Barbara Bonney (and a little help)

[Guido]

I adore this singer's voice, especially in lieder and English language song repertoire. Her along with Sylvia McNair, Renée Fleming, Karin Gauvin represent for me a kind of pinnacle of pure beauty in the voice. Interesting that they are all American (Gauvin is Canadian). (And all prone to "cross over" projects.) Kiri could easily be added to the list aside from her NZ credentials.

This CD is one of the most oft played in my collection, and it contains what I consider to be the finest recording of Barber's Hermit Songs on record:



What else is there by Bonney out there that is particularly fine? I have her in a Schubert Lieder recital which is also gorgeous, and also in a bizarrely awfully recorded, though still beautiful recording of the Fauré requiem. (Anyone else have that last one? It's with Håkan Hagegård, Seiji Ozawa, Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus - the sound is quite shocking actually.) I have heard her in Mozart operas too, though I can't remember which.

Now for the help - for some reason track 1 of the above CD which is Previn's "Billy the Kid" setting skips whenever I try to play it. Ordinarily I would just download an mp3 of it from Amazon or Itunes, but neither will let me have it without buying the whole album. For anyone who has the CD, could they maybe send me an Mp3 of that track via mediafire or similar?

[bhodges]

What else is there by Bonney out there that is particularly fine? I have her in a Schubert Lieder recital which is also gorgeous, and also in a bizarrely awfully recorded, though still beautiful recording of the Fauré requiem. (Anyone else have that last one? It's with Håkan Hagegård, Seiji Ozawa, Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus - the sound is quite shocking actually.) I have heard her in Mozart operas too, though I can't remember which.

I like her, too, but just did a search, and was shocked to find out how many recordings she's made--and how few of them I have. 

If you are a fan of the Mahler Fourth, though, I can highly recommend this recording.  (I heard her do it live around the same time the CD was made.) 

--Bruce

[Guido]

That looks very tempting indeed - Mahler 4 is not one I know well (I have big issues with Mahler in general), but maybe that would be a road in. Cheers!

[bhodges]

That looks very tempting indeed - Mahler 4 is not one I know well (I have big issues with Mahler in general), but maybe that would be a road in. Cheers!

I forgot to add, the Berg songs are superb, too.

--Bruce

[The new erato]

Do get this. I find her singing of these relatively simple songs perfect.

[Coopmv]

I adore this singer's voice, especially in lieder and English language song repertoire. Her along with Sylvia McNair, Renée Fleming, Karin Gauvin represent for me a kind of pinnacle of pure beauty in the voice. Interesting that they are all American (Gauvin is Canadian). (And all prone to "cross over" projects.) Kiri could easily be added to the list aside from her NZ credentials.

This CD is one of the most oft played in my collection, and it contains what I consider to be the finest recording of Barber's Hermit Songs on record:



What else is there by Bonney out there that is particularly fine? I have her in a Schubert Lieder recital which is also gorgeous, and also in a bizarrely awfully recorded, though still beautiful recording of the Fauré requiem. (Anyone else have that last one? It's with Håkan Hagegård, Seiji Ozawa, Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus - the sound is quite shocking actually.) I have heard her in Mozart operas too, though I can't remember which.

Now for the help - for some reason track 1 of the above CD which is Previn's "Billy the Kid" setting skips whenever I try to play it. Ordinarily I would just download an mp3 of it from Amazon or Itunes, but neither will let me have it without buying the whole album. For anyone who has the CD, could they maybe send me an Mp3 of that track via mediafire or similar?

I agree with all the names you mentioned except Renee Fleming.  I cannot say I am all that impressed with her ...

[Guido]

She's perhaps slightly apart from McNair, Bonney and Gauvin in that her voice isn't as light or youthful sounding, and I know she gets criticised but I think she's great in turn of the century stuff and American repertoire especially. It would be boring if we all agreed on our favourite artists!

[Coopmv]

Here is one of my favorite CD's

[val]

Barbara Bonney recorded a wonderful anthology of Mendelssohn's Lieder, with Geoffrey Parsons, in 1992.

[knight66]

I have a number of her discs, though find Fairest Isle does not do it for me. I think she needs an orchestra, they voice seems a little monochrome to me.

Here is one I enjoy, a best of disc....


Included is a Rosenkavalier excerpt that was recorded for the Rene Fleming Strauss disc. It was not used there and is otherwise unavailable.

Mike

[Guido]

thanks for the tips everyone!

knight - the Barber Hermit Songs referenced in the original post are not at all monochrome - one of the reason's I like it so much is the huge variety of expression she brings to it. Also - according to itunes, the Strauss excerpt is with Susan Graham and Christoph Eschenbach - is this mislabelled?

No one has the recording I need? 

[knight66]

She is certainly not without expression. I have quite a bit of her work. But I find her basic vocal sound a bit limited and sometimes a bit shallow.

Mike

[Coopmv]

Just ordered this DVD with Claudio Abbado and Barbara Bonney and the BPO ...

[Coopmv]

Played this DVD with Claudio Abbado and Barbara Bonney and the BPO last evening.  The performance was excellent IMO ...

[cosmicj]

Guido - I recommend this recording of the Mozart c-minor Mass where Bonney sings with Arleen Auger accompanied by Abbado.  Absolutely beautiful singing by your fave BB and generally an excellent performance of a striking composition.  Sonics are only so-so.

[Saul]

I purchased this Cd

[zamyrabyrd]

I don't know whether she does this on her other recordings but I find making a diminuendo on syllables that are supposed to connect up with the rest of a word is extremely annoying.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTM4tvqDiUQ&feature=related

Strange but this is the characteristic of piano playing, unavoidable as the sound dies as soon as the string is struck.  Legato still can be manuevered somehow between the keys but it is infinitely easier for singers.

ZB

[Opus106]

In the case, for some reason, Guido has still not found a clean track, it's available from DG's website for download.

[Cato]

Yes, a very nice voice indeed!   0:)

This is a fuller picture, of which the important part appears on a Decca CD with her singing Mozart pieces.

[Guido]

In the case, for some reason, Guido has still not found a clean track, it's available from DG's website for download.

Cheers! I found that website too a few weeks ago and downloaded it.