From the Diary of Virginia Woolf

On this CD:

1. From the Diary of Virginia Woolf, for voice & piano The Diary
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

2. From the Diary of Virginia Woolf, for voice & piano Anxiety
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

3. From the Diary of Virginia Woolf, for voice & piano Fancy
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

4. From the Diary of Virginia Woolf, for voice & piano Hardy's Funeral
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

5. From the Diary of Virginia Woolf, for voice & piano Rome
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

6. From the Diary of Virginia Woolf, for voice & piano War
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

7. From the Diary of Virginia Woolf, for voice & piano Parents
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

8. From the Diary of Virginia Woolf, for voice & piano Last Entry
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

9. Andrée Expedition Prologue
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

10. Andrée Expedition The Balloon Rises
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

11. Andrée Expedition Pride and Ambition
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

12. Andrée Expedition Dinner Aloft
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

13. Andrée Expedition The Unforseen Problem
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

14. Andrée Expedition The Flight Aborted
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

15. Andrée Expedition Mishap with a Sledge
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

16. Andrée Expedition The King's Jubilee
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

17. Andrée Expedition Illness and Drugs
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

18. Andrée Expedition Hallucinations
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

19. Andrée Expedition Anna's Birthday
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

20. Andrée Expedition Epilogue
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

21. Andrée Expedition Final Words
Composed by Dominick Argento
Performed by William Huckaby, Linn Maxwell, William Parker

Tracks:

From The Diary Of Virgina Woolf: The Diary
From The Diary Of Virgina Woolf: Anxiety
From The Diary Of Virgina Woolf: Fancy
From The Diary Of Virgina Woolf: Hardy's Funeral
From The Diary Of Virgina Woolf: Rome
From The Diary Of Virgina Woolf: War
From The Diary Of Virgina Woolf: Parents
From The Diary Of Virgina Woolf: Last Entry
From Spanisches Liederbuch: Nun wander Maria
From Spanisches Liederbuch: Die ihr Schwebet
From Spanisches Liederbuch: Ach des Knaben Augen
From Spanisches Liederbuch: Herr, was tragt der Boden hier
Apres un reve, Opus 7, No.1
Le secret, Opus 23 No. 3
Le Manoit de Rosemonde
Phidyle
Mandoline
Air de Lia

Customer Reviews:

A Valiant Try.......2000-05-10

Dame Janet is clearly the greatest postwar mezzo-soprano the British isles have ever produced. She had just about everything one could wish for in a singer: taste, sensitivity, passion, nuance, acting ability, superb vocal control, flexibility, an instantly recognizable timbre, and a dedication to championing lesser known works. She is the very definition of the serious-minded, committed artist who luckily also had great natural ability. She performs at her usual unassailable standards on this recording but somehow things don't add up to much. Perhaps the choice of material was to blame. The Argento songs are of that modern, atonal variety that, with the exception of a few original bars, sound pretty much like every other modern, atonal piece you've ever heard. And their straightforward passions don't evoke the cerebral, luminous Virginia Woolf at all (although, the liner notes indicate that the composer sought to exempt himself from criticism by claiming that he intended not to evoke Woolf specifically but suffering womankind in general). The Wolf Spanish lieder are instantly forgettable (he's one composer, along with Brahms, whose perhaps too subtle charms I have long been deaf to). Things perk up with the concluding French airs, but the Argento songs must have left an unpleasant residue because Baker is here uncharacteristically heavy and emphatic where she should be light and elliptical. By comparison, Regine Crespin's recording of Apres un Reve is appropriately dreamily sensuous whereas Baker's here is a tad emotionally overwrought and puritannical, as if the song were about Dido or Mary Stuart's dream. There's a currently unavailable recording of Baker singing Ravel, Chausson, and Delage that is one of the best things she's ever done, full of light arabesques and the right amount of French ivresse. Until that recording becomes available, I would not suggest this as a viable alternative.

Miraculous.......2000-03-30

Obviously the art songs are all at the superior level you expect from Dame Janet, but you will be blown away by the Argento. A stunning miracle of breath, technique, dramatic expressiveness, and emotional force. And it was recorded live- few other singers would dare these feats of phrasing in a studio, let alone in front of an audience. Don't worry that it's a live recording- the audience is utterly under Dame Janet's spell; it may sound cliched, but time absolutely stops while she is singing.

Tracks:

From The Diary Of Virginia Woolf: The Diary
From The Diary Of Virginia Woolf: Anxiety
From The Diary Of Virginia Woolf: Fancy
From The Diary Of Virginia Woolf: Hardy's Funeral
From The Diary Of Virginia Woolf: Rome
From The Diary Of Virginia Woolf: War
From The Diary Of Virginia Woolf: Parents
From The Diary Of Virginia Woolf: Last Entry
The Andre Expedition: Prologue
The Andre Expedition: The Balloon Rises
The Andre Expedition: Pride And Ambition
The Andre Expedition: Dinner Aloft
The Andre Expedition: The Unforseen Problem
The Andre Expedition: The Flight Aborted
The Andre Expedition: Mishap With A Sledge
The Andre Expedition: The King's Jubilee
The Andre Expedition: Illness And Drugs
The Andre Expedition: Hallucinations
The Andre Expedition: Anna's Birthday
The Andre Expedition: Epilogue
The Andre Expedition: Final Words

Permit Me Voyage: Songs by American Composers

Average customer rating:

A real find

Permit Me Voyage: Songs by American Composers

Manufacturer: Albany Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

But Yesterday Is Not Today-The American Art Song 1927-1972
Just-Spring: Art Songs of John Duke
Paul Sperry Sings An American Sampler
Songs by Roger Quilter
Stefano Donaudy: Amor mi fa cantare

ASIN: B0000049NO
Release Date: 1995-01-25

Customer Reviews:

A real find.......2001-04-26

This is a terrific recording of some familar and some little-known American composers. The most substantial work in this varied collection is certainly the Argento setting of selections from the diary of Virginia Woolf. Mary Ann Hart must be just about the ideal interpretter of these powerful songs. Great vocalism, great musicianship, and a special ability to do what the music demands without short-changing the words - which is essential to the success of this cycle. The entire CD - while varied both stylistically an in terms of the quality of compositions - is consistent in the brilliance of the performances and in the appeal of these songs. Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in contemporary American art songs, or who just loves great singing.

Argento: From the Diary of Virginia Woolf / Benson: Songs for the End of the World

Average customer rating:

Argento: From the Diary of Virginia Woolf / Benson: Songs for the End of the World

Manufacturer: Gasparo
ProductGroup: Classical
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000GHTGLG

Product Description

Argento:~~1. Diary~~2. Anxiety~~3. Fancy~~4. Funeral~~5. Rome~~6. War~~7. Parents~~8. Last Entry~~~~Benson:~~9. Awakening~~10. Two Step~~11. Lullaby~~12. Spring~~13. Siciliana~~14. Nocturne.

From the Diary of Virginia Woolf / Songs for the End of the World

Average customer rating:

From the Diary of Virginia Woolf / Songs for the End of the World

Manufacturer: Gasparo Records
ProductGroup: Classical
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000GLD0KA

Product Description

14 tracks.

Music Review: