The complete idiot's guide to classical music (67 page)

Songs
Battle, Levine (DG 419237-2 GH)

Piano Sonatas in C, F Minor, and B-flat
Schiff (London 440 310-2)

Piano Trios nos. 1 and 2
Beuax Arts Trio (Philips 412 620-2)

SCHUMAN, William

Symphony no. 5; New England Triptych; Variations on “America”
Seattle SO/Schwarz (Delos DE 3115)

SCHUMANN, Robert

Piano Concerto in A Minor
Perahia, Bavarian Radio SO/C. Davis (CBS MK 44899) (also contains Grieg Piano Concerto)

Piano Quartet in E-flat; Piano Quintet in E-flat
Ax, Cleveland Quartet (RCA 6498-2-RC)

Symphony nos. 1 and 3
London PO/Masur (Teldec 2-95501-2)

Songs
Hampson, Parsons (EMI CDC 55147)

SHOSTAKOVICH, Dmitri

Symphony nos. 1 and 7
Chicago Symphony/Bernstein (DG 2 427632-2 GH2)

Trio no. 2; Piano Quintet
Homer, Zweig, Borodin Trio (Chandos CHAN 8342)

Symphony nos. 5 and 9
Leningrad Philharmonic/Mravinsky (Praga PR 250085)

SIBELIUS, Jean

Finlandia; Symphony no. 2; Valse Triste
Boston SO/Ashkenazy (London 436566-2)

Violin Concerto
Midori, Israel Philharmonic/Mehta (Sony Classical Sk 58967) (also contains Bruch’s
Scottish Fantasy
)

STRAUSS, Johann

Waltzes (Weekend in Vienna: Strauss Favorites)
Vienna PO/Boskovsky (London 417885-2 LC)

Die Fledermaus
(selections) Te Kanawa, Leech, Gruberova, Vienna PO/Previn (Philips 438503-2)

Songs and Arias (Welcome to Vienna)
Sills, London PO/Rudel (EMI 64424) (also includes music of Lehar, Korngold, and Heuberger)

STRAUSS, Richard

Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks;/Also sprach Zarathustra; Don Juan
Chicago SO/Solti (London 430445-2 LM)

Salome: Dance of the Seven Veils; Burkeske; Der Rosenkavalier, Suite
Norman, Leipzig Gewandhaus O/Masur (Philips 411052-2 PH)

STRAVINSKY, Igor

Firebird; Petrouchka; Le Sacre du printemps
Columbia Symphony/Stravinsky (CBS MGT 39015)

L’Histoire du soldat
:
Octet/Ragtime
Royal Scottish National O/Jarvi (Chandos CHAN 9291)

TCHAIKOVSKY, Peter Ilyich

Violin Concerto; Piano Concerto no. 1
Chung, Postnikova, Vienna SO/Rozhdestvensky (London 430725-2)

The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty Suites
Vienna PO/Levine (DG 437806-2)

Symphonies nos. 4, 5, and 6
Leipzig Gewandhaus O/Masur (Teldec 2-95981-2)

THOMSON, Virgil

The Plow that Broke the Plains; The River
Philharmonia Virtuosi/Kapp (ESS.A. Y. CD 1005)

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS, Ralph

Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis; Greensleeves; The Lark Ascending
English CO/Menuhin (Arabesque Z 6568)

VERDI, Giuseppe

Verdi Gala Arias from Aida, Rigoletto, La Traviata, etc.
Sutherland, Battle, Pavarotti, et.al. (London (Ovation) 430748-2)

Requiem
L.Price, Baker, Luchetti, Van Dam, Chicago SO and Cho/Solti (RCA 2-09026-61403-2)

Otello
Domingo, Milnes, Scotto, National PO/Levine (RCA 2-RCD2-2951)

VIVALDI, Antonio

The Four Seasons
Shaham, Orpheus Chamber O (DG 439933-2)

Concertos for Diverse Instruments
English Concert/Pinnock (DG 415674-2 AH)

Gloria in D; Magnificat
New Philharmonia O and Chorus/Muti (Angel CDC 47990)

WAGNER, Richard

Orchestral Music from Tannhauser, Die Meistersinger, Lohengrin
Metropolitan Opera O/Levine (DG 435874-2)

Selections from Der Ring des Nibelungen
Nilsson, Hotter, Windgassen, Vienna PO/Solti (London 421313-2)

WEBER, Carl Maria von

Clarinet Concertos nos. 1 and 2; Concertino for Clarinet
Neidich, Orpheus Chamber O (DG 435875-2)

Overtures (Euryanthe, Der Freischutz, Oberon, etc.)
Philharmonia O/Jarvi (Chandos CHAN 9066)

Let old-timers say what they will, but we seem to be embarking on our own “Golden Age” of singing. International boundaries no longer exist in music: American-trained singers are performing in the major houses of Europe, European singers are welcomed in South America, the rosters of the Met and other major opera houses are filling up with Asian artists. Along with the legendary figures discussed in this book are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of other superb singers who are keeping alive the old musical traditions and in time will carve out new ones of their own. There is no way we can even begin to salute them all, but here are brief bios of a few of these performers who proudly exemplify the highest standards of the music art.

June Anderson
(b. 1952) American soprano. Anderson debuted in 1978 as the Queen of the Night in
Die Zauberflote
with New York City Opera. Her performance in
Semirande
with the Rome Opera in 1982 brought her to international attention, and she has since triumphed in a wide variety of roles. Her compelling dramatic presence combines with superb vocal artistry, and she excels in the coloratura roles of Donizetti and Bellini, as well as Verdi’s
Rigoletto.

Cecilia Bartoli
(b. 1966) Italian mezzo-soprano. This 1995 Grammy winner secured her international reputation as Rosina in
Il barbiere di Siviglia
, which she performed in Verona and which led to appearances in a number of Italian and European opera houses. Although she is most associated with Rossini and Mozart, her repertoire spans the gamut from Monteverdi to Ravel. She is an extremely popular concert and recording artist, renowned for her beautiful mezzo-soprano, musicianship, and colatura versatility, as well as her charismatic stage presence.

Vladimir Chernov
(b. 1953) Russian baritone. Chernov made his debut in Leningrad as Germont in
La traviata
at the Maryinsky Theatre. His international celebrity was launched in 1989, when he showed his diverse talents in Verdi and Prokofiev. Verdi remains his forte, and he is renowned for his polished tone, awesome upper register, and passionate expression, as well as for his personal charm.

Renee Fleming
(b. 1959) American soprano. This award-winning soprano, hailed as an outstanding artist of her generation, has gained a devoted following with her appearances on the operatic stage, in concerts and recitals, on television and radio, and on recordings. Her first solo album,
Visions of Love,
is a collection of Mozart arias; and her second album,
The Schubert Album
is a collection of Schubert lieder—an illustration of her impressive versatility.

Mirella Freni
(b. 1935) Italian soprano. One of the most highly acclaimed sopranos, Freni debuted as Micaela in
Carmen
in 1955. By 1960, she was launched on a brilliant international career, singing Mozart, Donizetti, Puccini, and Verdi. She has performed extensively on the most celebrated operatic stages, as well as in concerts and recitals. Her very fine, very musical lyric soprano voice and expressive phrasing, combined with sensitive dramatic artistry, have enabled her to triumph in an array of heroic and character roles.

Edita Gruberova
(b. 1946) Czech soprano. Gruberova made her name with the Vienna Staatsoper, with which she was engaged in 1970, and where she scored her first major triumph as the Queen of the Night in
Die Zauberflote
. She achieved international celebrity in 1976 with
Ariadne auf Naxos,
a role she repeated in a number of the finest opera houses, including the Metropolitan and La Scala. Her highly expressive, rich voice, with its remarkable virtuosity has brought her excellence in the most challenging coloratura roles.

Jerry Hadley
(b. 1952) American tenor. One of the leading American tenors and most sought after performers for opera houses and concert stage alike, Hadley made his debut with New York City Opera in 1979. His international career was launched in 1982 when he performed at the Vienna State Opera. On the concert stage he has appeared under the baton of the greatest conductors, in particular, Leonard Bernstein with whom he developed a close collaboration. His extensive repertoire includes musical theatre, operetta, and American popular song as well as arias.

Thomas Hampson
(b. 1955) American baritone. After winning a competition organized by the Metropolitan Opera, Hampson moved to Europe in 1981 to join the Deutsche Opera am Rhein. With the Zurich Opera, he proved himself a fine Mozart performer, which led to his Metropolitan debut as the Count in
Le nozze di Figaro
. He continues to perform with the Met, and has established himself as an international concert artist with a varied repertoire, often appearing with Jerry Hadley (see above) as well as in solo performance.

Ben Heppner
Canadian tenor. Heppner first received international acclaim in 1988 by taking top honors at the first Birgit Hilsson Prize competition. Since then he has appeared on the world’s most famous opera and concert stages. He is a superb interpreter of Wagner, including a recent triumph in the title role of
Lohengrin
, and as Walther von Stolzing in
Die Meistersinger
, the role in which he made his La Scala debut and which he has repeated with great success. He made his U.S. debut at Carnegie Hall on April 16, 1988 at a command performance for the King and Queen of Sweden.

Sergei Leiferkus
Russian baritone. Already established on the Russian opera scene, Leiferkus made his successful debut in the West in 1982 in Massenet’s
Griselidis
. Since then he has graced the most important operatic and concert stages. He is enormously compelling in all styles of music and languages, possessed of a rich, powerful voice, excellent phrasing and control, and a deep theatrical flair.

Kevin McMillan
Canadian baritone. One of the most highly sought after concert baritones, his first love is the solo recital. Critics are quick to praise his “elegant voice” and “singularly remarkable interpretive skills,” and audiences delight in his compelling personality and lively, intelligent style. He has a huge vocal range and verstatility, encompassing styles ranging from high baroque to Mahler lieder to Mozart and Puccini and
Carmina Burana
(for which he was awarded a 1992 Grammy).

Chris Merritt
(b. 1952) American tenor. Merritt debuted in 1975 with the Santa Fe Opera in
Falstaff
. He has since triumphed on the world’s most famous operatic stages, as well as on the concert stage in works ranging from Bach’s
St. Matthew
and
St. John’s Passions
to Beethoven’s Ninth and Mahler’s Eighth Symphonies. He has a special affinity for recital performances, and has appeared with an impressive array of conductors. His greatest career triumph came in 1995, when he sang the title role of Aron in Schoenberg’s
Moses und Aron
with the Netherlands Opera conducted by Pierre Boulez.

Aprile Millo
(b. 1958) American soprano of Italian origin. Millo became an operatic star in dramatic fashion as a last minute replacement for the role of Amerlia in Verdi’s
Simon Boccanegra
in 1984. Hailed as “The new Verdi star,” she went on to play a number of Verdi heroines, although her repertoire covers an impressive spectrum of Italian opera. Her consistent lyric soprano voice, with its fine timbre, combines with a magnificent stage personality to make her a compelling and popular performer.

Sherrill Milnes
(b. 1935) American baritone. Milnes was engaged by New York City Opera in 1964, and a year later debuted with the Metropolitan Opera in
Faust
. He has appeared in all the world’s major opera houses, and continues to sing with the Metropolitan, in addition to a busy schedule as a concert and recital artist. His lyric baritone has an impressive range, with a ringing quality in the upper register and a fine timbre. He has been hailed as one of the most highly acclaimed international performers, and his extensive repertoire is preserved on his many recordings.

James Morris
(b. 1947) American bass-baritone. Morris joined the Metropolitan Opera in 1971, and in 1975 achieved his first major success as
Don Giovanni
. Much of his career is focused on the Met, where he has drawn on an extensive repertoire of bass and baritone roles in operas from Mozart to Verdi and Wagner. He has triumphed as Wotan in the Met’s Ring cycle, which has been recorded. As an international star, he appears at all of the leading opera venues.

Jessye Norman
(b. 1945) African-American soprano. One of the outstanding voices of our time. In 1968, Norman won first prize in the German Radio International Singing Competition, which led to a contract with the Deutsche Oper Berlin, where she debuted as Venus in
Tannhauser
. Wagner remains a major force in her operatic career, and she excels in dramatic roles such as Aida, Carmen, and Ariadne in Strauss’
Ariadne auf Naxos
. She combines an operatic career with concert and recital engagements. Her voice is full and powerful, with an exceptional richness of color in the middle-to-lower register. She is known for her noble, expressive, and elegant phrasing.

Paul Plishka
(b. 1941) American bass of Ukrainian heritage. Plishka has been a leading member of the Metropolitan opera since his debut in 1967, praised by critics for his smooth, flawless bass and polished dramatic style. He is most closely associated with Italian opera, especially
Don Carlo
,
Aida,
and
I Vespri Siciliano
, among others. The title role in
Falstaff
and
Boris Godunov
also rank among his triumphs.

Samuel Ramey
(b. 1942) American bass. Ramev debuted with New York City Opera in 1973 and has since established himself as one of the world’s finest bel canto basses. His flawless voice has a uniquely expressive quality, which is combined with unsurpassed musicianship and an elegant theatrical style. His most famous role is Mephistopheles in Gonoud’s
Faust
, with over 200 performances in 20 productions. He is an excellent interpreter of Mozart and has been hailed by critics as “the perfect Mozart singer.”

Dawn Upshaw
(b. 1960) American soprano. In 1984, this winner of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions was invited by James Levine to join the studio of the Metropolitan Opera. From then on, her fluid lyric soprano voice and natural charm have graced the foremost operatic and concert stages. She excels in Mozart and Italian opera alike, and from the time of her first recital at Alice Tully Hall in 1986, she has been a highly sought after recital artist, performing under the baton of the most prestigious conductors.

Jose Van Dam
(b. 1940) Belgian bass-baritone. After winning several singing competitions, Van Dam debuted with the Paris Opera in Berlioz’s
Les Troyens
in 1961. He attained international stardom with the Berlin Deutsche Opera, singing such roles as Figaro, Leporello, and Escamillio. It was as Escmallio that he debuted at Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera. He is a renowned international concert artist as well, known for a rare sense of style, dynamic personality, and extensive, varied repertoire.

Deborah Voight
(b. 1960) American soprano. Launched on her career by winning three successive awards in 1990, Voight first received international acclaim in 1991 as Ariadne in Strauss’
Ariadne auf Naxos
and as Amelia in Verdi’s
Un ballo un maschera
. Her powerful, dramatic lyric soprano voice is equally suited to Wagner (she sings Sieglinde in the Met’s first full Ring cycle) and Verdi, which has awarded her unique critical distinction.
The New York Times
has called her “the most important singer to come along in years.” She performs extensively in concert performances with leading conductors and orchestras, and made her Carnegie Hall debut as soloist in the Verdi Requiem.

Frederica von Stade
(b. 1945) American mezzo-soprano. Since her 1970 debut with the Metropolitan Opera in
Die Zauberflote
, von Stade has returned to the Met stage, as well as established an illustrious international career. She excels in Rossini and Bellini, and is unmatched in her mastery of the French repertory. She has appeared with the world’s leading orchestras and has a number of highly acclaimed recordings to her credit. Her voice is noted for its fine, bright timbre, impressive range (she has sung soprano roles), and natural virtuosity; she possesses an elegant, lyrical style.

Dolora Zajick
(b. 1952) American mezzo-soprano of Polish origin. Winner of the 1982 International Tchaikowsky competition in Moscow, Zajick debuted in 1986 with San Francisco Opera as Azucena in Verdi’s
Il trovatore
, and has since repeated the role on the world’s most renowned operatic stages. She is a celebrated Verdi mezzo, although this is only one facet of her extensive repertoire. She has appeared in concert with the world’s foremost orchestras and conductors and has numerous recording credits. She is admired for the range of her voice across the entire register, her impressive delivery, and her superb dramatic talent.