Celebrating our 20th anniversary, SongFest releases our first CD, featuring SongFest's unique contribution to American art song with fifteen commissions, world premieres, and featured compositions by the best of contemporary American song composers, all performed by SongFest alumni and special guest Edward Arron, cello.
The CD is available for purchase at CDbaby http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/newamericansongsongfest
TRACK LISTING
1 & 2. Vocalism: Grand Aria, Pt. 1 & Pt. 2 by John Harbison
Kristina Bachrach, soprano; Liza Stepanova, piano
3. John and Abigail by Ben Moore
Devon Guthrie, soprano; Theo Hoffman, baritone; Kathleen Tagg, piano
4. Gettysburg: July 1, 1863 by William Bolcom
Samuel Schultz, baritone; Pierre-André Doucet, piano
5. Honey by Gabriela Lena Frank
Jessica Rivera, soprano; Kelley O'Connor, mezzo-soprano; Raquel Gorgojo, piano
6. House by Tom Cipullo
Michael Anthony McGee, baritone; Liza Stepanova, piano
7, 8, 9. Three Love Songs by Libby Larsen 1) Before Loving You, My Love; 2) How Many Roads; 3) Two Happy Lovers
Matthew Patrick Morris, baritone; Brent Funderburk, piano
10. Donal Oge by Libby Larsen
Anne Jennifer Nash, soprano; Nathan Salazar, piano
11, 12, 13, 14. River Songs by John Musto: 1) Song to the Trees and Streams; 2) Ask Me; 3) Quo Vadis; 4) Crossing Brooklyn Ferry
Steven Eddy, baritone; Edward Arron, cello; Dimitri Dover, piano
15. Edna St. Vincent Millay by Jake Heggie
Laura Strickling, soprano; Dimitri Dover, piano
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SongFest wishes to express its sincere gratitude to The Sorel Organization and Judy Cope, Executive Director, for the generous support which not only made this recording possible but also provided the funds for the commissions of works by William Bolcom (poem by Jane Kenyon), Gabriela Lena Frank, and Libby Larsen featured on this CD. Thank you for all you do to expand opportunities for women in music!
A special thank-you to Yamaha Artists Services: Bonnie Barrett, Director, and Hilary Jansen, Artist and Media Relations Manager, for providing the exceptional Yamaha CFX piano and the excellent recording space at the Yamaha Salon in New York City. Art song performance is about intimate musical collaboration between singer and pianist, and the outstanding quality of the piano has made a major difference for the artistic quality of this recording. Thank you for your support of artists, art song, and the music of our time!