Comments on: I know I would just plotz

By: Jim

Jim — Sat, 10 May 2008 07:36:51 +0000

Bostridge does indeed sing “Sleep” very beautifully. One wishes that he would record the whole set of all five “Elizabethan Songs”. I remember thinking the same of same of Janet Baker, who recorded, back in the early 60s, the same two Gurney songs that Bostridge sings here as part of her English Song Anthology with Martin Isepp. These are also wonderful performances. And the Anthology also includes Howells’ incomparable “King David” and Finzi’s “Come Away Death”. On the other hand the Bostridge collection includes Denis Browne’s “To Gratiana Dancing and Singing”, which is surely one of the best things ever written by anybody.

Gurney’s tombstone is lovely. But then the 20s and 30s were a great age of printing and engraving. When Ravel came to London on one of his visits in the 20s Howells met him and showed him a copy of his “Lambert’s Clavichord” (incredible pieces by the way). Ravel examined it meticulously from cover to cover. At the end his only comment was “Quelle gravure!”.

By: killian

killian — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:38:39 +0000

Again, again, again, you bring such amazing beauty and insight and hilarity to my eyes and ears! But don’t worry– no need for a restraining order, a la Charles W.– I live in N.C. You are a LIFELINE to things I didn’t even know I wanted to think about. Thank you! I leave with this aural meme [think The Clash, waaay before you were born]: “Lesbos calling. . .” Between that and the pathos of “Sleep,” today is indeed quite rich.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:39:05 +0000

Thanks so much for “Sleep”. I haven’t heard that song in ages, because it’s so unbearably sad I can’t bear to listen to it. What a masterpiece. And a beautiful recording.