Surprise: Cabaret Songs Bolcom Satie & Schoenberg

Measha Brueggergosman (Artist), Bolcom (Artist), Robertson (Artist), BBC (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2007)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000UNMUFA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #133,122 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #61 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( S ) > Schoenberg, Arnold
  #63 in	Music > Classical > Featured Composers, A-Z > ( B ) > Bolcom, William

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist
Measha Brueggergosman is an extraordinarily versatile 29 year-old Canadian soprano who has already won numerous awards and acclaim from the international press for her beautiful voice, often compared to the early Jessye Norman. Her singing has been described as having "an all-encompassing warmth and joy, melding honed artistry with youthful enthusiasm" (Washington Post), and she is also praised for her sparkling sense of humour. Brueggergosman's warm personality is one of the many reasons that this exceptionally gifted entertainer hosts her own TV show, Toronto Sings, on Canadian national-TV and is regularly invited to participate in many media events

Product Description
Measha Brueggergosman's first recording for DG features an original selection of newly orchestrated songs by Grammy® and Pulitzer prize-winning composer William Bolcom - all world-premiere recordings - as well as Schoenberg's Brettl Lieder and songs by Satie. In several songs Measha will be accompanied on the piano by none other than William Bolcom himself, who considers her an ideal interpreter of his compositions and who spontaneously decided to participate in her first DG recording after hearing her sing. Also performing with Brueggergosman is the BBC Symphony Orchestra under the leadership of David Robertson.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

172 of 175 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Lady to Watch , February 10, 2008

By	Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Measha Brueggergosman continues to impress as an important soprano artist with her performances and recordings, and SURPRISE is a wise choice for her to demonstrate her gifts at this point. Hers is a voice of richness and full range of color and to this she adds intelligence and one of the finest levels of communication of text when compared to her peers. She is a fine artist at the beginning of what appears to be a very promising career.

Brueggergosman devotes this CD to songs of a cabaret nature and for those who remember Jessye Norman at the beginning of her career holding a concert hall rapt with her very personal approach to the cabaret medium, there are bound to be comparisons as Brueggergosman approaches some of the same literature. William Bolcom's 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience' is a solid theatrical collection of songs from many sources and here he has orchestrated some for one of his favored singers. Brueggergosman not only sings with a honeyed voice, but she also communicates the strange words of these songs with sensitive assurance.

Included in the SURPRISE collection are wonderfully animated songs of Satie with Bolcom serving as Brueggergosman's fluid accompanist. They work well, finding all the simple yet subtle aspects of Satie's peculiarly rewarding miniatures. Also included are Schoenberg's 'Brettl-Lieder' and here Brueggergosman manages to transmit the meanings of the German texts as though they were in the language of the listener. When the songs require orchestra the BBC is conducted by David Robertson who seems to be having as much involvement and enjoyment in his role as collaborator as his soloist.

Because the quality of her voice and her intelligent communication of text are matched by a stage presence that immediately bonds her with her audience, it is probable that Measha Brueggergosman is one her way to a bright career. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, February 08

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Measha never fails to deliver, December 11, 2007

By	Kathryn - See all my reviews

Measha's character and sense of humour shine through in this quarky collection of Cabaret songs by Bolcom, Schoenberg and Satie (with William Bolcom himself at the piano!) Her facility with languages is also showcased, as the Schoenberg songs are in German, and the Satie are in French. This collection is not for everyone; not everyone enjoys the style of cabaret music. But if you're looking for something completely different, this is a good bet.