Lehmann: In a Persian Garden/Dunhill: Songs of the River

Cantabile Vocal Quartet (Artist), Lehmann (Artist), Dunhill (Artist), Sara Koulen (Performer), Roy Mazzacane (Performer), Robin Sellati (Performer), Jack Sellati (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Sara Koulen, Roy Mazzacane, Robin Sellati, Jack Sellati
• Audio CD (May 30, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Quartet
• ASIN: B00004U1C3
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #311,309 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Tony Duggan, Classical Music On The Web, March 1, 2000
"Cantabile Vocal Quartet's equal care for words as well as for music gives great pleasure..."

Product Description
"In A Persian Garden" and "Songs Of The River" are both song cycles written for solo vocal quartet and piano. Liza Lehmann's "In A Persian Garden" is a setting of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and Thomas Dunhill's "Songs Of The River" is a five song group setting of poetry by Stevenson, Tennyson, Keats, MacDonald and Kingsley. Both cycles by these British composers are beautifully scored in the opulent and stylistic vocal tradition of the late nineteenth century.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine, unusual music sung w/ style & personality, April 30, 2002

By	B. (Queens, NYC) - See all my reviews

I didn't know this music before, & I'm probably not alone in that. I'm glad to know it, and I won't be alone in that among those who get this fine disk. These are stylish and committed performances, which sell the personal and intimate qualities of the music. I've listened to the disk often, and have come to like it more and more.

I'm looking forward to their next selections.

1.0 out of 5 stars Professional Musician, January 19, 2008

By	Anastasia Beaverhausen "AHE" (Louisville, KY United States) - See all my reviews

This is a terrible recording. The male voices sounding as untrained high school singers. The mezzo using an entirely produced sound and the soprano trying desperately to maintain control of the upper third of the written range. How disappointing to anyone really interested in this curious piece from the vocal repertoire. The pianist does a fine job over all but the choice of instrument is not the best. I would only recommend this recording to voice teachers as a prime example of how not to sing. Ever. Really, ever. It's simply an horrible experience.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This group is not up to it, April 9, 2002

By A Customer

It was with great anticipation that I awaited my copy of the CD with Liza Lehmann's "In a Persian Garden," having treasured this work from the days of my youth. I was dumbfounded that Quattro Voci Records or any company would choose to present such an inept performance of this little gem. As such, it demonstrates that music of this genre is not to be approached casually. Stripped of a sonorous orchestral background, chamber pieces like this lay it all out there with any deficiencies standing out like warts. The group to a man simply lacks the vocal technique to bring forth the subtleties of the piece which require style, involvement in the material, supported mezzo forties and pianissimos and a sense of blend.
I have in my possession what are perhaps the only two recordings of the work (one slightly truncated) on 78rpms from the 1920s, and on separate disks, excerpts by John McCormack and Laurence Tibbett. Perhaps not having heard the piece or any part of it done in the proper manner, one could be captivated by its quaintness and novelty. But, listening to my old recordings even with their deficiencies in sound, clearly demonstrates that there infinitely more to be drawn form this work than is presented by the Cantabile Vocal Quartet.