Animal Songs

Stephen Swanson (baritone), David Gompper (piano)

Catalog #: TROY1365
Release Date: August 1, 2012
Format: Digital
Vocal

Baritone Stephen Swanson and pianist/composer David Gompper perform a program of songs about animals, including the world premiere recording of The Animals by David Gompper, which is a cycle of nine songs based on poetry by Marvin Bell. Ravel's Histoires naturelles is based on prose poems by Jules Renard. Ravel experimented with new methods of setting text in this elegant song cycle. Reger's songs were based on nursery rhymes and dedicated to his children. The selections from The Bestiary of Flanders and Swann include some of the most popular of this team's collaboration. Beautifully sung by Stephen Swanson, a professor of voice at the University of Iowa, these bestiaries offer animal songs in English, French and German.

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Track Listing

Title Composer Performer
Histoires naturelles Maurice Ravel Stephen Swanson, baritone, David Gompper, piano
selections from Schlichte Weisen, op. 76 Max Reger Stephen Swanson, baritone, David Gompper, piano
selections from The Bestiary of Flanders & Swann Donald Swann Stephen Swanson, baritone, David Gompper, piano
The Sloth Michael Flanders Stephen Swanson, baritone, David Gompper, piano
The Wild Boar Donald Swann Stephen Swanson, baritone, David Gompper, piano
The Animals David Gompper Stephen Swanson, baritone, David Gompper, piano

Reviews

  • "Swanson's tone is rich and smooth, without too much vibrato, and he is versatile enough for every style here."

    – American Record Guide

*Album cover provided for Editorial use only. ©Albany Records. The Albany Imprint is a registered trademark of PARMA Recordings LLC. The views and opinions expressed in this media are those of the artist and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions held by PARMA Recordings LLC and its label imprints, subsidiaries, and affiliates.