Classical Editor: Rob Barnett
 

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EDWARD MACDOWELL (1860-1908) The Complete Songs (1889-1902) Steven Tharp (tenor) James Barbagallo (piano) rec 1-3 August 1995, Santa Rosa, California NAXOS AMERICAN CLASSICS 8.559032 [6836]

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Macdowell's forty-two songs are presented in a CD running almost nine minutes over the hour. Their style is one of unsurprising charm and again it is Schumann and Grieg who must be our stylistic reference points. Tharp has a lovely voice for which I must register high praise. His articulation is good and of course he is partnered by the most sympathetic of pianists. The texts are variously in English and German. This disc had me recalling the Schumann LP collection recorded by Classics For Pleasure back in the late 1970s. This consisted of songs sung in English by that past-master tenor, Ian Partridge, accompanied by his sister Jennifer. It seems unlikely that the Tharp set will ever have any competition. Given the excellence achieved in this garland of fragile blooms there seems little point in others trying.

Reviewer

Rob Barnett

Reviewer

Rob Barnett


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