Episode 340. Roberta Alexander: Dutch Treat
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Nothing brings me greater joy than when a deep exploration into the artistry of a favorite singer yields even more delights than I could have possibly imagined. And when I have a personal friendship with that singer, my cup truly runneth over. A week ago the music world once again celebrated the birthday of the treasurable soprano Roberta Alexander. Today, in a belated birthday tribute, I offer recordings of Roberta singing the music of composers of The Netherlands, where she has made her adoptive home since the mid-1970s. As befits Roberta Alexander’s eclecticism, the range of musical styles is wide, ranging from the baroque oratorio Joseph, by Willem de Fesch, to the romanticism of early 20th-century composers Hendrik Andriessen, Alphons Diepenbrock, and Julius Röntgen, to the more astringent (yet still lush and colorful) idiom of Robert Heppener and Willem Frederik Bon. Prepare yourself to be swept away by these magnificent works in brilliant performances recorded between 1979 and 2000 in which Roberta Alexander is joined by fellow singers Claron McFadden and Nico van der Meel, and accompanied by Bernard Haitink, Rudolf Jansen, David Porcelijn, Ed Spanjaard, and Jed Wentz. If you are thinking of passing this episode by because of the obscure repertoire, I encourage you to take a chance, not only because these recordings present Alexander in all her glory, but because you will get to hear fascinating music by composers you might not have heard before, ranging from a dramatic Baroque seduction scene between Joseph and Potiphar’s wife by Willem de Fesch, to an erotically-charged setting of Verlaine by Willem Frederik Bon, to exquisite settings of meditative texts for the Lenten season by Hendrik Andriessen.
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
Julius Röntgen: Symphony No. 8 in c# minor [excerpt]. Roberta Alexander, Jac van Steen, Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra [1996]
Hendrik Andriessen, Thomas à Kempis: Fiat Domine. Roberta Alexander, David Porcelijn, Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra [1998]
Willem de Fesch, unknown librettist: Scene with Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife (Joseph). Roberta Alexander, Claron McFadden, Nico van der Meel, Jed Wentz, Musica ad Rhenum [2000]
Alphons Diepenbrock: Five Songs. Roberta Alexander, Rudolf Jansen [1994]
- Clemens Brentano: Lied der Spinnerin [Es sang vor langen Jahren]
- Paul Verlaine: Mandoline
- Jules Laforgue: La Chanson de l’Hypertrophique
- Anonymous poet: Come raggio di sol
- Lodewijk van Deyssel: Ik ben in eenzaamheid niet meer alleen
Robert Heppener, Ezra Pound: Four Songs on Poems by Ezra Pound. Roberta Alexander, Ed Spanjaard [1981]
- I. N.Y.
- III. Pan is dead
Willem Frederik Bon, Paul Verlaine: Le printemps (from Saisons de Verlaine). Roberta Alexander, Bernard Haitink, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra [live Amsterdam 27.X.79]
Hendrik Andriessen, Henri Ghéon [né Henri Vangeon]: from Miroir de peine. Roberta Alexander, David Porcelijn, Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra [1998]
- I. Agonie au jardin
- II. Flagellation
Hendrik Andriessen, Thomas à Kempis: Magna res est amor. Roberta Alexander, David Porcelijn, Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra [1998]