Berg & Brahms & Moore - Rose in Bloom (CD)

Erin Morley is one of today's most sought-after coloratura sopranos, and her debut recital album presents a thoughtfully curated program which mirrors a stroll through a garden, delving into rich repertoire inspired by flowers, birds, and nature. Morley, known for her operatic roles, draws on connections to the natural world, offering a mix of well-known pieces, contemporary compositions, and hidden gems. A notable feature is the premiere recording of Ricky Ian Gordon's "Huit Chansons de Fleurs," a contemporary song cycle exploring themes of death, resurrection, fragrance, and the fleeting nature of beauty, adding a layer of poignancy to an album which features a diverse selection of vocal repertoire. Among the album's highlights is Saint-Saëns's "La Libellule," a rarely heard gem capturing the agile movement of a dragonfly. Sullivan's "Rose-in-Bloom" stands out as the first to present the aria in it's original key, the heights of the final cadenza just one example of Morley's extraordinary performance of the repertoire. The program also includes compositions by Rachmaninov, Zemlinsky, and Milhaud, exploring further connections to the themes of blossoms and birds. "Rose in Bloom" is an exploration of nature's influence on music, a testament to Erin Morley's artistry and originality, and a delightful journey through a garden of musical encounters.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Libellule
2. Four Romances, Op. 2The Rose Enslaves the Nightingale
3. Seven Early SongsDie Nachtigall
4. Parysatis, incidental musicLe Rossignol et la Rose
5. Huit Chansons de FleursWe Should Not Mind So Small a Flower
6. Huit Chansons de FleursI Wandered Lonely As a Cloud
7. Huit Chansons de FleursThe Tulips
8. Huit Chansons de FleursOne Perfect Rose
9. Huit Chansons de FleursPeonies at Dusk
10. Huit Chansons de FleursHer Garden
11. Huit Chansons de FleursAfterlife with Lilacs
12. Huit Chansons de FleursPlay, Orpheus
13. Tais-toi, Babillarde
14. Daisies
15. Lilacs
16. Ehetanzlied und andere Gesänge, Op. 10Vöglein Schwermut
17. Lerchengesang
18. Bird-Song
19. Rose of PersiaNeath My Lattice Through the Night
20. We'll Gather Lilacs (Perchance to Dream)