Deborah Riedel excels
Alec M. Raymond | Brisbane, Australia | 04/04/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Deborah Riedel was an Australian Soprano who died tragically recently (early 2009) after a long illness. I have her on several opera & operetta recordings (including 'Giuditta' by Lehar, in English, with the sadly missed Jerry Hadley). She sang in the South Australian production of Wagner's 'Ring Cycle' (also on Melba Records). I bought this CD of British opera arias, soon after its release here in Australia on the very enterprising local Melba label. It has two Arthur Sullivan arias, including the beautiful 'Lord of our Chosen Race' from his only 'grand opera', 'Ivanhoe'. This is what interested me first. Then I discovered all the other treasures on the disc from 'lost' English operas and composers of the 19th century; lovely melodies, often quite dramatic, rediscovered by Richard Bonynge who conducts with great sensitivity on this recording. Deborah Riedel sings with deep feeling for both the music and the lyrics. She is still a great singer who lives on through her recorded legacy."