This Island

by Susan Narucki, Donald Berman

Overview

This release by soprano Susan Narucki and pianist Donald Berman is, in a way, a pandemic project. Narucki's notes recount its genesis: she found a reference in a letter by Rainer Maria Rilke to poetry by Symbolist Emile Verhaeren and, trapped by the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, began to search libraries for musical settings of Verhaeren's work. This led Narucki to a whole little world of music composed by women, except for a group of songs Nadia Boulanger wrote with her teacher, Raoul Pugno. Boulanger is actually the best known among the group, most of whom (Elisabeth Claisse, Irene Fuerison, Marion Bauer) are almost completely obscure. Not all of the songs (in French, Dutch, and English) set poems by Verhaeren, but all of the composers are creatively linked, and the album has a delightful down-the-rabbit-hole quality. Some are extravagantly romantic. For the flavor of the whole, sample the two settings of the same Verhaeren poem, "Vous m'avez dit," by Boulanger and composer Irene Fuerison, each of whom set works from a cycle by Verhaeren. For collections of music by women, this is essential, and it is an enjoyable hour for anyone of music in an Impressionist vein that broadens out as the text requires. Narucki's performances effectively reflect the passion she brought to the project. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	02/10/2023
Label:	Avie
UPC:	0822252259223
Rank:	181521

Tracks

1. Dit eiland
2. In den regen
3. Teeken den hemel in het zand der zee
4. 4 M¿¿lodies~Issue
5. 4 M¿¿lodies~Complainte
6. 4 M¿¿lodies~Philosophie
7. 4 M¿¿lodies~Les Mendiants
8. Les Heures claires, Les Heures d¿¿¿apr¿¿s-midi, Les Heures du soir Op.50~I. Les Heures claires I: ¿¿ la splendeur de notre joie
9. Les Heures claires, Les Heures d¿¿¿apr¿¿s-midi, Les Heures du soir Op.50~II. Les Heures claires XX: Dis-moi, ma simple et ma tranquille amie
10. Les Heures claires, Les Heures d¿¿¿apr¿¿s-midi, Les Heures du soir Op.50~III. Les Heures d¿¿¿apr¿¿s-midi XXVII: Ardeur des sens
11. Les Heures claires, Les Heures d¿¿¿apr¿¿s-midi, Les Heures du soir Op.50~IV. Les Heures d¿¿¿apr¿¿s-midi XXIX: Vous m¿¿¿avez dit
12. Les Heures claires, Les Heures d¿¿¿apr¿¿s-midi, Les Heures du soir Op.50~V. Les Heures du soir XXI: Avec mes vieilles mains
13. Les Heures claires, Les Heures d¿¿¿apr¿¿s-midi, Les Heures du soir Op.50~VI. Les Heures du soir XXVI: Lorsque tu fermeras mes yeux
14. Les Heures claires~I. Le ciel en nuit s¿¿¿est d¿¿pli¿¿¿¿¿
15. Les Heures claires~III. Vous m'avez dit¿¿¿
16. Les Heures claires~IV. Que tes yeux clairs, tes yeux d¿¿¿¿¿t¿¿¿¿¿
17. Les Heures claires~VI. Ta bont¿¿
18. Four Poems Op. 16~I. Through the upland meadows
19. Four Poems Op. 16~II. I love the night
20. Four Poems Op. 16~III. Midsummer Dreams
21. Four Poems Op. 16~IV. In the bosom of the desert

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Susan Narucki   Primary Artist,Soprano (Vocal)
Donald Berman   Primary Artist,Piano

Technical Credits

Franz Toussaint   Text
Andrew Munsey   Engineer,Photography
Alonso Nichols   Photography
Ray Granlund   Text Translation
David Wyatt   Text Translation
Adriaan Roland Holst   Text
Will Stone   Text Translation
Yves Arnaud   Text
Dick Bruinsma   Text Translation
Elisabeth Claisse   Composer
Irene Fuerison   Composer
J.W.F. Werumeus Buning   Text
Jeanne Velonis   Editing Assistant,Mastering
Lisa-Marie Mazzucco   Photography
Emile Verhaeren   Text
Paul Mitchell   Cover Design
Daniel Fesquet   Liner Note Translation
John Gould Fletcher   Text
Pierre de Ronsard   Text
Henriette Bosmans   Composer
Marion Bauer   Composer
Nadia Boulanger   Composer
Kheng-Tsin   Text
Raoul Pugno   Composer
Judith Sherman   Mastering,Producer
Frank Stuart   Text Translation
Susan Narucki   Liner Notes,Cover Photo
Anne Schneider   Liner Note Translation