Forgotten Songs: Dawn Upshaw Sings Debussy

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Music reviews of Forgotten Songs: Dawn Upshaw Sings Debussy

Music Review: Not quite perfection, but not be be forgotten, either
Rating: 4 Stars

Sadly, Dawn Upshaw, who has a great voice, seems to be trying to temper her power and warm tone to accommodate the delicacy of Debussy's miniatures. It seems to be a mismatch which frankly surprised me. I thought if anyone had the flexibility and drama to do the "Forgotten Songs" it would have been Upshaw. But for whatever reason, the recording is slightly unfulfilling. A few songs ("Mandoline", "Balcon") are completely satisfying, but on the whole, this is not a one-hundred percent triumph. Perhaps Upshaw is more suited to a long, endurance work of increasingly soaring tones such as her recording of Gorecki's Third Symphony, where she is unsurpassed. I have not heard her do Strauss, but I'll bet she does it well, as I think her voice is more suited to that composer than here with Debussy.

I had no real problems with Levine's piano work, but sometimes it seems bit flat in dynamics. Levine is, however, well suited here to adapt his playing to fit a singer, since his "day job" is conducting opera.

Still, not that many singers have chosen to record these pretty litte songs, so I do play this CD often and with enjoyment.

Description of Forgotten Songs: Dawn Upshaw Sings Debussy

Classical CDs

• Music > Styles
• Pop