Episode 179. The Pop Stylings of Maria Ewing

Episode 179. The Pop Stylings of Maria Ewing

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A year ago, as I prepared a memorial episode of Countermelody dedicated to Maria Ewing I was struck anew at just how naturally she had mastered the often messy “crossover” genre. Perhaps that’s because she never “crossed over” at all: this material formed part of her essence. I thought it would be a lovely thing to give a more complete picture of her work as a pop singer, using three primary sources: first, her 1990 studio pop album entitled “From this Moment On,” featuring arrangements by Richard Rodney Bennett; second a rare release entitled “Simply Maria,” which comprises a live concert she gave at the Barbican Centre in London in 10 May 1997; and third, live and studio recordings that she made in in the early 2000s with the jazz combo Kymaera, led by guitarist Simon James. The range of material is dizzying, from Broadway classics by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Jule Styne, Harold Arlen, Cy Coleman, Kurt Weill, and George and Ira Gershwin to jazz stylings by Tom Jobim, eden ahbez, and Billy Strayhorn, with more than a few surprises along the way, and her mastery of it all is exceptional, with all of the intense commitment she showed in her operatic portrayals (and none of the condescension or preciousness associated with certain other crossover artists). I’m so thrilled to share this less well-known side of one of the great operatic singing actors of our time.

If you are interested in hearing Maria Ewing speak about her life and career, here are two exceptional interviews:

Desert Island Discs. Maria Ewing in conversation with Sue Lawley [originally broadcast on 21 February 1999]

LA Opera: From the Vaults. Maria Ewing in conversation with Michael Hackett [recorded 9 November 2015]

RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE

Jule Styne, Bob Merrill, arr. Gordon Rose: Don’t Rain on My Parade (Funny Girl). Maria Ewing, Iain Sutherland, BBC Concert Orchestra [live London 10.V.1997]

Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II: All the Things You Are (Very Warm for May). Maria Ewing, Simon James, Shane Hill [live London 2001]

A late career appearance by Maria Ewing as the Queen of the Fairies in Iolanthe (London 2008)

Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II: Bali Ha’i (South Pacific). Maria Ewing, John Wilson, The John Wilson Orchestra, Maida Vale Singers [2012]

Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler: When the Sun Comes Out. Maria Ewing, Richard Rodney Bennett [1990]

Cole Porter: Another Openin’, Another Show; From This Moment On; Just One of Those Things; Easy To Love; Night and Day; Anything Goes [Medley]. Maria Ewing, Richard Rodney Bennett, Neil Richardson, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [1990]

Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields, arr. Harry South: Nobody Does It Like Me (Seesaw). Maria Ewing, Iain Sutherland, BBC Concert Orchestra [live London 10.V.1997]

Angela Morley (10 March 1924 – 14 January 2009)

Jerome Moross, John Latouche, arr. Angela Morley: Lazy Afternoon (The Golden Apple). Maria Ewing, Iain Sutherland, BBC Concert Orchestra [live London 10.V.1997]

Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane, arr. Gordon Rose: The Trolley Song (Meet Me in St. Louis). Maria Ewing, Iain Sutherland, BBC Concert Orchestra [live London 10.V.1997]

Antônio Carlos Jobim, Norman Gimbel: How Insensitive. Maria Ewing, Simon James, Shane Hill, Kymaera [2001]

Ewing with her daughter, director and actor Rebecca Hall

Vincent Youmans, Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu: More Than You Know (Great Day). Maria Ewing, Richard Rodney Bennett [1990]

Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin, arr. Pete Moore: The Man that Got Away (A Star Is Born). Maria Ewing, Iain Sutherland, BBC Concert Orchestra [live London 10.V.1997]

K. Lawrence Dunham, Roger Kellaway: Weren’t You the One. Maria Ewing, Simon James, Kymaera [2001]

Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke: But Beautiful (Road to Rio). Maria Ewing, Richard Rodney Bennett [1990]

Herman Hupfeld: As Time Goes By (Everybody’s Welcome). Maria Ewing, Richard Rodney Bennett, Neil Richardson, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [1990]

Billy Strayhorn, arr. Barry Forgie: Lush Life. Maria Ewing, Iain Sutherland, BBC Concert Orchestra [live London 10.V.1997]

Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson, arr. Stephen Robinson: It Never Was You (Knickerbocker Holiday). Maria Ewing, Stephen Robinson [live London 10.V.1997]

Don Raye, Hughie Prince, arr. Pete Moore: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (Buck Privates). Maria Ewing, Iain Sutherland, BBC Concert Orchestra [live London 10.V.1997]

David Shire, Richard Maltby, arr. Ken Woodman: What About Today. Maria Ewing, Iain Sutherland, BBC Concert Orchestra [live London 10.V.1997]

eden ahbez [né George Alexander Aberle]: Nature Boy. Maria Ewing, Simon James, Shane Hill, Dick Pearse, Luke Annersley, Andy Hamill Michele Drees [live London 2001]

Richard Rodney Bennett (29 March 1936 – 24 December 2012)

George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin: How Long Has This Been Going On; Our Love Is Here to Stay; ’S Wonderful; Someone to Watch Over Me [medley]. Maria Ewing, Richard Rodney Bennett, Neil Richardson, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra [1990]

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