The Radiant Voice of Barbara Bonney

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Of all the laudatory epithets applicable to Barbara Bonney, the term "radiant" might not be the one that springs to mind--at least, not insofar as it suggests the warm luxuriance of sunshine. Bonney's light, bright lyric soprano is something else: a voice of delicate refinement and transparent, pure-toned beauty. But it's capable of silkily seductive textures, too. And there are wonderful examples on this compilation disc that, if featuring a less-established artist, might qualify as a demo tape. Most of the tracks are previously issued, but together, they define her capabilities and home-base repertory, from Bach, Purcell, and Mozart through to Scandinavian song and Richard Strauss. With "Morgen," "Solveigs Sang," "The Presentation of the Rose" from Der Rosenkavalier, and "Ach, ich Fuhls" from The Magic Flute, this is a catalog of silver, if not golden, moments. Jewel-like singing and pure joy to hear. --Michael White

Tracks:

Come Again: Sweet Love Doth Now Invite
Thy Hand, Belinda... When I Am Laid in Earth
Heute Noch, Lieber Vater, Tut Es Doch
Stabat Mater - Barbara Bonney/Andreas Scholl
Alleluia
Laudate Dominum
Deh, Vieni, Non Tardar
Ach, Ich Fuhl's
Chiedi All'aura Lusinghiera
Mondnacht
Solveigs Sang
Var Det En Drom?
Flickan Kom Ifran Sin Alsklings Mote
Morgen
Mir Ist Die Ehre Widerfahren
Die Nachtigall
In Trutina
Pie Jesu
Vocalise

Amazon.com

Of all the laudatory epithets applicable to Barbara Bonney, the term "radiant" might not be the one that springs to mind--at least, not insofar as it suggests the warm luxuriance of sunshine. Bonney's light, bright lyric soprano is something else: a voice of delicate refinement and transparent, pure-toned beauty. But it's capable of silkily seductive textures, too. And there are wonderful examples on this compilation disc that, if featuring a less-established artist, might qualify as a demo tape. Most of the tracks are previously issued, but together, they define her capabilities and home-base repertory, from Bach, Purcell, and Mozart through to Scandinavian song and Richard Strauss. With "Morgen," "Solveigs Sang," "The Presentation of the Rose" from Der Rosenkavalier, and "Ach, ich Fuhls" from The Magic Flute, this is a catalog of silver, if not golden, moments. Jewel-like singing and pure joy to hear. --Michael White

Customer Reviews:

Rare gem of a contemporary singer........2007-02-15

This is my first CD of Ms. Bonney.
I would say that Ms. Bonney is the greatest lyrical soprano of the late 20th century (she has retired last year from opera, I saw on the internet).
I've yet to hear another contemporary singer to beat her in her Susanna aria 'Deh vieni non tardar', or her Pamina aria.
Her Solveig's Song I took as a real vocal guide towards this song. Just listen to her 'ah' section and you will understand what I mean - such well nuanced musically line, such refined phrasing. Hard to beat.
Her opening song of Dowland is again a great wonder. Such drama built into so simple a song! Together with her Bach cantata, it reflect her vast span of repertoire that falls nowhere short of greatness.
Yes, I do not find her 'alleluia' from Exultate Jubilate 'very' exceptional, but this, as pointed out, may not be her best account of this work.
If she has really retired from opera then it is a great great loss indeed.

Superb!.......2005-12-03

Barbara Bonney has a very clear voice.
This is my favourite cd of her.

Good compilation--but don't buy it new.......2005-01-03

I am a decided Bonney fan. So it is with hesitation I give this disc only three stars (three and a half really, but I don't have that option). But, it does reflect my feelings about this cd. There are certain selections that are especially disappointing because seeing them listed on the cover was my motivation for purchasing the cd to begin with-- the rose presentation from "Rosenkavalier," for example. As far as I'm concerned, Miss Bonney is the best Sophie around today. But this recording doesn't do her justice. Her signature floating pianissimi on the high a's and b's seemed under par here. Too much gear-changing and some vibrato issues (slight, but perceptible). And I wasn't particularly thrilled with the mezzo on this recording. Perhaps I'm spoiled by seeing the Lott-Bonney-von Otter DVD (by the way, THAT'S a definite keeper, if you have the 40 dollars it costs. . . worth it!). The "Exsultate, Jubilate" was less than stellar. It seemed to me that the tempo was just a hair faster than she could comfortably sing the florid lines. The high "c" at the end sounded far too difficult for a soprano like Bonney who does have such easy beautiful high notes. Additionally, I would have liked to hear her sing the entire piece as opposed to just the "Alleluia". I wish the Weber "Pie Jesu" weren't included. I always skip it. There's too much glorious music that suits Bonney so well for her to waste an entire track on this silliness.

Having said all this, the album is not at all a complete loss. There are some truly fine moments on here too. The Mozart arias are wonderful. Her voice really has the appropriate sex appeal for Susanna's aria. That's a favorite of mine anyway. Love the Strauss! Like the Dowland to open the cd. And check out track 16, "Die Nachtigall." The first time I listened to the cd, I had to do a "double take" halfway through this song. I grabbed the cd case and liner notes to see if someone else were singing this piece (since there are several guests on this collection) because it simply didn't sound like the same person. There's a depth and steely quality to her voice that I had never heard from her before. I was amazed. I suspect that she couldn't sustain that sound comfortably for an extended amount of time, but I was still very impressed to hear that she has that capability.

I tend to be overly wordy, so I'll wrap up by saying that this is indeed a cd that is worth buying if you can find it for reasonably less than the retail price. It's worth having for some of the better moments on the recording, but might be somewhat disappointing if you have invested the full retail value (as I did).

A Lieder Singer Who Also Does Opera.......2003-03-04

Barbara Bonney is a phenomenon. With a rich and sensuous voice, she imparts more subtle emotional colors and musical nuances to the works she performs than any soprano in recent memory. To hear her sing is to come away with both a new understanding of the work and a heart full of joy. At the risk of seeming to hedge, however, I am less ecstatic about some of her performances of larger works. On this CD, for example, the "Laudate Dominum" seems strangely forced. (It is only because other of her albums are even more exquisite that I gave this one four stars. She deserves all the stars in the firmament.) But there is no comparison with her renderings of lieder, like the exquisite "Mondnacht." She is haunting, delicate, seductive - and all things in between. I have written elsewhere of the ongoing rediscovery of Robert Schumann. Ms. Bonney's recordings are, in my view, among those leading this revolution, which has led others besides this reviewer to consider Schumann's lieder even more remarkable than Schubert's. Her recent disc with songs of Liszt balanced by the "Dichterliebe" is so lovely as to be almost unearthly. Similarly, in a recording with Vladimir Ashkenazy, she sings the "Frauenliebe und Leben," excerpts from Eichendorff's "Liederkreis," and champions to excellent effect a number of sumptuous lieder by Clara Schumann. This is by way of saying that what Ms. Bonney herself asserts is accurate: that she is a lieder singer first and foremost. Her Richard Strauss and Sibelius are subtle, powerful and passionate. The Mozart arias are sprightly and, where called for, sexy as well. She also works wonders with Andrew Lloyd Weber and Andre Previn, though I think she really deserves to sing better material. This is a marvelous overview of Ms. Bonney's range, and while I am always suspicious of hagiography in program notes, here I can only say "Amen"!

Simply Stunning.......2002-03-28

Radiant aptly describes the voice of Barbara Bonney. Her silvery tones, the effortless highs, and the quality of her pianissimo are simply stunning. Her voice shimmers with life, and love, and color. The music selections are varied and a grand example of the beauty of Barbara's instrument and artistry. This disk is a heavenly collection of some of the best lyric soprano literature and is pure joy to listen to.

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