Great Interpretation from Heidi Skok
barbc01 | Bemidji, MN USA | 07/03/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I really love this cycle by Ned Rorem, and any fan of 20th century american art song will like it as well I should imagine. Heidi Skok has an AMAZING voice, it is rich like chocolate and so emotive. Her high notes soar and still have the depth of her low and mid-voice. Martin Hennessy does a great job accompanying. This is seriously difficult music and they manage to make it sound rather effortless.
I'm not quite sure yet what to think of the songs composed by Martin Hennessy--he certainly writes beautiful music, but it does not have the character that Rorem's compositions have. Also, he has certain whispered sections in "In the Stillness" which could not be performed live because of balance issues. Still they are enjoyable, my personal favorite being "Sonnet for Micheal" with text by Edna St Vincent Millay.
If you are either a fan of Rorem's or simply of 20th Century american art song, this is an essential recording. I am eternally glad that I own it."