Songs of the Romantic Age
Patrice Michaels, soprano
Deborah Sobol, piano
Cedille Records CDR 90000 019

"I don't think I have enough superlatives in my vocabulary to describe this recording adequately, but I'll give it a try . . ." (Classical DisCDigest)

"I can't possibly comment on every song, but I enjoyed them all. Bedi deserves to be heard often." (American Record Guide)

"A formidable interpretative talent." (The New Yorker)

Coloratura soprano Patrice Michaels, best-known for her interpretations of Mozart, baroque, and contemporary music makes her solo recording debut with 25 Romantic songs by 25 composers on this CD.

But why is Ms. Michaels emphasizing music that's outside her "specialty"? "It's something I think all singers should be able to do," she says. "A couple generations ago, it wouldn't have seemed odd. The best singers were expected to perform Rachmaninov as well as Handel"

The disc showcases Ms. Michaels' bel canto vocalism through a comprehensive collection of songs spanning 85 years and 8 languages. Alongside works by vocal stalwarts Fauré and Schumann are rarely recorded songs by Godard, Pierné, Medtner, Mussorgsky, Resphighi, and even Chopin.

The songs are grouped on the CD according to national flavor: France is represented by Godard, Debussy, Chausson, Bachelet, Fauré, and Pierné; Poland, by Chopin; Germany, by Schumann, Mendelssohn, Medtner, Brahms, Wolf, and Strauss; Russia, by Stravinsky, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, and Prokofiev; America, by Ives and Ganz; Scandinavia, by Sibelius; Italy, by Donaudy and Respighi; and Spain, by Falla and Delibes (a French composer whose song is very Spanish in character).

Click here to download the CD booklet.