Search - Felicity Lott, Graham Johnson :: My Garden: An Anthology of Flower Songs

A lovely recital

Russel E. Higgins | 03/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you, like me, consider Dame Felicity Lott one of the warmest, most endearing recitalists now singing, you must purchase this marvelous CD. If you do not know who Ms. Lott is, or have never heard her but love to hear the glories of the human voice, this CD is also for you. I have over 200 lieder CD's and records in my collection, but "My Garden" is the recital CD that I turn to most often when I want to hear a superlative female singer interpret a group of varied songs in an absolutely charming way. In "My Garden," Ms. Lott chooses songs in German, French, and English which deal with gardens, flowers, and, even, in one song, delicious vegetables. We hear songs by Schumann like "Mein Garden" ("My Garden") and "Die Blume der Ergebung" ("The Flower of Resignation"); Wolf's exquisite "Anakreons Grab" ("The Grave of Anacreon") with its roses and laurel; a group of French songs by Franck, Chausson, Faure, and Chabrier; and irresistable songs by British composers' Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, Haydn Wood, ("Roses of Picardy"), the eccentric Lord Berners ("Red Roses and Red Noses") and even a British Music Hall song, "Cabbages, Cabeans, and Carrots," which is sung ("styled" is perhaps a better word) by Dame Lott with charming fervor! Then there are the American composers, Seymour Barab (setting a poem by Dorothy Parker entitled "One Perfect Rose"), and two songs by the wonderful John Musto, one of which is set to a poem by Robert Frost ("The Rose Family.") This is all very lovely music, superbly sung by Dame Felicity Lott with the usual magnificent piano accompaniment by Graham Johnson. There is nothing more a lieder enthusiast could ask for. I have heard Ms. Lott several times in recital, and, I must say, this CD perfectly recreates one of her lieder concerts. The beautifully warm voice is present, and her charm and brilliance are captured on this Hyperion CD. I might add that the CD is an excellent introduction to the world of lieder for anyone wishing to explore this wonderful genre. There are excellent notes included, as well as full texts with clear, coherent trtanslations. This Hyperion CD, quite literally, has everything!"