Berio: Recital I for Cathy / Folk Songs / 3 Songs by Kurt Weill
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Composer: Luciano BerioComposer: John Jacob Niles
Composer: Kurt Weill
Conductor: Luciano Berio
Performer: Juilliard Ensemble
Performer: Cathy Berberian
Orchestra: London Sinfonietta
Edition: Music CD
Audio: German (Unknown)
Format: Import
CD Release Date: 1995-02-24
Music Label: RCA Victor Europe
Soundtracks:
- Reciatal I For Cathy: Se I Languidi Miei Sguardi
- Reciatal I For Cathy: Amor, Dov'e La Fe
- Recital I For Cathy: 'Ah! He Hadn't Been There Before...'
- Recital I For Cathy: 'Cl That's The Sound That Has Been Haunting Me...'
- Recital I For Cathy: Avendo Gran Desio
- Recital I For Cathy: 'Who Hasn't Taken A Piece Out Of My Life?'
- Recital I For Cathy: Musician Exchange: 'These 5 Men...'
- Recital I For Cathy: Exc: Mahler, Delibes, Rossini, Etc
- Recital I For Cathy: Calmo E Lontano: 'Libera Nos'
- Folk Songs: Black Is The Colour...
- Folk Songs: I Wonder As I Wander...
- Folk Songs: Loosin Yelav...
- Folk Songs: Rossignolet Du Bois
- Folk Songs: A La Femminisca
- Folk Songs: La Donna Ideale
- Folk Songs: Ballo
- Folk Songs: Motettu De Tristura
- Folk Songs: Malurous Qu' O Uno Fenno
- Folk Songs: Lo Fiolaire
- Folk Songs: Azerbaijan Love Song
- Song Of Sexual Slavery
- Le Grand Lustucru
- Surabaya Johnny
Music reviews of Berio: Recital I for Cathy / Folk Songs / 3 Songs by Kurt Weill
Music Review: The Berio hasn't aged well at all
Rating: 2 Stars
This RCA disc contains several pieces marvellously performed by the modernist diva Cathy Berberian. Married to Luciano Berio for several years, and long afterward his muse, Berberian brought not only an impeccable voice to the performance of many pieces, but an enthralling stage personality. There's some Kurt Weill on here too, but my review will be limited to the Berio since I bought the disc in exploring his output.
Berio's "Recital I for Cathy" for female voice and 17 instruments (1972) is a highly theatrical work from a composer who loved to mash up modernism and the classical canon and make a scandalous spectacle of it. The soprano begins by beautifully singing an aria by Monteverdi. But in a few minutes, she's abandoned this straightforward performance and begins speaking stream-of-consciousness dialogue, complaining that her pianist is late and other such fears of the performer. The ensemble dissolves into fractured modernist lines, with random quotations from the classical period, big band jazz and even earlier Berio sometimes popping up.
The "Recital I for Cathy" could have never reached a wide audience, for few listeners have the requisite knowledge of bel canto *and* a love of postmodern zaniness. But the work has also dated badly, and while I find this fun enough on an initial listening, it doesn't really have much attraction afterward. Certainly Berio's similar piece "Sinfonia" has shown much more staying power. It's frustrating, for perhaps seeing Berberian perform this live back in the day would have been an amazing experience, but in accessing this piece through recording I cannot be too positive about it.
"Folk Songs" (1964) is a cycle of 11 arrangements Berio made from a wide variety of folk traditions. It opens with "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair", whose status as a real folk song is dubious, but then precedes through France, Armenia, Italy, Sardinia and elsewhere. It ends with an Azerbaijani love song that Berberian transcribed herself from an old record, though she didn't understand a word of Azeri. Generally, "Folk Songs" is my least favourite work by Berio, as it's quite tame when the composer could do some amazing things when he let his modernism flow freely. Now, there is a video floating around where Berio leads a Swiss ensemble as Berberian sings, and it's clear that her unique stage presence can save the piece. However, I have no desire to hear this again on recording, or sit through any more concert performances by contemporary sopranos who just don't have the mojo.
I'd recommend this disc only for Berio completists, really, though I understand that Berberian has her own little following regardless of what exactly she was actually singing.
Description of Berio: Recital I for Cathy / Folk Songs / 3 Songs by Kurt Weill
Cathy Berberian, singer and wife of Luciano Berio, was one of music's true originals. Equally adept at Monteverdi and the wildest effusions of the avant-garde, her performances brought her husband's music to new and appreciative audiences, while permitting Berio to create some of his most gripping work at the same time. Folk Songs is exactly what the title says--a collection of folk songs from around the world which gives Berberian the opportunity to demonstrate her ability to sing in different languages and styles. Recital 1 is something else again--a monologue for soprano that reveals the slow disintegration of her personality. It's a nervous breakdown in music. Berberian performs everything on this disc brilliantly. --David HurwitzGeneral CDs
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