classical music:

	Out and About William Bolcom, Percy Grainger, ... Music for a G'day Pro, 2001 average customer review:based on 3 reviews view larger image
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"Out and About" is a unique collection of 'classical cabaret' and Broadway songs, ranging from passionate,sentimental love songs to the dark ambiance of temptation and seduction.

And for those who love food, Cole Porter's elegantly humorous "The Tale of the Oyster" and William Bolcom's stunning luncheon parody "Lime Jello, Marshmallow, Cottage Cheese Surprise" are simply 'delicious.'

Together, Laura Leon and Lesley Pryde blend their sparkling techniques, dynamic theatricality and a wonderful sense of humor into these musical vignettes.

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Wonderful CD

I think this cd is wonderful and that you should all buy it!!


I'm glad I don't live in Australia.

While I can appreciate that some may be enamoured with the repertoire presented here (as, truly, the selections on this disc are all excellent in their own right), I simply cannot get past the absolutely grating cacophony of noise that this soprano produces.

Yes, "The Serpent" is a poem (by Roethke) intended for children. And quite possibly, Hoiby would approve a performance that is a bit less stuffy than the average classical voice recital in favor of one more on the "giacoso" side. What is, however, not forgiveable is the deafening use of straight tone and sheer shrill of any pitch above C5.

"The Song of Black Max" features "rubatic" liberties that should not be taken. The character of the piece relies on a careful examination of the score: Bolcom didn't choose note values arbitrarily for fun; he penned a specific formula that when followed correctly (much like a cake recipe) produces a desirable end result. To mess with it ruins everything.

And Hundley should be beautiful, not piercing.

Finding an alternative to this disc would be great, but it's just not easy enough to do. On the Bolcom side, you should keep an eye out for the Marc-André Hamelin/Jody Applebaum recording. For the Hoiby, you'll probably have to check out student recitals at your local music college. (It's regrettable that Leontyne Price did not record The Serpent, but you can find other songs from "her" set on such albums as "Price Rediscovered.")

That said: two stars for a nice selection of rep and an attempt (however distasteful in my view) at an original interpretation. To give any higher a rating would be an injustice to mankind.

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Tracks
Lee Hoiby: The Serpent | Richard Hundley: Come Ready and See Me | Cole Porter: The Tale of the Oyster | Percy Grainger: Early One Morning | William Bolcom: Song of Black Max | Stephen Schwartz: With You | William Bolcom: Lime Jello, Marshmallow, Cottage Cheese Surprise

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	It's About the Rose Mad about The Classics Barber: Concerto for violin Op14; Korngold: Much Ado about Nothing ... City of Angels (1990 Original Broadway Cast) The Essential Leontyne Price: Spirituals, Hymns & Sacred Songs