Episode 73. Carol Brice (Black History Month 2021 – I)
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Countermelody’s Black History Month celebration for 2021 begins with the great African American contralto Carol Brice (1916-1985) who had a distinguished and varied career singing everything from Bach to Harold Arlen. I first heard Carol Brice many years ago in her recording of “Sweet Little Jesus Boy,” which exemplifies all her musical virtues: simplicity and directness of utterance, lack of sentimentality, and deep identification with both text and music. Add to this a voice of such depth and refinement and a technique so secure that she is almost without equal. From her early career outings as the first African American to win the coveted Naumburg Award, through her appearances on the Broadway stage and in Porgy and Bess, Carol Brice brought an emotional honesty to her performances such as is rarely encountered in any field of genre. On this episode I feature her in a wide range of live and commercial recordings from Marc Blitzstein’s Regina to concert pieces by Brahms and Mahler, focusing in particular on a matchless 1947 song recital with her brother Jonathan Brice as her collaborator. I also feature her husband, the baritone Thomas Carey in a pair of recordings. I hope you will be as moved by Carol Brice’s singing as I am every time I hear this radiant artist.
This week’s bonus episode for my Patreon supporters features another great African American contralto, Lucretia West, who spent a significant portion of her life and career in Germany, where she was celebrated for her performances of Mahler and Lieder in particular.
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
Traditional Spiritual, arr. Edward H. Boatner: On My Journey. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Giuseppe Sarti: Lungi dal caro bene. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Frederick John Easthope Martin, Helen Taylor: Come to the Fair. Carol Brice [V-Disc, released May 1946]
Johann Sebastian Bach: Esurientes implevit bonis (Magnificat, BWV 243). Carol Brice; Daniel Saidenberg, Columbia Broadcasting Concert Orchestra [1947]
Johannes Brahms, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Ist auf deinem Psalter (Alt-Rhapsodie, Op. 53). Carol Brice; Serge Koussevitzky, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Tanglewood Festival Chorus (dir. Robert Shaw) [live Tanglewood 03 August 1946]
Manuel de Falla, Gregorio Martínez Sierra: Canción del amor dolido (El amor brujo). Carol Brice; Fritz Reiner, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra [1946]
Manuel de Falla, Théophile Gautier: Séguedille (Trois mélodies, No. 3). Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Gustav Mahler: Die zwei blauen Augen von meinem Schatz (Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen, No. 4). Carol Brice; Fritz Reiner, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra [1947]
Robert Franz, Wilhelm Osterwald: Im Frühling, Op. 17/5. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Franz Schubert, Friedrich von Matthison: Geistertanz, D. 117. Lucretia West; Leo Taubmann [1955]
Jean Berger (né Arthur Schloßberg): They All Dance the Samba. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
John Alden Carpenter, Rabindranath Tagore: The Day Is No More. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Marc Blitzstein: Miss Birdie, ma’am… Night could be time to sleep (Regina). Carol Brice, Elisabeth Carron; Samuel Krachmalnick, New York City Opera Orchestra [1958]
Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer: Gettin’ a Man (Saratoga). Carol Brice, Odette Myrtil; Orchestra conducted by Jerry Arlen [1959]
Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer: Goose Never Be a Peacock (Saratoga). Carol Brice; Orchestra conducted by Jerry Arlen [1959]
Burton Lane, Yip Harburg: Necessity (Finian’s Rainbow). Carol Brice; Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Max Meth [1960]
Claibe Richardson, Kenward Elmslie: If There’s Enough Love (The Grass Harp). Carol Brice; Orchestra conducted by Theodore Saidenberg [live New York 06 November 1971]
Claibe Richardson, Kenward Elmslie: Marry with Me (The Grass Harp). Carol Brice; Orchestra conducted by Jonathan Tunick
George Gershwin, DuBose Heyward, Ira Gershwin: What do you think you’re doing… I hates yo’ struttin’ style (Porgy and Bess). Carol Brice, Larry Marshall; John DeMain, Houston Grand Opera [1976]
Traditional Spiritual, arr. Roland Hayes: Sister Mary Had-a But One Child. Thomas Carey; Urs Schneider, Nürnberger Symphoniker [1970]
Stephen Foster: I Dream of Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair. Thomas Carey; Thomas Carey; Urs Schneider, Nürnberger Symphoniker [1970]
Stephen Foster: Ah! May that Red Rose Live Alway. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Traditional Spiritual, arr. Hall Johnson: Witness. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Robert MacGimsey: Sweet Little Jesus Boy. Carol Brice; Jonathan Brice [1947]
Charles Albert Tindley, Lucille Simmons: We Shall Overcome. Carol Brice; Male Quartet [recording details unknown]
Thank you Daniel! Carol and Tom were my beloved teachers and mentors in Oklahoma, I was the first music director of their opera company, and Tom and my mom were a longtime couple and were married for the last few years of his life. I was in tears hearing her voice again. You can imagine how special it was for me when the Met did Porgy last season – a work I learned from both of them. Keep up the good work!
Best,
Mary Jo Heath
Radio host
Metropolitan Opera
Thank you for this wonderful montage of Carol Brice Carey. I met the Careys when I auditioned at University of Oklahoma in 1984. I was all set to study with Carol – unfortunately she passed soon thereafter. She had such a presence: strong and full of heart. Tom then became my teacher and mentor. I became his studio accompanist, his personal accompanist and eventually in 1996 the music director of Cimarron Circuit Opera Co. I couldn’t be more proud of both Carol and Tom and their accomplishments or more thankful for the impact they have had on my daily life.
This coming Sunday we are celebrating their opera company’s 50th Anniversary!!! The concert will consist of songs from their careers as well as works of the company over the years.
Thanks again!
Kevin W. Smith
Music Director
Cimarron Opera
What an honor to hear from you, Kevin! Thank you for sharing your reminiscences and a huge congratulations on the 50th anniversary of Cimarron Opera! In these days in particular this is a big deal! I have loved Carol’s voice ever since I first heard it decades ago in the reissue of a 78 single of “Sweet Little Jesus Boy.” (I’m sure you know the recording!) All best wishes for a superb concert on Sunday! Daniel