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Australian soprano Cheryl Barker has been featured on a number of recordings in Chandos' Opera in English Series, and on her first solo release for the label she continues that tradition with familiar arias translated into English (plus two originally written in English). It's almost always revelatory to hear familiar vocal music sung in one's native language. "Almost" because the experience can depend on the quality of the translations, which in the past have sometimes been embarrassingly awkward, but Chandos is notable for the excellence of its translations, many newly commissioned for its recordings. Barker has made an especially strong impression in repertoire from off the beaten track, such as Rusalka, Katya Kabanova, and The Makropulos Case, and she brings a solid technique and strong commitment to these more familiar selections. Her warmth and easy handling of composers as diverse as Boito, Tchaikovsky, Leoncavallo, and Richard Strauss are especially appealing, and she can soar over the orchestra when necessary. She doesn't quite have the open luminosity of tone to make these performances truly exceptional, but that's a rare quality, and her singing and interpretations are otherwise exemplary. The novelties, arias from Malcolm Williamson's The Violins of Saint-Jacques (1966) and Jake Heggie's The End of the Affair (2004), recorded here for the first time, give the release added interest. Heggie's music for this scene, which is at the crux of the opera, is pleasantly lyrical, but lacks the memorable musical substance that such a moment requires. Williamson's music is strong and distinctive enough to make one eager to hear more of the opera. David Parry leads the London Philharmonic Orchestra in a warm, clean, and rich accompaniment. Chandos' sound is spacious and clear, with good balance.
© TiVo
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Adriana Lecouvreur (Francesco Cilèa)
Cheryl Barker, soprano - London Philharmonic Orchestra - David Parry, conductor
(C) 2009 Chandos (P) 2009 Chandos
The Queen of Spades (Pique Dame), Op. 68, the Queen of Spades, Op. 68, Act I (Pyotr Illitch Tchaïkovski)
Cheryl Barker, soprano - Gillian Keith, soprano - London Philharmonic Orchestra - David Parry, conductor
(C) 2009 Chandos (P) 2009 Chandos
Pagliacci, Act I
Cheryl Barker, soprano - London Philharmonic Orchestra - David Parry, conductor
(C) 2009 Chandos (P) 2009 Chandos
Cheryl Barker, soprano - William Dazeley, baritone - London Philharmonic Orchestra - David Parry, conductor
(C) 2009 Chandos (P) 2009 Chandos
Mefistofele, Act IV
Cheryl Barker, soprano - London Philharmonic Orchestra - David Parry, conductor
(C) 2009 Chandos (P) 2009 Chandos
The End of the Affair (Jake Heggie)
Cheryl Barker, soprano - William Dazeley, baritone - London Philharmonic Orchestra - David Parry, conductor
(C) 2009 Chandos (P) 2009 Chandos
The Queen of Spades (Pique Dame), Op. 68, the Queen of Spades, Op. 68, Act III
Cheryl Barker, soprano - London Philharmonic Orchestra - David Parry, conductor
(C) 2009 Chandos (P) 2009 Chandos
Arabella, Op. 79, TrV 263, Act I (Richard Strauss)
Cheryl Barker, soprano - Gillian Keith, soprano - London Philharmonic Orchestra - David Parry, conductor
(C) 2009 Chandos (P) 2009 Chandos
Adriana Lecouvreur, Act IV (Francesco Cilèa)
Cheryl Barker, soprano - London Philharmonic Orchestra - David Parry, conductor
(C) 2009 Chandos (P) 2009 Chandos
The Violins of Saint-Jacques (Malcolm Williamson)
Cheryl Barker, soprano - London Philharmonic Orchestra - David Parry, conductor
(C) 2009 Chandos (P) 2009 Chandos
La Wally, Act I (Alfredo Catalani)
Cheryl Barker, soprano - London Philharmonic Orchestra - David Parry, conductor
(C) 2009 Chandos (P) 2009 Chandos
Arabella, Op. 79, TrV 263, Act III (Richard Strauss)
Cheryl Barker, soprano - William Dazeley, baritone - London Philharmonic Orchestra - David Parry, conductor
(C) 2009 Chandos (P) 2009 Chandos
Album review
Australian soprano Cheryl Barker has been featured on a number of recordings in Chandos' Opera in English Series, and on her first solo release for the label she continues that tradition with familiar arias translated into English (plus two originally written in English). It's almost always revelatory to hear familiar vocal music sung in one's native language. "Almost" because the experience can depend on the quality of the translations, which in the past have sometimes been embarrassingly awkward, but Chandos is notable for the excellence of its translations, many newly commissioned for its recordings. Barker has made an especially strong impression in repertoire from off the beaten track, such as Rusalka, Katya Kabanova, and The Makropulos Case, and she brings a solid technique and strong commitment to these more familiar selections. Her warmth and easy handling of composers as diverse as Boito, Tchaikovsky, Leoncavallo, and Richard Strauss are especially appealing, and she can soar over the orchestra when necessary. She doesn't quite have the open luminosity of tone to make these performances truly exceptional, but that's a rare quality, and her singing and interpretations are otherwise exemplary. The novelties, arias from Malcolm Williamson's The Violins of Saint-Jacques (1966) and Jake Heggie's The End of the Affair (2004), recorded here for the first time, give the release added interest. Heggie's music for this scene, which is at the crux of the opera, is pleasantly lyrical, but lacks the memorable musical substance that such a moment requires. Williamson's music is strong and distinctive enough to make one eager to hear more of the opera. David Parry leads the London Philharmonic Orchestra in a warm, clean, and rich accompaniment. Chandos' sound is spacious and clear, with good balance.
© TiVo
Details of the original recording : 67:55 - DDD - Enregistré du 5 au 8 avril 2009 au Blackheath Halls - Notes en textes chantés en anglais
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 01:07:37
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Cheryl Barker London Philharmonic Orchestra Gillian Keith William Dazeley David Parry
- Composer: Alfredo Catalani
- Label: Chandos
- Genre: Classical Opera Opera Extracts
- Collection: Opera in english
(C) 2009 Chandos (P) 2009 Chandos
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