Simon Lepper reviews
Proud Songsters – English Solo Song
Michael Chance, Lawrence Zazzo, Tim Mead (countertenor), et al, Simon Lepper (piano) (King's College)
Epic: Lieder & Balladen
Stéphane Degout (baritone), Simon Lepper (piano), et al (Harmonia Mundi)
Ilker Arcayürek and Simon Lepper perform songs by Schubert
This recital is called ‘The lonely one’ and Richard Stokes, in his thorough notes to the disc, states ‘Loneliness is the theme that links all the songs on this CD’; but it seems to me that you would have to look hard to find loneliness, as opposed, say, to longing or simply love as the central ingredient in many of them.
Two Little Words with Dame Felicity Palmer and Simon Lepper
In this hour-long recital Dame Felicity Palmer celebrates 50 years of a career that has seen her succeed in diverse genres to a degree as consistent as it has been wide-ranging. With her mezzo still steady and her diction a model, she is able to convey the varied repertoire here with admirable focus and expressivity, ideally supported by expert accompanist Simon Lepper.