Track Listing

1. Pensieri notturni di filli (Nel dolce dell'oblio), cantata for soprano, recorder & continuo, HWV 134
2. L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato (Pastoral Ode), oratorio, HWV 55: Sweet Bird
3. If music be the food of love, song, Z. 379 (3 settings)
4. There's Not a Swain (from 'Rule a Wife and Have a Wife'), song, Z. 587/1
5. What can we poor females do?, song for soprano & continuo, Z. 429
6. Music for a While (from 'Oedipus'), song, Z. 583/2
7. Rossignols amoureaux, arietta for soprano, flute, violin & harpsichord
8. Une flûte invisible, song for voice, flute & piano
9. Rossignol, mon mignon, for voice & flute (Poems by Ronsard No. 1), Op. 26/1
10. Ciel, air et vents..., for voice & flute (Poems by Ronsard No. 2), Op. 26/2
11. Canciones clásicas españolas, for voice & piano in 4 books: La Mi Sola
12. Canciones clásicas españolas, for voice & piano in 4 books: Al Amor
13. Canciones clásicas españolas, for voice & piano in 4 books: Del Cabell
14. Canciones clásicas españolas, for voice & piano in 4 books: Chiquitita
15. Sonata for flute & piano, H. 306: Allegro moderato
16. Sonata for flute & piano, H. 306: Adagio
17. Sonata for flute & piano, H. 306: Allegro poco moderato
18. Bird Song
19. Comedy of Errors, opera: Act 1: Lo! Here the Gentle Lark

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #171599 in Music
• Brand: Sony
• Released on: 1993-11-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Amazon.com
Before Kathleen Battle became a diva of monstrous proportions, she was a musical talent of intelligence and delicacy. This recording reminds us of the charm and brilliance of her innate talent. Her light soubrette is an enchanting compliment to Rampal's magical flute, as they weave the musical fabrics of Handel, Rameau, Saint-Saens, and Bishop. A shining example of excellent musical camaraderie is given by accompanists Garrett, Newman, and Ritter. Battle's voice and temperament are a lovely fit for Purcell's docile melancholy. The listener is also granted such juicy treats as two pieces by Albert Roussel and four delectable Catalonian morsels by Fernando J. Obradors. Sheer beauty. --Barbara Eisner Bayer

Customer Reviews

Real listening pleasure
I do not have a large classical/opera collection. This recording is one that I have had for about four years. It remains for me an uplifting experience. Ms. Battle and Mr. Rampal are magical together. The accompanists provide support beautifully. The stars, however, are the real deal--a mix of voice and instrument that is light and transcendant. One really gets a sense of being part of the audience at Lincoln Center that day. Tremendously enjoyable.

Sound Quality Warning
I am a Battle fan. That being said, I think it fair to warn those listeners who are accustomed to high quality recording, that the sound on this cd is disappointing. High notes are somewhat shrill, and the overall recording sounds muffled. And for those of us who dont particularly relish live recording, the not too infrequent coughs, dings and asstd sounds from the audience are distracting.

Kathleen Battle: The Best Soubrette/Lyric Coloratura Soprano
I got this CD as a replacement of a damaged CD of Cecilia Bartoli's latest release "The Salieri Album". Even though Cecilia Bartoli's coloratura mezzo soprano is somewhat overbearing, it can never compare, or outdo Kathleen Battle's Soprano, which is hailed as from 1985's Time magazine "The best Lyric Coloratura in the world", and it shows in this recording. Handel's Sweet Bird is an example: excellent vibrato rolling, almost bird-like, and the coloratura in that piece is magnificent. I really got it for the Spanish art songs, and her Spanish is just as good as her perfect German. But the last selection "Lo! Here the Gentle Lark", is the shining piece. The coloratura, the High notes (I think that those are High E's that she's always known for) are just up there. I wish for her to release another recital/concert CD.