White Moon: Songs to Morpheus

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Dawn Upshaw graces us with a template of nocturnal delights. The various musical styles range from Monteverdi to Crumb, keeping the listener from ever getting too comfortable. Her interprations of Warlock's haunting "Sleep" and Schwartner's "Black Anemones" are well- crafted and bewitching, but her usually-stellar musical sense is misguided in a disappointing "Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5" by Villa- Lobos. She sings youthfully and without vocal abandon, and the middle section is void of passion. Her lovely light voice sometimes treads dangerously on girlishness; it's most satisfying when exhibiting its full meaty radiance. Upshaw's pleasurable artistry creates a dreamy recording. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Tracks:

Sleep
Alceste: Gentle Morpheus
L'Incoronazione di Poppea: Aria: Oblivion Soave
Five Songs: White Moon
Two Poems Of Agueda Pizarro: Black Anemonies
Weep You No More, Sad Fountians - Dowland
Bachianas Brasileiras No.5: Aria
Night Of The Four Moons: I. La luna estuetra, muerta...
Night Of The Four Moons: II. Cuando sale la luna
Night Of The Four Moons: III. Otro Adoscuro estonando...
Night Of The Four Moons: IV. Huye luna, luna, luna!
The Fairy Queen: See, Even Night

Amazon.com

Dawn Upshaw graces us with a template of nocturnal delights. The various musical styles range from Monteverdi to Crumb, keeping the listener from ever getting too comfortable. Her interprations of Warlock's haunting "Sleep" and Schwartner's "Black Anemones" are well- crafted and bewitching, but her usually-stellar musical sense is misguided in a disappointing "Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5" by Villa- Lobos. She sings youthfully and without vocal abandon, and the middle section is void of passion. Her lovely light voice sometimes treads dangerously on girlishness; it's most satisfying when exhibiting its full meaty radiance. Upshaw's pleasurable artistry creates a dreamy recording. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews:

A good example of Upshaw's adventurous programming.......2006-08-24

Early on Dawn Upshaw carveda niche for herself on the New York music scene with daring song recitlas, often at the 92nd St. Y, that critics adored. This CD gives us a perfect example, ranging form Dowland and Monteverdi to Crumb and Schwantner. Except for the Villa-Lobos, most of the selections will be obscure for the average listener. I wish I could say the results totally delighted me. But Upshaw seems a little uninvolved here, and the theme of Morpheus, god of sleep, suggests that the tone is too consistently nocturnal. There's no denying her artistry, but this is one Upshaw recital I rarely pull out of a listen all the way through.

Better than average Upshaw recording. Entertaining.......2006-04-29

'White Moon, Songs to Morpheus' sung by Dawn Upshaw are 12 pieces written by a wide variety of composers, but all dealing with sleep. I am almost always on the fence between four and five stars with Upshaw recordings, but this one is a clear five, as the variety of both vocal range and instrumental accompanyment makes it far more interesting than her single composer essays.

This may not be the best first album for someone new to Upshaw (See 'Dawn Upsahw, Soprano), but if you like her, it should definitely be on your list.

Best Upshaw Recording.......2004-05-04

Almost as good as Upshaw live, as I saw last week in Pittsburgh. I agree also, the Schwanter is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard and she sings it beautifully with the piano. All other songs are excellent, esp. Weep ye no More...the Crumb songs are unusual but don't affect the worth of purchase.

Making Connections.......2002-03-17

Most of Dawn Upshaw's albums are so artistic in their conception, that you want to buy them regardless of what is on it. It takes true talent to "sell" Monteverdi, Schwantner, Crumb, and Purcell on the same CD! But Upshaw does with performances that are sensitive, but always in the spirit of "Songs to Morpheus." Upshaw doesn't just program her album with songs that all share the same literary theme, but she instills the idea of Morpheus, and by extension, the moon, in all the pieces--the "soother of suffering."
Handel's "Gentle Morpheus" is sung with gentle restraint, bringing out the subtle nuances so prevalent in Handel's vocal works. Upshaw has a clear understanding of early music performance and does not seek to "overinterpret" the music. Likewise, her performance of the newer pieces are equally sensitive. Although her diction is a bit obtrusive in the verse of Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, her vocalise is so moving, particularly at the end. Her performance of the Crumb is worthy of Jan de Gaetani, and other top-notch performers of Crumb's music.

The right selections for the right voice.......2001-12-01

The theme of this music is Sleep and Dreams. The 'night setting' is reflected in a very interesting variety of songs, both old and modern. The ethereal quality of much of this music
is well suited to Upshaw's silver toned voice, which expresses the fantasy and other worldliness of the compositions without losing the idea that the human soul can find fantastic strangeness and blessed comfort in each night of its existence.
By the way, and most significantly: the music is beautiful beyond words.

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