Amy Beach: Chanson D'Amour

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Emma Kirkby, doyenne of the Early Music scene, here shows that she's just as comfortable in music of a more recent vintage. Amy Beach was a woman ahead of her time, performing as solo pianist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra by the age of 18. The same year (1885), she married Henry Beach and, no longer able to perform publicly (it would have gone against her social status), she instead settled down to composing. And delightful stuff it is, too, as Kirkby and friends demonstrate in this charming recital.

A number of the songs add violin, cello, or both to the piano and voice combination. "Ecstasy," for instance, has a most effective violin part that is an ideal foil to the purity of Kirkby's voice. Other highlights include the Schumannesque Browning Songs and the amiable Shakespeare Songs (the last of which, "Fairy Lullaby," is irresistible). The final item here, "Elle et moi," is an upbeat little number that suits Kirkby's lithe soprano to perfection. Occasionally, in some of the more lushly textured songs, such as "A Mirage" and "Stella Viatoris," perhaps a fuller voice would have been preferable, but then sample "Chanson d'amour" (written when Beach was only 21 and with a wonderful cello part in addition to the piano) and try to imagine it being better sung. The purely instrumental items are played with unfailing sensitivity and elegance. The Romance is straight out of the salon, while the much later Piano Trio (though actually based on early material) packs plenty of emotion and variety into its 14 minutes. The recording is exemplary, as are the concise notes and texts and translations. --Harriet Smith

Amy Beach: Chanson D'Amour, Music, Amy Beach, Emma Kirkby, The Romantic Chamber Group of London, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Classical Vocals

Average customer rating:

A disappointing recording from a splendid singer

Amy Beach: Chanson d'Amour

Still waiting for that Puccini album...

Amy Beach: Chanson D'Amour

Manufacturer: Bis
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000063RVR
Release Date: 2002-03-26

Tracks:

Ecstasy, Op.19 No.2 For Soprano, Violin And Piano
Chanson D'Amour For Soprano, Cello And Piano
A Mirage, Op.100 No.1 For Soprano And Piano Trio
Stella Viatoris, Op.100 No.2 For Soprano And Piano Trio
Rendezvous, For Soprano, Violin And Piano
Three Browning Songs, Op.44 For Soprano And Piano: I. The Year's At The Spring
Three Browning Songs, Op.44 For Soprano, Violin And Piano: II. Ah, Love, But A Day!
Three Browning Songs, Op.44 For Soprano And Piano: III. I Send My Heart Up To Thee!
Romance For Violin And Piano
Three Shakespeare Songs, Op.37 For Soprano And Piano: I. O Mistress Mine
Three Shakespeare Songs, Op.37 For Soprano And Piano: II. Take, O Take Those Lips Away
Three Shakespeare Songs, Op.37 For Soprano And Piano: III. Fairy Lullaby
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.150: I. Allegro
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.150: II. Lento Espressivo
Piano Trio In A Minor, Op.150: III. Allegro Con Brio
Nahe Des Geliebten, Op.35 No.3 For Soprano And Piano
Ich Sagte Nicht, Op.51 No.1 For Soprano And Piano
Wir Drei, Op.51 No.2 For Soprano And Piano
Je Demande A I'oiseau, Op.51 No.4 For Soprano And Piano
Canzonetta, Op.48 No.4 For Soprano And Piano
Elle Et Moi, Op.21 No.3 For Soprano And Piano

Amazon.com

Emma Kirkby, doyenne of the Early Music scene, here shows that she's just as comfortable in music of a more recent vintage. Amy Beach was a woman ahead of her time, performing as solo pianist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra by the age of 18. The same year (1885), she married Henry Beach and, no longer able to perform publicly (it would have gone against her social status), she instead settled down to composing. And delightful stuff it is, too, as Kirkby and friends demonstrate in this charming recital.

A number of the songs add violin, cello, or both to the piano and voice combination. "Ecstasy," for instance, has a most effective violin part that is an ideal foil to the purity of Kirkby's voice. Other highlights include the Schumannesque Browning Songs and the amiable Shakespeare Songs (the last of which, "Fairy Lullaby," is irresistible). The final item here, "Elle et moi," is an upbeat little number that suits Kirkby's lithe soprano to perfection. Occasionally, in some of the more lushly textured songs, such as "A Mirage" and "Stella Viatoris," perhaps a fuller voice would have been preferable, but then sample "Chanson d'amour" (written when Beach was only 21 and with a wonderful cello part in addition to the piano) and try to imagine it being better sung. The purely instrumental items are played with unfailing sensitivity and elegance. The Romance is straight out of the salon, while the much later Piano Trio (though actually based on early material) packs plenty of emotion and variety into its 14 minutes. The recording is exemplary, as are the concise notes and texts and translations. --Harriet Smith

Customer Reviews:

A disappointing recording from a splendid singer.......2003-09-08

After reading the rather rude review of this CD, I was ready to rush to Emma Kirkby's defence, but I thought maybe I should listen to it first before passing judgement. Unfortunately I must conclude that this isn't a good CD for fans of Kirkby or Beach. Emma Kirkby's repertoire covers a huge section of musical history from the 12th to the 18th century, but this is the first recording I have ever heard where she sings later music. So many fans and critics have suggested that she sing something more modern, and it would appear that this is her answer to them. The earlier virtues of clarity and control counted for little with the romantics, and her voice seems so out of place here. Listen to her singing Bach, Dowland, Monteverdi, De Machaut or Handel, but don't listen to this CD. But everyone makes mistakes sometimes - even the Eagles had the Long Run.

Amy Beach: Chanson d'Amour.......2002-06-26

For the fundamental value of having a CD of Amy Beach solo vocal and chamber pieces, this is an excellent purchase. The instrumentalists are excellent musicians who offer beauty and clarity to the individual lines. Emma Kirkby is, however, a huge disappointment. Her voice is hardly suited to any type of music (an early music specialist that would gain hugely from a little coaching from Barbara Bonney for technique). In these pieces, her small, strident voice is remarkably mismatched. It is amazing that producers would consider her for such pieces. Her only redeeming moments are found in the final three pieces. Despite the soprano, this is a valuable CD.

Still waiting for that Puccini album..........2002-04-15

Emma Kirkby, who to my knowledge has rarely if ever recorded much after the death of Mozart, is heard here in an album of art songs by the American composer Amy Beach. Even though it is not her usual style, she is surprisingly musical and expressive in the Romantic repertoire. I offer this album to anyone who has suggested that Ms. Kirkby's singing is expressionless. She proves here that she is more than just flawless technique. Her approach is much different than other sopranos in this repertoire, but she shows amazing emotional and dynamic range. Some of her quiet high notes are quite beautiful, and when she gets louder she sounds much fuller than I would expect. While her almost vibrato-less singing (she does have a bit more than usual on this album) may not be everyone's cup of tea, I would urge anyone to listen to this album for an interesting and unique take on this type of music.