Songs from the Age of the Closet - Art Songs by Gay Composers

Artist: Elif Savas , Reynaldo Hahn , Karol Szymanowski , Charles Tomlinson Griffes , Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky
Customer Rating:

, based on 4 reviews

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Editorial Review:

This CD represents a celebration of gay contributions to western art song in the "age of the closet"; it features artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries for whom compelling evidence exists regarding their sexual orientation. In this collaboration, Turkish soprano Elif Savas and pianist Martin Hennessy interpret these pieces of Tchaikovsky, Poulenc, Hahn, Szymanowski, and Griffes with great sensitivity and clarity of conception. Contains some of the only work in print of some of these lieder, including Poulenc's Cinq Poèmes de Max Jacob.

Customer Reviews:

Essential

The temptation with a themed work like this is to wonder if the intellect demonstrated in the selections matches the artistic quality of the performances. The answer to that question is unequivocally in the affirmative; Savas's voice is simply transcendent.

"Songs from the Age of the Closet" is an essential addition to any serious musical library. Purchase it immediately, so that we may encourage this remarkable artist to make more music. (According to her Web site ...she's also made a documentary on the history of military interventions in Turkey, as well as written cookbooks. Not your typical diva!)

2001-10-02

EXCELLENT work

The album is a great concept which has been well-executed by some tremendous talent...a wonderful find!

2001-09-08

Out Of The Closet And It's About Time

"Songs From The Age Of The Closet" is a beautifully and thoughtfully put together compilation of pieces written by gay classical composers. From the opening moments of Tchaikovskys' "Otchego" to the final notes of Grffes' "Nachtlied" the listener is taken on a fantastic dreamlike musical voyage that is only broken by the end of the disc. These selections are sung with great feeling as well as technical prowess by Elif Savas who's incredible dynamic range suits the material perfectly. This is especially true on "Paysage" and "Souric et Mouric". It is unbelievable that it took this long to issue a disc with this grand a common theme. The result is worth the wait.

2001-07-02

An elegant and sumptuous recording

Elif Savas sings beautifully. She possesses a full, womanly soprano and consummate musicianship. Her interpretations of these rarely heard gems are wondrous to hear--at times impassioned, at times playful, at times spontaneous. The Szymanowski presents particular challenges, and she and pianist Martin Hennessy perform with gusto and command. A stunning debut.

2001-06-29