Credits:

Ruby Hughes

Description:

Soprano Ruby Hughes presents a program of works by composers from the 17th century to the present day on this SACD hybrid disc. British soprano Ruby Hughes, one of the 2011-2013 BBC New Generation Artists, will perform a program of works by composers from the 17th century to the present, including 2014's "Christmas in Venice" (BIS SA-2089), Vänskä and the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra's Mahler's Resurrection (BIS SA-2296), participated in the recording of United Strings of Europe's Renewal (BIS SA-2549), and has released three recital albums, beginning with Heroines of Love and Loss (BIS SA-2248). Echo" with composer and pianist Huw Watlkins (1976-), subtitled "songs across the ages," is a program of works by composers from the 17th century to the present day who speak to each other through their music and lovingly "resonate" with each other. The album is a program of works by composers from the 17th century to the present day, whose music speaks to each other and "resonates" affectionately with each other. The album includes Bach's "Sarabande" and "Corrente" for solo keyboard, "Five Religious Songs," Benjamin Britten's "contemporary music" of Bach's compositions, and arrangements of English folk songs that "suggest emotional ties that transcend time.David of White Rock" from "Arrangement of Eight Folk Songs" was chosen in honor of the Welsh-born Hughes and Watkins, and is performed in a version with piano by Colin Matthews. Purcell's "A Beautiful Softness" and "Often to the Sound of Music" will be performed in versions by Thomas Ades, Michael Tippett, and Wilter Bergman. Hugh Watkins' song cycle "Echo" features poems by Christina Rossetti, Emily Dickinson, Philip Larkin, W. B. Yeats, and David Hersent. It is music of poignancy and introspection worthy of the main program. It was commissioned for Ruby Hughes by Carnegie Hall and the Prestin Music Festival in Wales and premiered in New York in October 2017. The final three songs on the program are by British composers. Deborah Pritchard Deborah Pritchard (1977-) composed The World for Ruby Hughes on a poem by Henry Vaughan HenryVaughan (1621-95). Lament" by Cheryl Frances-Hoad(1980-) on a poem by Andrew Motion Andrew Motion(1952-).Errollyn Wallen (1958-) wrote the poem "Peace on Earth" for her Christmas Carol. This album "echoes" the praise given by The Guardian to her previous album, "Songs for New Life and Love" (BIS SA-2468), as "a beautifully performed, imaginative recital. King International

Tracklisting:

1.Partita No. 4, BWV 828~Sarabande
2.Gedenke doch, mein Geist, zurucke (Five Spiritual Songs, No. 1)
3.French Suite No. 3, BWV 814~Sarabande
4.Komm, susser Tod (Five Spiritual Songs, No. 4)
5.Partita No. 6, BWV 830~Corrente
6.Liebster Herr Jesu (Five Spiritual Songs, No. 3)
7.Echo for Voice and Piano~I. Echo
8.Echo for Voice and Piano~II. For Each Ecstatic Instant
9.Echo for Voice and Piano~III. If Grief Could Burn Out
10.Echo for Voice and Piano~IV. When You Are Old
11.Echo for Voice and Piano~V. Baby Blue
12.Now does the glorious day appear~By Beauteous Softness
13.Music for a While
14.I Wonder As I Wander
15.Eight Folksong Arrangements~Dafydd y Garreg Wen
16.Folksong Arrangements, Vol 4~How Sweet the Answer (The Wren)
17.The World
18.Lament
19.Peace on Earth