Episode 459. The Art of Steven Blier

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There was only one way to follow up my interview with the iconic, the unique Steven Blier published earlier this week, and that is with an episode dedicated to his dazzling at the keyboard and his accomplishments as the co-founder and artistic director of NYFOS, the New York Festival of Song, which is just concluding its 38th season. Going all the way back to Steve’s first recordings in the late 1980s, I have compiled a setlist that is a testament to his love of song, and his ever-expanding interests in that field. Performances both live and studio, many of them straight from Steve’s own archives, feature composers ranging from Franz Schubert to Leonard Bernstein, Eubie Blake to Albert Roussel, Eduard Toldrà to Marc Blitzstein, and Billy Strayhorn to Kurt Weill , including work commissioned specifically by and for Blier and NYFOS. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. These are performed by vocal colleagues of Steven’s past and present, including William Sharp, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Darius de Haas, Stephanie Blythe, Christopher Trakas, Corinne Winters, Kurt Ollmann, Lisa Vroman, Federico De Michelis, Joshua Blue, Sasha Cooke, Brett Polegato, and many, many others. As we say in Deutschland, “Hut ab” to this magnificent artist who has enriched all of our lives!

RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE

Charles Ives: The Circus Band (Five Street Songs, No. 5). William Sharp, Steven Blier [1991]

Virgil Thomson, Marianne Moore: English Usage (Two by Marianne Moore, No. 1). William Sharp, Steven Blier [1988]

Franz Schubert, Ernst Schulze: Auf der Bruck, D. 853. Brett Polegato, Steven Blier [live recording, WQXR-FM, IV.1999]

Michael Barrett, William Sharp, Leonard Bernstein, Judy Kaye, Steven Blier

Leonard Bernstein: Love Duet (Arias and Barcarolles). New York Festival of Song [Judy Kaye, William Sharp, Steven Blier, Michael Barrett] [1990]

George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin: My Cousin in Milwaukee (Pardon My English). Judy Kaye, Steven Blier [1990]

Steven Blier, Sylvia McNair, Hal Cazalet

Jerome Kern, P.G. Wodehouse: The Enchanted Train (Sitting Pretty). Sylvia McNair, Hal Cazalet, Steven Blier, Greg Utzig (2001)

Eubie Blake, Andy Razaf: Hit the Road. Stephanie Blythe, Steven Blier [live New York 23.III.2000]

Marc Blitzstein: Stay in My Arms. William Sharp, Steven Blier [1991]

Kurt Weill, Felix Gasbarra: Muschel von Margate [Petroleum-Song]. Cyndia Sieden, Steven Blier [1991]

Yvette Guilbert, Paul de Kock: La Crinoline. Kurt Ollmann, Steven Blier [live New York 14.II.1993]

Albert Roussel, René Chalupt: Sarabande, Op. 20/2. Kurt Ollmann, Steven Blier [live New York 14.II.1993]

Jules Massenet, Paul Demouth: Le Nid. Lorraine Hunt [Lieberson], Steven Blier [live 14.II.1993]

Emmanuel Chabrier, Eugène Adenis, arr. Emile Louis: España. Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, Joseph Kaiser, Steven Blier, Michael Barrett [live Caramoor 09.VII.2004]

Xavier Montsalvatge, Rafael Merello: Cuba dentro de un piano (Cinco canciones negras, No. 1). Christopher Trakas, Steven Blier [1986]

Eduard Toldrà, Trinitat Catasús: Maig. Corinne Winters, Steven Blier [2014]

Carlos López Buchardo, Gustavo Caraballo: Canción de ausencia. Federico De Michelis, Steven Blier [2023]

Janet de Almeida, Haroldo Barbosa: Pra que discutir com Madame. Jennifer Aylmer, Steven Blier, James Baker [live Maryland IV.2007]

William Bolcom, Mark Campbell [after Niccolò Machiavelli]: Ah, wait! Is that a pang of shame… We women… I’m sorry, dear mother (Lucrezia). Lisa Vroman, Sasha Cooke, Steven Blier, Michael Barrett [2010]