KATHLEEN BATTLE - THE COMPLETE SONY RECORDINGS (10 CDS)

Sony Classical is pleased to announce the reissue of nine of legendary soprano Kathleen Battle’s foremost achievements in the studio. The first, originally released in 1984, is her rendition – one of the most enchanting ever committed to disc – of the soprano solo in Lorin Maazel’s Vienna Philharmonic recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 4. BBC Music Magazine called this “one of the truly great Mahler Fourths … Kathleen Battle’s saintly innocence in the Wunderhorn setting of the finale is a sheer delight!” Most of the other recordings in this compilation date from the 1990s, when Battle was no longer appearing in opera but concentrating her activities on concerts and recitals. Her repertoire also underwent a transformation in this period, increasingly encompassing pop, jazz, folk, spirituals and other non-classical music. Two of these albums feature the legendary trumpet virtuoso Wynton Marsalis. In Baroque Duet, the two charismatic artists are partnered in works by Bach, Handel and Alessandro Scarlatti. In A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert, recorded live in 1991, they are joined by mezzo Frederica von Stade and André Previn conducting the Orchestra of St. Luke’s for a programme of favourite holiday-themed selections. Another major event captured live by Sony’s microphones was the soprano’s 1991 Lincoln Center concert with flautist Jean-Pierre Rampal. “The bell-like purity of [Battle’s] voice is delightful in itself,” wrote Gramophone’s reviewer. “Her fluency and evenness, her free production of perfectly steady tone, are all admirable and none too common in the world today (but then, she is generally acknowledged to be one of the leading singers in that world).” American Record Guide concurred: “Her high, pure lyric soprano is infinitely suited to duetting with the flute … Everything is sung beautifully, the coloratura perfectly in place, the few high notes emerging like luminescent diamonds.” Angels’ Glory, issued in 1995, is another of her highly successful collaborations with leading soloists, an album of spirituals and other sacred traditional songs with guitarist Christopher Parkening. ClassicalNet wrote of it: “Battle is one of that rare breed of artists of whom you always sit up and take notice... Beautifully sung, exquisitely phrased, and musically sensitive.” Sony Classical’s new 10-CD set is rounded off with a new compilation of Kathleen Battle’s RCA releases, among them her 1977 live Ravinia Festival performance of Bach’s “Wedding Cantata” and the soprano solo from the Brahms Requiem. She is accompanied by the Chicago Symphony under James Levine, who has been a faithful musical partner throughout her career. Recalling his first encounter with Kathleen Battle, the great American conductor had this to say: “Some singers have little instinct but do have the intellect to balance technical and musical issues. Some have instinct and a beautiful voice but less intellect. I had never come across a more complete talent than hers.” This new Kathleen Battle release will give devotees of this unique American soprano a new opportunity to confirm the maestro’s judgment.

Mahler:
Symphony No. 4
plus:
DISC 2: Kathleen Battle and Wynton Marsalis: Baroque Duet
DISC 3: A Carnegie Hall Christmas Concert
DISC 4: Kathleen Battle and Jean-Pierre Rampal: in Concert
DISC 5: So Many Stars
DISC 6: Angels Glory
DISC 7: Mythodea
DISC 8: Grace
DISC 9: Classic Kathleen Battle
DISC 10: Collaborations

Kathleen Battle (soprano), Frederica von Stade (mezzo-soprano), Jean-Pierre Rampal (flute), Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Hakan Hagegard (trumpet) & Christopher Parkening (guitar)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Orchestra of St Luke’s & Wiener Philharmoniker, James Levine, Lorin Maazel, Andre Previn & Robert Sadin