Sarah Walker, Graham Johnson - Shakespeare's Kingdom (1988)

  • 30 Jul, 21:07
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Artist:
Title: Shakespeare's Kingdom
Year Of Release: 1988
Label: Hyperion
Genre: Classical, Vocal
Quality: FLAC (image+.cue,log,scans)
Total Time: 54:30
Total Size: 232 Mb
WebSite:

Tracklist:

[1] Franz Schubert: An Silvia, D891
[2] Robert Schumann: Sechs Gesänge, Op.107 - No.1 Herzeleid
[3] Johannes Brahms: Ophelia-Lieder, WoO22 - No.1 Wie erkenn ich dein Treulieb
[4] Richard Strauss: Sechs Lieder, Op.67 - Lied der Ophelia No.1 Wie erkenn' ich mein Treulieb?
[5] Johannes Brahms: Ophelia-Lieder, WoO22 - No.2 Sein Leichenhemd weiss
[6] Richard Strauss: Sechs Lieder, Op.67 - Lied der Ophelia No.2 Guten Morgen, 's ist Sankt Valentinstag
[7] Johannes Brahms: Ophelia-Lieder, WoO22 - No.3 Auf Morgen ist Sankt Valentins Tag
[8] Richard Strauss: Sechs Lieder, Op.67 - Lied der Ophelia No.3 Sie trugen ihn auf der Bahre bloss
[9] Johannes Brahms: Ophelia-Lieder, WoO22 - No.5 Und kommt er nicht mehr zurück?
[10] Hector Berlioz: La mort d'Ophélie, Op.18 No.2
[11] Camille Saint-Saëns: La mort d'Ophélie
[12] Joseph Horovitz: Lady Macbeth – A Scena
[13] Edward Elgar: Pageant of Empire - No.1 Shakespeare's Kingdom
[14] Hubert Parry: English Lyrics II - No.1 O mistress mine
[15] Hubert Parry: Willow, willow, willow
[16] Percy Grainger: Willow, willow
[17] Benjamin Britten: Fancie
[18] Francis Poulenc: Fancy
[19] Mervyn Horder: Under the greenwood tree
[20] Edmund Rubbra: Take, O take those lips away, Op.22 No.1
[21] Geoffrey Bush: It was a lover and his lass

Performers:
Sarah Walker, mezzo soprano
Graham Johnson, piano

If you love Shakespeare, and / or Brahms, Schubert, Schumann, Berlioz and R. Strauss, you need to have this superb album in your collection. Walker is the most gratifying performer in opera and lieder, for beauty of voice (ravishing, audible silk); technique (perfection), intelligence (never-failing); phrasing (absolutely unsurpassed); and interpretation -- Walker does not merely "sell" a song, or act convincingly, she etches her performance on your soul. Just listen to her interpretation of the excerpts from MacBeth, set to music by Joseph Horovitz: Walker is a candidate for best Lady MacBeth. One wonders what she would do with the part as straight drama. If that isn't enough, she caresses the Schumann and the Berlioz, nails the Brahms (no accompaniment -- totally exposed voice), and slinks away with the tango "Under the Greenwood Tree."