I love Susan Graham’s personable, magnetic stage presence and powerful, flexible mezzo capable of scaling heights one moment and plunging into an abyss the next. So it pains me to give a less than glowing review to her latest album.
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
Virgins, Vixens & Viragos, released on the Onyx label, is an evocative umbrella title for a wide mix of art song and musical theatre, programmed as a recital from programmes she has toured in recent years with accompanist Malcolm Martineau.
Seeing this programme live would be far more interesting and engaging than hearing it on disc. Without two living, breathing people performing in front of you, there’s too much mental space to focus on the details of the performances themselves.
Graham is in wonderful voice, and Martineau provides his characteristic mix of sensitive support and sparkling collaboration.
The problem is that the mezzo sings everything more or less the same, be it Henry Purcell’s 7-minute recitative, Blessed Virgin’s Expostulation — a less-than-immediately engaging way to open a recital — or the closing “The Boy from …” a hilarious piece from a 1966 Stephen Sondheim revue called The Mad Show.
In both the 17th century and Broadway piece, Graham sings like the operatic mezzo she is, rather than try to lighten and vary her delivery in the recitative, or switch into a fleeter, lighter pop voice for the Sondheim song.
The material in between fares better, especially in the brilliantly mixed set of six art songs by six different composers set on Goethe’s Mignon, and in Francis Poulenc’s Fiançailles pour rire and velvety “Les Chemins de l’amour.”
Graham is nothing short of masterful in subtly shading notes while delivering a classic French legato phrase.
Hector Berlioz’ La Mort d’Ophélie is excellent, as is Graham’s, um, full-bodied take on Cole Porter’s “The Physician.”
Ultimately, this is an album for the Susan Graham fan who would like something new to add to the collection.
You’ll find all the details, including booklet notes, samples and downloads, here.
John Terauds
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
