Episode 322. Margaret Marshall Sings Mozart
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Yesterday was the birthday of Countermelody favorite, the ravishing Scottish soprano Margaret Marshall. What better way to kick off Season Six of the podcast than with this tribute to Margaret. The more I listen to her, the more clearly I see her direct link with other great singers of the past, primarily Gundula Janowitz, Margaret Price, and Lisa Della Casa. The same coolness of timbre on the surface that barely conceals the beating heart underneath. The same impeccable musicianship and vocal flexibility (in fact, she more or less exceeds all three of her predecessors in that regard!) And the same affinity with the music of Mozart. I am not always the most passionate fan of Mozart, but lately I have been in just the mood for his music. So as I was doing my own private celebration of Margaret’s birthday earlier this week, listening to favorites among her many recordings, I kept finding myself choosing her singing music of Mozart. I have put together today’s program using selections from Mozart’s early church music and oratorios; Lieder; concert arias; and opera arias. These selections cover twenty of the glory years of her career, from 1975 through 1995, and consistently display those qualities described above that made her one of the finest Mozart singers of the late twentieth century. Raise a glass to the Scottish songbird as you revel in these marvelous studio and live performances!
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
All tracks composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with Margaret Marshall, soprano and other performers as noted.
Laudate Dominum (Vesperae de Dominica, K.321). George Guest, The Wren Orchestra [1981]
Vittorio Amedeo Cigna-Santi: Deh, non varcar quell’onda [from “Ah, lo previdi,” K. 272]. Hanns-Martin Schneidt, Saarländische Rundfunk-Orchester [recorded 29.IV.76]
Ignaz Anton Weiser: Ein ergrimmter Löwe brüllet (Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots, K. 35). Neville Marriner, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart [1988]
Dulcissimum convivium (Litaniae de venerabili altaris sacramento), K. 243). Günter Wand, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks [live München 21.I.1982]
Fulget amica dies… Tu virginum corona (Exsultate, jubilate, KV 165). Neville Marriner, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart [1987]
Gabriele von Baumberg Als Luise die Briefe ihres ungetreuen Liebhabers verbrannte, K. 520. John Fraser [BBC studio recording 1976]
Christian Felix Weisse: Der Zauberer, K. 472. John Fraser [BBC studio recording 1976]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Das Veilchen, K. 476. John Fraser [BBC studio recording 1976]
Pietro Metastasio: Non curo l’affetto, K. 74b. Leopold Hager, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France [Paris 1987]
Gianbattisto Varesco: Alme belle, che vedete [from “Non temer, amato bene,” KV 490]. Ralf Weikert, Mozarteum-Orchester Salzburg [live 1983]
Unknown librettist [after Carlo Goldoni]: Voi avete un cor fedele, K. 217. Günter Kehr, Saarländisches Rundfunk-Orchester [recorded 16.I.76]
Pietro Metastasio: Misera, dove son?, K. 369. Günter Wand, Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester [live Köln 13.VI.1980]
Giuseppe Petrosellini [after Rainieri de’ Calzabigi]: Vorrei punirti, indegno (La finta giardiniera). Friedemann Layer, Orchestre National de Montepellier [live Montpellier 17 July 1995]
Lorenzo da Ponte: Se questo mio core mai cangia desio (Così fan tutte). Ann Murray, Riccardo Muti, Wiener Philharmoniker [live Salzburg 1983]
Lorenzo da Ponte: L’abito di Guglielmo sarà buono per me… Fra gli amplessi (Così fan tutte). Margaret Marshall, Francisco Araiza, Riccardo Muti, Wiener Philharmoniker [live Salzburg 1983]
Lorenzo da Ponte: E Susanna non vien… Dove sono (Le nozze di Figaro). Riccardo Muti, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala di Milano [live Milano 1982]
