Sullivan: Songs

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SIR ARTHUR SULLIVAN
Sullivan: Songs
Mary Bevan (soprano), Ben Johnson (tenor), Ashley Riches (bass-baritone) & David Owen Norris (piano)

[ Chandos / 2 CD ]

Release Date: Sunday 26 March 2017

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This exceptional recording gathers the finest young vocal talents in a unique programme of songs by Sullivan, many of them very rarely recorded.

Currently widely acclaimed for key operatic title roles in the UK and abroad, the 'deeply touching, outstanding' (The Guardian) soprano Mary Bevan, the 'elegant yet intense, impeccable' (The Guardian) tenor Ben Johnson, and the 'increasingly impressive' (The Financial Times) bass-baritone Ashley Riches - who here appears on Chandos for the first time - span fifty years of Arthur Sullivan's large non-operatic vocal output. They are accompanied by the UK pianist David Owen Norris, who regularly appears in highly praised concerto performances at the BBC Proms.

This album continues to celebrate the Shakespeare anniversary but also presents a wide variety of poets, drawing on texts from a vast range of sources, through the voices of today's greatest rising stars.

"Although Sullivan always stands with one foot in the Victorian parlour, his songs have more to offer than the casual listener might expect. Mary Bevan and Ben Johnson are the appealing soprano and tenor, Ashley Riches the outstanding bass-baritone. David Owen Norris accompanies with affection." Financial Times, 7th April 2017 ****

"Mary Bevan is in glorious voice throughout. 'Orpheus with his Lute' is particularly exquisite, and her sense of line and floated high pianissimos are ravishing in 'O Israel'." Gramophone Magazine, April 2017

"the powerful Tennyson cycle The Window, George Herbert's Sweet Day and many others - thanks to Norris's inspired direction - make you realise what a fine, underrated songwriter Sullivan was." Sunday Times, 12th March 201

Tracks:

Sigh no more, ladies
Orpheus with his Lute
O mistress mine
The Willow Song
Rosalind
Love laid his sleepless head
Nel ciel seren
Where the bee sucks
I wish to tune my quivering lyre
Sweet day
Arabian Love Song
Birds in the Night
A life that lives for you
Once again
Golden Days
Guinevere!
None but I can say
O Israel
St Agnes' Eve
Edward Gray
What does little birdie say?
O swallow, swallow
Tears, idle tears
The Window; or, the Songs of the Wrens
Bid me at least goodbye
E tu nol sai
Ich mochte hinaus es jauchzen
Lied, mit thränen halbgeschrieben
Oh! Ma charmante
I would I were a King
Sad Memories
Ever
Mary Morison
Old Love Letters
County Guy
Sweethearts