strong in the two selections from "Songfest."

This CD is a winner.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great performances of some of Bernstein's most memorable songs, October 4, 2007

By	Peter Hoogenboom "Film, Music & Book lover" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This disk is divided into two sections "Songs and Duets" containing some of Bernstein's most memorable songs and "Arias and Barcarolles" his last completed work.

The "Songs and Duets" are great showing Bernstein's prodigious melodic gift. They are sung as art songs with piano and cello accompaniment and are worth the price of the disk.

"Arias and Barcarolles" is less accessible and less enjoyable.

Excellent performances and well recorded.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I hope you like crazyness......, May 28, 2000

By	Cory (Virginia) - See all my reviews

The Arias & Barcarolles were a little wierd. It really has no plot and the music follows up on the wierdness. Now this isn't funny obsurdity as you might think of in such shows as Monty Python. The awkwardness is more of a seriousness. As far as I can tell it appears to be about a couple and thier life; there strange awkward life with music. Be aware too that this entire CD has a piano opposed to an orchestra. This isn't bad. It's just another way to view these songs. The first 8 selections were good selections. Many of these songs will not be found on other highlights, and in then case of Dream with Me, won't even be found in a full length recording of the piece. Dream of Me is a wonderful song. The passion and intense emotion thrown into this work is almost overwhelming. It tops my favorite love song list. I Can Cook is quite jumpy and comical; very broadway-like. The two Songfest songs are deserving of their title. Very catchy tunes. The other On the Town songs are amongst the popular ones you've probaly heard before. A Little Bit in Love displays the mood and emotion of a simple childhood crush. Overall, I must say I do enjoy the first half of this CD more then the Arias & Barcarolles. There are a couple of songs I do enjoy from them like the lovely song about a new born baby.