Dedicating an album to the dark side of the Lied might seem inappropriate in these times of Covid, climate change and refugee crises, but as a mezzo-soprano Olivia has always been drawn to the darker roles in opera, the sad arias in oratorio and the deep laments in song. After our recent recording ('Dirty Minds'), which focused on 'la petite mort', it seemed a natural progression to turn our attention to 'la grande mort'! Darkness in the outside world and the inner self has always been - alongside Love - one of the chief themes of vocal music, and compositions and songs about death are legion during every period of musical history. The music on this recording is extremely diverse and we relished the idea of programming songs from different centuries in different styles and genres. We begin with a collection of songs about melancholia, inner abysses, longing for death and murderous lust. But the album is also rich in songs about comfort and hope, light instead of despair - with lashings of black humor! Composers down the ages have used innovative approaches to render the theme of death. Chromaticism is used tellingly by Monteverdi and Schubert. Duparc's sensuous 'Extase' (1878), is nothing short of a miniature Liebestod. Korngold and Wolfgang Rihm play with translucent semitone sighs, Schumann's 'Nachtlied' is characterized by hovering harmonies; Strauss and Korngold use late-romantic opulence; while tonality with Charles Ives and Alban Berg begins to lose it's hold, while Berg, abandons tonality entirely. John Cage goes a step further and directs the pianist to drum the notes on the lid of a completely closed piano. Randy Newman's 'In Germany before the war' is wreathed in mystery.

Tracklist:

Lasciatemi Morire
Listen Before I Go
Der Tod Und Das Mädchen Op. 7/3 D. 531
The Curse Of Millhaven
Der Jüngling Und Der Tod D. 545
Dance Of The Moon In Santiago
In Germany Before The War
The Crow
Ode An Den Mord
Charlie Rutlage S. 226
Death Is Just Around The Corner
The Wonderful Widow Of Eighteen Springs
Nachtlied Op. 96/1
Zwei Gedichte Von Marina Zwetajewa
Zwei Gedichte Von Marina Zwetajewa II
Urlicht
Befreit Op. 39/4
Extase
Vier Gesänge Op. 2: I. Aus Dem Schmerz Sein Recht
Vier Gesänge Op. 2: II. Schlafend Trägt Man Mich In Mein Heimatland
Vier Gesänge Op. 2: III. Nun Ich Der Riesen Stärksten Überwand
Vier Gesänge Op. 2: IV. Warm Die Lüfte
Als Ik Dood Ben Lig Ik Onder Gras
From Lieder Des Abschieds Op. 14: I. Sterbelied
From Lieder Des Abschieds Op. 14: II. Dies Eine Kann Mein Sehnen Nimmer Fassen
From Lieder Des Abschieds Op. 14: III. Mond, So Gehst Du Wieder Auf

UPC: 608917288728
Label: Challenge Classics
Release Date: 2.25.22
Format: CD

Hello Darkness / Various - Hello Darkness / Various (CD)