Warlock: Sleep

Dame Felicity Lott, revered British soprano, says of this CD:

“ Summertime also has many of my favourite songs in English, French and German. We made the CD at a friend`s house, and the sessions were so relaxed, with no London traffic to cause endless retakes! It`s a real mix of beautiful songs of all kinds, on a summer theme. I chose songs I loved, from Gershwin to Christopher Robin….

Three centuries of song are represented here, and, as BBC Music Magazine's Hilary Finch put it “such is the skill of Johnson's programming that the entire recital seems to be a single, sustained exhalation of rapture and reflection”

She went on to say:

The upper reaches of Lott's still gleaming soprano inhabit Barber's 'Shining Night' and Fauré's Clair de lune'. And her robust English version of Schubert's 'Who is Sylvia?' finds an irresistible companion in Arne's 'Where the Bee Sucks', with its veritable midsummer night's dream of an accompaniment from Johnson. The artists' palpable sense of joy and well-being gathers momentum as they visit Berlioz's 'L'île inconnue' and as they sing on the water with Schubert. . . . And Lott and Johnson know well that the only way to face sentiment is to acknowledge its own integrity, as they do when they listen to Haydn Wood's 'Little Brown Bird' and eavesdrop with Fraser-Simson on Christopher Robin saying his prayers.

This CD features songs from a great variety of composers - Gershwin, Barber, Cole Porter, Bernstein, Brahms, Schubert, Arne, Schumann, Berlioz, and many more. A full 29 tracks of summer-themed songs!

Felicity Lott brings her delicacy and rich understanding to a collection of English song inspired by the idyllic Sussex countryside.

“A lovingly planned programme by Graham Johnson, beautifully sung by Dame Felicity” Gramophone

The Englishness typified here is not derived from one unique musical style; rather from each composerʼs response to the texts. Graham Johnson groups together songs under headings Country Courtship. . . To Music. . . . Loveʼs Philosophy. . . . Country Scenes. . . . Night & Dawn. . . .Childrenʼs Cornerʼ. . . and Envoys on this charming - and occasionally surprising - disc.

It includes songs by Quilter, Elgar, Parry, Ireland, Bax and Holst. The Elgar songs Speak Music and In Moonlight (included under the heading ʻTo Musicʼ) remind us that the paradigm of Englishness Elgar cultivated was more to do with his association with ʻPomp and Circumstanceʼ than necessarily musical matters. As part of ʻCountry Scenesʼ, Bridgeʼs jolly Go Not, Happy Day gives nothing away about its year of publication, 1916, and the scars which led to later music of a more sombre tone.

Also included are a selection of Harold Fraser-Simpsonʼs songs based on verses from A.A. Milneʼs The Hums of Pooh, and settings by Liza Lehmann - the Edwardian English operatic soprano - including Matilda from ʻFour Cautionary Talesʼ by Hillaire Belloc, a duet with both parts taken by Felicity Lott. The CD takes its title from Peter Warlockʼs setting of another Belloc text - My Own Country.

Dame Felicity Lott lives in Sussex and was the very first artist to perform in the Music Room at Champs Hill. In 2005 she and Graham Johnson returned there to mark the 30th anniversary of her Wigmore debut with this programme (previously release on the ASV label). Champs Hill Records will also be releasing new recordings of further Elgar songs with Dame Felicity in October 2011.

Measha Brueggergosman and pianist Justus Zeyen interpret well- and little-known songs of Duparc, de Falla, Hahn, Liszt, Schubert, and others chosen for their soulful depth, variety, and beauty.

Measha Brueggergosman about Night and Dreams: “We wanted something that was languid, sexy, romantic, different. Also, it’s repertoire that gives me the chance to really let go.”

She projects drama, passion, comedy, or charm as needed in any of the languages she speaks, essential for a Lieder and chanson singer who must make words come alive with meaning, color, and esprit as well as vocal quality

The fervent response to her “triumphant DG debut recital” (Gramophone) makes this follow-up album a must for fans of this rising star.

Born in 1894, Peter Warlock was one of England’s great songwriters – described by Lennox Berkeley as one of the “most colourful talents in English 20th century music”. His output was prolific. In addition he was a distinguished editor and transcriber of a vast amount of early music as well as an author of several books and many articles, editor and music critic. He was very close to Delius – indeed was obsessed with Delius’s music and wrote a book about him, and also assisted Beecham in organising a Delius festival in 1929. He shared a cottage with fellow composer E. J. Moeran. He suffered bouts of depression and sadly he was found dead in his Chelsea flat in December 1930, of gas poisoning.

Gathered here are the original 78rpm recordings from the John Bishop Collection – divided into Orchestral and Chamber on CD1 and vocal items on CD2. John Bishop was one of the leading lights of the Peter Warlock Society, and all tracks have been remastered by Andrew Rose of Pristine Audio.

The booklet contains fascinating and informative notes, rare photographs and original 78rpm matrix numbers with recording dates.

This disc of works for counter-tenor and piano explores some gems of 20th century British song. Focussing on the Renaissance-inspired songs of Peter Warlock and Herbert Howells, the disc also sheds light on two lesser-known yet equally talented song composers.

Tim Travers-Brown's future engagements include works by Monteverdi and Grandi with La Nuova Musica at The Wigmore Hall and Purcell's Bonduca with the OAE at King's Place.