Sondheim reviews

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.

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Liaisons: Re-imagining Sondheim from the piano

Stripped of Jonathan Tunick’s imaginative orchestrations, Stephen Sondheim’s show songs can sometimes seem rhythmically fidgety or melodically bare when accompanied just by a naked piano in a recital or revue. But there’s nothing bare about this collection of 37 piano ‘re-imaginings’ of Sondheim’s music, instigated and superbly played (with a recording to match) by the always adventurous Anthony de Mare.

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Color and Light: Jazz Sketches on Sondheim

Color and Light, a multi-artist CD, has jazz sketches by some of the greats including Nancy Wilson with Terence Blanchard taking aim at 'Anyone Can Whistle', Grover Washington, Jr swinging 'Every Day A Little Death', and Herbie Hancock teaming with Stephen Sondheim (no, it's not a misprint) in a lovely performance of 'They Ask Me Why I Believe In You' from an unproduced television special.

 

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Schubert, Brahms, Falla, Montsalvatge, Canteloube, Copland, Sondheim, etc

The story goes that Sony had to twist Angelika Kirchschlager’s arm pretty hard to persuade her to record this compilation: after all, she has hitherto been known for rather more rigorous programming both in live recital and on disc. With pictures of herself and her baby enfolded in a bath towel, the packaging may be soft-focus, but Kirchschlager proves herself no soft touch.
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Sondheim, PrŽvert, Brodsky, Celan, Eisler, etc

A CD called City of Strangers subtitled ‘Songs by Sondheim, Prévert...’, might give the impression of being predominantly a collection of songs by Stephen Sondheim. But no. Only four of the fourteen tracks are attributable to him (and of those, one is part of a medley). But Sondheim fans should not be deterred for Lemper’s treatment of these few classics – three from Company, one from Follies – is powerfully original.
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Monteverdi, Purcell, Bach, Janequin, Debussy, Britten, Sondheim

This salad is to be taken with a pinch of salt. I Fagiolini (the little kidney beans, to non-gourmets) are an Oxbridge-originating, award-winning vocal-plus-instrumental group who specialise in curious musical fare.
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Weill, Bernstein, Sondheim & Gershwin

Upshaw’s vibrant sound and her appealing intensity in music as varied as Mozart, Górecki and Copland is intoxicating. But here we find the American singer on home territory, the Broadway musical: repertoire which was surely just waiting for her to happen to it. The producers and orchestrators of this disc have provided care and craftsmanship for Upshaw, and she has delivered a humdinger performance in return.
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Weill, Blitzstein, Bernstein & Sondheim

Upshaw’s vibrant sound and her appealing intensity in music as varied as Mozart, Górecki and Copland is intoxicating. But here we find the American singer on home territory, the Broadway musical: repertoire which was surely just waiting for her to happen to it. The producers and orchestrators of this disc have provided care and craftsmanship for Upshaw, and she has delivered a humdinger performance in return.
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