Mary Bevan, Ben Johnson, Ashley Riches & David Owen Norris - Sullivan: Songs (2017)

This exceptional recording gathers the finest young vocal talents in a unique program of songs by Sullivan, many of them very rarely recorded. Currently widely acclaimed for key operatic title roles in the UK and abroad, the ""deeply touching, outstanding"" (The Guardian)soprano Mary Bevan, the ""elegant yet intense, impeccable"" (The Guardian) tenor Ben Johnson, and the ""increasingly impressive"" (The Financial Times) bass-baritone Ashley Riches - who here appears on Chandos for the first time - span fifty years of Arthur Sullivan's large non-operatic vocal output. They are accompanied by the UK pianist David Owen Norris, who regularly appears in highly praised concerto performances at the BBC Proms. This album continues to celebrate the Shakespeare anniversary but also presents a wide variety of poets, drawing on texts from a vast range of sources, through the voices of today's greatest rising stars.

TRACKLIST

CD1
01. 5 Shakespeare Songs: No. 3. Sigh no more, ladies - Ben Johnson
02. 5 Shakespeare Songs: No. 1. Orpheus with his lute - Mary Bevan
03. 5 Shakespeare Songs: No. 2. O mistress mine - Ashley Riches
04. 5 Shakespeare Songs: No. 4. The Willow Song - Mary Bevan
05. 5 Shakespeare Songs: No. 5. Rosalind - Ben Johnson
06. The Merry Wives of Windsor: Love laid his sleepless head (version for voice and piano) - Mary Bevan
07. The Merchant of Venice: Nel ciel seren (version for voice and piano) - Ben Johnson
08. The Tempest, Act V: Where the bee sucks (version for voice and piano) - Mary Bevan
09. I wish to tune my quiv'ring lyre - Ashley Riches
10. Sweet day, so cool - Mary Bevan
11. Arabian Love Song - Ben Johnson
12. Birds in the Night - Mary Bevan
13. A life that lives for you - Ashley Riches
14. Once again - Ben Johnson
15. Golden Days - Ashley Riches
16. Guinevere - Mary Bevan
17. None but I can say - Ashley Riches
18. O Israel - Mary Bevan
19. St Agnes' Eve - Mary Bevan
20. Edward Gray - Ashley Riches
21. What does little birdie say? - Mary Bevan
22. O swallow, swallow - Ben Johnson
23. Tears, idle tears - Ashley Riches

CD2
01. The Window "The Songs of the Wrens": No. 1. On the Hill - Ben Johnson
02. The Window "The Songs of the Wrens": No. 2. At the Window - Ben Johnson
03. The Window "The Songs of the Wrens": No. 3. Gone! - Ben Johnson
04. The Window "The Songs of the Wrens": No. 4. Winter - Ben Johnson
05. The Window "The Songs of the Wrens": No. 5. Spring - Ben Johnson
06. The Window "The Songs of the Wrens": No. 6. The Letter - Ben Johnson
07. The Window "The Songs of the Wrens": No. 7. No Answer (The mist and the rain) - Ben Johnson
08. The Window "The Songs of the Wrens": No. 8. No Answer (Winds are loud and you are dumb) - Ben Johnson
09. The Window "The Songs of the Wrens": No. 9. The Answer - Ben Johnson
10. The Window "The Songs of the Wrens": No. 10. When? - Ben Johnson
11. The Window "The Songs of the Wrens": No. 11. Marriage Morning - Ben Johnson
12. An Old Jew: Bid me at least good-bye (version for voice and piano) - Ashley Riches
13. The Profligate: E tu nol sai (version for voice and piano) - Ben Johnson
14. Ich möchte hinaus es jauchzen - Ashley Riches
15. Lied mit Thränen halbgeschrieben - Ben Johnson
16. Oh! ma charmante - Ashley Riches
17. I would I were a king - Ashley Riches
18. Sad Memories - Mary Bevan
19. Ever - Ben Johnson
20. Mary Morison - Ashley Riches
21. Old Love Letters - Mary Bevan
22. County Guy - Ashley Riches
23. Sweethearts (version for vocal duet and piano) - Mary Bevan