Catalogue

Summary:

Ann Murray is a consummate artist, an instinctive and passionate musician. Her career has taken her literally all over the world to many an opera and concert stage, transfixing audiences with her unshowy musicality. A dedicated recitalist, she doesn’t so much sing her repertoire as embody it. Her voice blooms with an immaculate sense of line that transports the listener, as it appropriately does in Schumann’s dramatic life-journey Frauenliebe und Leben. She magically colours the Rückert Lieder in Mahler’s melancholic harmonies. She casts a spell throughout Britten’s A Charm of Lullabies, evoking the power and potential of the night, after which the Cabaret Songs are a suitable tonic. Malcolm Martineau, the collaborator of choice for today’s vocal stars, equals Ann every step of the way, underpinning her sense of style and storyline with every turn of phrase.

Tracklist:

GUSTAV MAHLER (1860–1911)
Lieder nach Texten von Friedrich Rückert (18:24)
1. Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder! (1:26)
2. Ich atmet’ einen linden Duft (2:16)
3. Um Mitternacht (5:52)
4. Liebst du um Schönheit (2:20)
5. Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (6:30)

ROBERT SCHUMANN (1810–1856)
Frauenliebe und Leben, Op. 42 (21:53)
6. I Seit ich ihn gesehen (2:27)
7. II Er, der Herrlichste von allen (3:07)
8. III Ich kann’s nicht fassen, nicht glauben (1:35)
9. IV Du Ring an meinem Finger (2:44)
10. V Helft mir, ihr Schwestern (1:53)
11. VI Süßer Freund, du blackest (4:38)
12. VII An meinem Herzen, an meiner Brust (1:17)
13. VIII Nun hast du mir den ersten Schmerz getan (4:12)

Benjamin BRITTEN (1913 – 1976)
A Charm of Lullabies, Op. 41 (11:31)
14. I A Cradle Song (William Blake) (2:26)
15. II The Highland Balou (Robert Burns) (1:49)
16. III Sephestia’s Lullaby (Robert Greene) (1:52)
17. IV A charm (Thomas Randolph) (1:36)
18. V The Nurse’s Song (John Philip) (3:48)

Cabaret Songs (W.H. Auden) (15:24)
19. Calypso (2:18)
20. O tell me the truth about love (5:14)
21. Johnny (4:50)
22. Funeral Blues (3:02)
Total time: 67:16

Recorded 4 – 7 May 2005, Crear Studio, Scotland
Recording producer: Andreas Ruge
Co-producer: Christopher Robson