Sunday, January 26, 2025

What's in a Voice?

 

At least from the perspective of what makes a voice attractive for an individual.

I am not sure I even have a definite answer for myself, but I know a voice can make or break my enjoyment of music.

Here we have Roberta Alexander, an esteemed US soprano who has dedicated many recital recordings to US and little-known composers, many on the Etcetera Records label.

In the music of Samuel Barber, the first names mentioned are usually that of Martina Arroyo and Leontyne Price, who performed and recorded Barber's songs early on. It is interesting that this trio of sopranos are all still alive at the writing of this post; bless them all for sharing their gifts of voice with us, and may continuing health follow you.

I have personally enjoyed Price for her singular vocal timbre, although some don't care for her later outings. I am less familiar with Arroyo, but her recording of Andromache's Farewell with Thomas Schippers is heralded, as is Schippers with Price in Knoxville: Summer of 1915.


Roberta Alexander tackles both of these two large vocal works with Edo de Waart leading the Netherlands Philharmonic. Hers is a strong, operatic voice, and she imbues plenty of dramatics into Barber's music. If Alexander isn't as characterful as Arroyo or Price, her singing is the most consistent sounding.

On the other hand, Alexander's rapid, fluttery vibrato takes some getting used to for this listener, and I am not completely sure I am
yet completely on board with this aspect from the soprano. Her vocal commitment is dead on, though, and I have warmed significantly to her portrayal of Knoxville in particular.

In addition, two arias are selected from each of Barber's operas Antony and Cleopatra and Vanessa. I am not familiar with these stage works aside from some instrumental excerpts, but Alexander seems at home in this passionate literature for the stage.

Three songs originally for voice and piano, are given orchestrations, including the famous Sure On This Shining Night. Maybe because these are considerably briefer compared to the operas, these songs are special treats and very colorful in their orchestral garb.

If I have a druther regarding this program, it is that this is all rather harrowing music, with only Sure On This Shining Night, Must the Winter Come So Soon, and Knoxville as brief respites. In Knoxville, I have personally preferred a lither, more silvery voice type, akin to Dawn Upshaw in her wonderful rendering; yet Alexander does all of Barber's music proud with no need to compromise her solid technique.

 



Listen on YouTube

 

 

 

Works
Andromache's Farewell (12.36)
Knoxville: Summer of 1915 (15.42)
Antony and Cleopatra, excerpts (16.16)
    Give Me Some Music
    Death of Cleopatra
Vanessa, excerpts (7.08)
    Must the Winter Come So Soon
    Do Not Utter a Word
Three Orchestrated Songs
    I Hear an Army (2.31)
    Nocturne (3.17)
    Sure on This Shining Night (2.25)

Soloists
Roberta Alexander, soprano

Performers

Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
Edo de Waart
, conductor

Label: Etcetera
Year: 1992
Total Timing: 59.55

 

 

 


I know Roberta Alexander's survey of Samuel Barber's songs are well respected, but I am just not quite there yet with her voice.

This program is also rather bleak, with little let up in emotional impact upon this listener, although some might consider this a positive attribute.

I will say, however, Alexander gives terrific portrayals of these works in comparison to earlier, reference performances. A solid investment.

 

 

 

 

Find more Barber recordings HERE!

 

No comments: