Notes and Editorial Reviews
One must exercise patience to receive full value from this disc. The dry wit, rhythmic intricacies, and hidden emotional content of Ives’s songs do not fit Deborah Voigt’s magnificent soprano very well. First, there is the eternal problem of scaling down a Wagnerian voice to an intimate, chamber-music level.
The Side Show
sounds too operatic, though
Two Little Flowers
works very well here. When more voice is called for in
The Circus Band
, the sudden leaps and stuttering syncopations give the huge operatic voice some trouble. There is an old cliché about
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operatic performances—often about baritones—that the role doesn’t sit well in the voice. That’s the impression I get with Voigt’s
At the River
, but it is less a matter of pitch or dynamics than a lack of sympathy with Ives’s internalized musical style. Nor do the sly humor and soupy sentimentality of these particular Leonard Bernstein songs suit Voigt’s sophisticated musical persona; they do neither the composer nor the artist full justice. I would love to hear Voigt sing some of Bernstein’s great theater songs and arias.
Ben Moore (b. 1960) is an American composer who specializes in vocal music, from Broadway to the opera house, writing both serious songs and parodies. These eight songs are on texts of poets English (Robert Herrick, Thomas Hardy), Irish (W. B. Yeats, James Joyce), and American (Elizabeth Bishop). Moore’s gentle music is tonally conventional; he sets the language well, finding just the right note and dynamic for every vowel, and he writes illuminating, sometimes complex accompaniments, capturing the spirit of each poem. Voigt and pianist Brian Zeger seem thoroughly at home with Moore’s songs, throwing themselves into the music with more abandon as they progress through the set of eight, whose order has been well chosen. One suddenly feels that the Moore songs are the true focus of the disc.
And then both artists gorgeously realize the poignancy of Charles Tomlinson Griffes’s unique harmonies. Finally, in
Evening Song
, Voigt opens up her great voice to thrilling effect (not, of course, to full Wagnerian splendor); it is one of those worth-the-price-of-the-disc moments. She also produces lovely pianissimos. Here is a true match of music and singer: Voigt was born to sing Griffes, as well as Wagner and Strauss. A similar vocal approach to Amy Beach’s Robert
Browning Songs
is also thrilling and satisfying; again, the final song is the climactic moment.
Producer/engineer Max Wilcox’s recording gives the piano equal prominence with the singer, which is totally appropriate for these songs and quite unexpected in a star vehicle; it speaks well for Ms. Voigt’s artistic integrity. Mr. Zeger also shows sensitivity, taking charge and/or retiring at all the right places. I have seen only a bare-bones advance copy, but EMI assures me that song texts will be included in the final issue. My only quibble is that someone has inserted a comma into Keats’s
Darkling I Listen
on the back cover.
Patience fully rewarded!
FANFARE: James H. North
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Works on This Recording
1.
The Side-show by Charles Ives
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1921; USA
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 0 Minutes 28 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
2.
Two Little Flowers by Charles Ives
Performer:
Brian Zeger (Piano),
Deborah Voigt (Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1921; USA
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 1 Minutes 23 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
3.
Down East by Charles Ives
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1919; USA
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 53 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
4.
The Circus Band by Charles Ives
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: ?1894; USA
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 14 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
5.
Berceuse by Charles Ives
Performer:
Brian Zeger (Piano),
Deborah Voigt (Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1903; USA
Date of Recording: 01/09/2005
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 1 Minutes 37 Secs.
Language: English
6.
At the River by Charles Ives
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: ?1916; USA
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 1 Minutes 37 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
7.
The Children's Hour by Charles Ives
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1901; USA
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 1 Minutes 59 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
8.
Piccola Serenata by Leonard Bernstein
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1979; USA
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 1 Minutes 10 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
9.
Arias and Barcarolles: no 5, Greeting by Leonard Bernstein
Performer:
Brian Zeger (Piano),
Deborah Voigt (Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1988; USA
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 20 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
10.
So pretty by Leonard Bernstein
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1968; USA
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 7 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
11.
In the Dark Pinewood by Ben Moore
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 1 Minutes 44 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
12.
The Ivy-Wife by Ben Moore
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 28 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
13.
The Cloak, the Boat, and the Shoes by Ben Moore
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 13 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
14.
I Am in Need of Music by Ben Moore
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 3 Minutes 32 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
15.
To the Virgins to Make Much of Time by Ben Moore
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 1 Minutes 54 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
16.
This Heart that Flutters by Ben Moore
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 19 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
17.
Darkling, I Listen by Ben Moore
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 3 Minutes 26 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
18.
Bright Cap and Streamers by Ben Moore
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 1 Minutes 32 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
19.
The Half-Ring Moon by Charles Tomlinson Griffes
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1912; Tarrytown, NY
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 1 Minutes 14 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
20.
Pierrot by Charles Tomlinson Griffes
Performer:
Deborah Voigt (Soprano),
Brian Zeger (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1912; Tarrytown, NY
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 1 Minutes 6 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
21.
Cleopatra to the Asp by Charles Tomlinson Griffes
Performer:
Brian Zeger (Piano),
Deborah Voigt (Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: circa 1912; Tarrytown, NY
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 16 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
22.
Evening Song by Charles Tomlinson Griffes
Performer:
Brian Zeger (Piano),
Deborah Voigt (Soprano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: USA
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 2 Minutes 50 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
23.
Browning Songs (3), Op. 44 by Amy Marcy Beach
Performer:
Brian Zeger (Piano),
Deborah Voigt (Soprano)
Period: Romantic
Written: by 1900; USA
Venue: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC
Length: 6 Minutes 20 Secs.
Language: English
Notes: American Academy of Arts & Letters, NYC (01/09/2005 - 01/12/2005)
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