Kathryn features in this collaborative recording of Donald Swann songs with distinguished singers Soprano Felicity Lott, Baritone Roderick Williams and Tenor John Mark Ainsley. The project was the brainchild of pianist Christopher Glynn who liaised with baritone Leon Berger, Swann’s Archivist. The CD was released on the Hyperion label on 30th June 2017.
Donald Swann will always be remembered as the musical half of the comic duo Flanders & Swann in their two-man shows At The Drop Of A Hat and At The Drop Of Another Hat which delighted audiences on the West End and Broadway in the ’50s and ’60s. Throughout his life Donald set serious poetry to music, including substantial song cycles This two-disc collection celebrates the unique talents of a gifted songwriter.
The recording was made in January 2016 at Potton Hall in Suffolk with Producer Jeremy Hayes and Engineered by Ben Connelian.
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“If there’s a revelation…it’s the newcomer of the singing quartet:Rudge, a rising mezzo-soprano with rich tone…”
Neil Fisher, The Times, 28th July 2017.
“Longing is the first of a group of four songs, all entrusted to Kathryn Rudge, which use words by Leon Berger after original texts by German poets. (Berger became Swann’s archivist.) Longing is a beautiful song – with a very romantic piano part – and it’s warmly sung by Miss Rudge. Indeed, all four songs in this little group are charming and she sings them really well. I appreciate her rich tone and also her care for the words”
John Quinn, Music Webb International, Recording of the Month.
“The performances by this star cast of singers are impeccable. Great Stuff” BBC Music Magazine, November 2017
“The collection celebrates the unique talents of a gifted songwriter whose settings of poets from Burns to Betjeman are ripe for revival. The quartet of distinguished singers is luxury casting” (Hyperion Records)
“This is a continually fascinating and diverse selection of 46 songs (from over 600) which recitalists and Lieder lovers will lap up, for there are many buried treasures here’ (Gramophone)
Read more articles about the CD:-
https://www.gramophone.co.uk/blog/gramophone-guest-blog/the-other-donald-swann
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/interview/1787/Christopher-Glynn-on-the-songs-of-Donald-Swann