On Track: Composers will be glad they're dead
The compensate of Symphony hails Sarah Brightman as the best-selling soprano of wholly time, which is reason for more or less despair if EMI has its figures right.Running the gamut from noisy to nauseating, this sorry involvement has been fermentation in various studios since 2004, Brightman's tiny voice rassling with everything from electronic viciousness and braindead drumming to the slumming string section of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.In a list of thanks that stretches to Apple's Native Instrument Computer software and microphones from trey different suppliers, a nod could have been precondition to Gustav Mahler, Mascagni and Holst whose music is rifled for trio songs.But then subsequently the indignities inflicted on the slack movement of his Fifth Symphonic music in Schwere Traume, Mahler power happily stay on anonymous. Holst fares worse: an anthemic do through I vow to thee my commonwealth makes Kiri's football field version seem positively serious music in its simpleness.For a trip on the light side with brain and way, Orriel Smith's second album Know from CarnEGGY Hall, has operatic and other favourites delivered in Smith's inimitable "CluckOratura" and "CatOratura" personae. Sempre Libera is a manic cluckfest for freedom, patch Musetta's Waltz Song glides in meowed elegance. Lo hither the ennoble lark, a ditsy favourite of the coloratura set up, foolishly tackled by Cleo Laine and Henry James Galway in the 90s, combines feathers and fur in glorious duette. A multi-clucked Colonel Bogie is a barnyard-storming handle.
Hanssler Records offers the guilt-inducing enthrall of countertenor Dominick Visse crooning through songs by Toru Takemitsu. These fruity ballads, written for various receiving set, television and film projects, are far from the orchestral and chamber deeds for which the Japanese composer is charles Herbert Best known.Included is a theme song for Arthur Kopit's play Wings and a number written on the set up of Kurosawa's Ran, and sounding as if Dr King John has pushed Francois Clothes designer away his pianoforte stool.* Sarah Brightman: Symphony (EMI 521 001)* Orriel Smith: Live from CarnEGGY Hall (from orrielsmith.com)* Toru Takemitsu: Songs (Hanssler 98.501, through Ode Records)
