AN IMPORTANT REISSUEArleen Auger Recording History & Discography
AN IMPORTANT REISSUEArleen Auger Recording History & Discography
Arias and Cantatas
Josef Haydn
Scena di Berenice Hob.XXIVa;10 [12,20]
Cantata composra per la Signora Banti in Antigono di Pietro Metastasio
Son pietosa, son bonina Hob.XXXIIb;1 [4.30]
Aria per La Circe, ossia L'isola incantata di Pasquale Anfossi e Gottlieb Naumann
Arianna a Naxos Hob XXVIb; 2 (orchestral version) [17,59]
Cantata
Solo e pensoso Hob.XXIVb: 20 [7.17]
Aria da Il Canzoniere di Francesco Petrarca (Sonetto XXVIII)
Miseri noi, misera patria! Hob.XXIVa: 7 [10.41]
Cantata
Arleen Auger (soprano)
Handel and Haydn Society
Christopher Hogwood
Recorded at the Methuen Memorial Hall, Massachusetts, October 1988
AVIE AV 2066 [53.02]
It hardly seems possible that Arleen Auger is no longer with us. This makes her legacy all the more fragile and valuable so all good thanks to Avie for returning this Haydn disc to the catalogues at reduced price. She recorded it with the august and venerable Händel and Haydn Society, the oldest such arts group in America, under the direction of Christopher Hogwood. It was taped in 1988, five years before her grievously early death at the age of fifty
three.
The repertoire suited her voice well. Critics may have feasted on the tonal qualities of the voice and its beauty of sound and production, but Auger's was also a dramatic voice and that is noticeable here to a high degree, especially when the cantatas give her the opportunity for some florid extensions and soaring declamation. The scene from Berenice is a case in point. Drama is at the heart of it and the invitations to convey passion
wide intervals, divisions, the voice both extending low and then floridly high
reveal a musician of acute dramatic flair. When one hears her negotiate the strolling gait of her aria Non partir one hears anew just how and why she was so highly regarded. Her considered gravity is a joy.
Son pietosa forms an immediate contrast with its pastoral delicacy, and Auger proves a lyric exponent of its charms. The play of string shading on Auger's soprano is consistently imaginative and revealing as is the tension and bite Hogwood evokes from his forces. She gauges the character and force of her recitatives and arias with quiet precision; nothing sounds forced or improperly dramatic, stylistically speaking.
The Petrarch setting Solo e pensoso acts as another contrast in which we can again admire Auger's pristine divisions and the fine contributions of the orchestral winds. Miseri noi is a cantata of considerable power and force and once again Auger rises to the challenges
both vocal and expressive
with great brilliance and authority. These are not easy works to inhabit and Auger certainly does that.
FROM DECCA RECORDS:
Dazzling coloratura, impeccable musicianship, a voice of unusual warmth.
The death of Arleen Auger in 1993, robbed the music world of one of its most beloved artists.
She was an admired collaborator of all the great conductors from the moment she made her stunning début in 1967 as The Queen of the Night in the Magic Flute at the Vienna State Opera, conducted by Josef Krips.
Arleen Auger was born in California and after university she moved to Chicago to teach schoolchildren. Opportunities for young American opera singers were more plentiful in Europe in the early 1960's and so Auger spent the early years of her career overseas. Starting in 1969 however, her career was truly international and Auger developed a devoted following for her song recitals as well as her nearly 300 recordings. Auger was an early star of the early music movement with her dazzling coloratura and impeccable musicianship. This was allied to a voice of unusual warmth for a high soprano.
Auger died in 1993 after a heroic battle with cancer.
About the CD "Arleen Auger Sings Bach" on DG
Kirk McElhearn wrote (February 2, 2002):
The late Arleen Auger was born in 1939 in California, and her career led her through a wide variety of music and composers until her untimely death in 1993. An excellent singer of lieder, such as that of Schubert and Schumann, a fine opera singer, especially of Mozart, she was a consummate Bach singer, and stands as one of the greatest soloists in Helmut Rilling's complete recordings of Bach's cantatas for Haenssler. This disc is an anthology of some of her finest arias from these Bach recordings.
Auger's coloratura is gentle and subtle, and her humility makes her ideal for Bach's spiritual soprano arias. In the slow, flowing aria Bete aber auch dabei from cantata BWV 115 she lets her voice follow the music without trying to lead it, and gives a fine performance. In the long Tief gebückt und voller Reue in cantata BWV 199, she is more expressive, and her energy comes to the fore, in fitting with the jubilant nature of the music.
Her expressiveness and musicality reach summits in the aria Wie zittern und wanken from cantata BWV 105. Few singers can inject such emotion into music as she does in this song. Her voice melds so perfectly with the obliggato oboe in this aria that the two melodies sound like intertwined vines.
Ich wünschte mir den Tod, den Tod from cantata BWV 57 has the drama of some of the profoundest movements of the St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244). Auger gives a visceral performance of this aria, using her full range and all the subtleties of here voice. This may be the most moving piece on this disc.
This is an excellent disc, one that shows how much Arleen Auger was at home with Bach's cantatas. The selection of arias she recorded with Helmut Rilling is very good, although it would have been possible to choose many more. This is an essential recording for Bach lovers.
Selections from Ms. Augers Discography
Bach, C.P.E. | Magnificat (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.911 |
Bach, J. C. | Dies irae (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.911 |
Bach, J. E. | Die Liebe Gottes ist ausgegossen (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.911 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 1 (Neues Bach Collegium;Rotzsch) | Edel 001825 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 5 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.816 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 8 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.813 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 21 (Neues Bach Collegium;Rotzsch) | Edel 001827 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 25 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.810 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 26 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.821 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 28 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.827 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 36 (Neues Bach Collegium; Rotzsch) | Edel 001831 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 36 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.823 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 38 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.818 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 47 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.815 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 52 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.821 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 57 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.825 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 61 (Neues Bach Collegium; Rotzsch) | Edel 001831 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 63 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.823 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 64 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.825 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 68 (Neues Bach Collegium; Rotzsch) | Edel 001825 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 71 (Neues Bach Collegium; Rotzsch) | Edel 001832 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 79 (Neues Bach Collegium; Rotzsch) | Edel 001833 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 80 (Neues Bach Collegium; Rotzsch) | Edel 001833 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 89 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.818 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 95 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.812 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 98 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.817 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 99 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.813 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 101 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.809 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 105 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.807 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 110 (Neues Bach Collegium; Rotzsch) | Edel 001832 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 113 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.810 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 115 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.819 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 116 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.820 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 119 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.828 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 121 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.824 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 132 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.822 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 133(Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.826 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 137 (Neues Bach Collegium; Rotzsch) | Edel 001827 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 138 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.812 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 140 (Neues Bach Collegium; Rotzsch) | Edel 001831 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 149 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.815 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 152 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.826 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 162 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.816 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 163 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.820 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 172 (Neues Bach Collegium; Rotzsch) | Edel 001825 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 179 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.808 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 180 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.816 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 184 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.890 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 188 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.817 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 192 (Neues Bach Collegium; Rotzsch) | Edel 001833 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 193 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.829 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 198 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.830 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 199 (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Hanssler CD 98.810 |
Bach, J. S. | Cantata 208 (Berlin Chamber; Schreier) | Berlin Classics 0092232 |
Bach, J. S. | Magnificat (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Sony SBK 48280 |
Bach, J. S. | Magnificat (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) + Schmelli-Liederbuch | Ex-CBS SMK 42054 |
Bach, J. S. | Mass in B minor (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Columbia M2YK 45615 |
Bach, J. S. | Mass in B minor (Dresden Staatskapelle; Schreier) | Philips 432 972-2 |
Bach, J. S. | St. John Passion (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Columbia M2K 39694 |
Bach, J. S. | St. Matthew Passion (Bach Ensemble; Rilling) | Columbia M3K 39715 |
Bach, J. S. | Weihnachtsoratorium (Dresden Philharmonic; Flamig) | Berlin Classics 0020652BC |
Beethoven | Ruins of Athens; Consecration of the house (Berlin Phil) 4/70 | DG 453 713-2 |
Beethoven | Symphony no. 9 (Hogwood) | Oiseau Lyre 425 517-2 |
Bizet | Carmen (Frasquita p1970) | RCA 74321 25279-2 |
Brahms | Deutsches Requiem (Munich; Celibidache) | EMI 7243 5 56843 2 5 |
Brahms | Deutsches Requiem (Atlanta Sym; Shaw | Telarc CD 80092 |
Cimarosa | Matrimonio segreto (Carolina 8-9/75) | DG 437 696-2 |
Gluck | Iphigenie in Aulis (Artemis 6/27-7/7/72 [Ger]) | Eurodisc 7796-2-RG |
Handel | Alcina (Alcina 7/85) | EMI CDS 7 49771-2 |
Handel | Belshazzar (Nitocris 7/90) | DG 431 793-2 |
Handel | Choice of Hercules (Virtue 6/82) | Capriccio 10019 |
Handel | Messiah (soprano 1/88) | DG Archiv 423 630-2 |
Handel | Orlando (Angelica '89/90) | Oiseau Lyre 430 845-2 |
Haydn | Jahreszeiten (soprano St. Paul; Revzen) | Koch 3 7065-2 |
Haydn | Mondo della luna (Flaminia 6/77) | Philips 473 851-2d8-10 |
Haydn | Orlando Paladino (Angelica 6/76) | Philips 473 476-2d6-8 |
Haydn | Salve Regina (soprano 2/79) | London 421 605-2 |
Haydn | Schöpfung (Soprano Rattle) | EMI CDS 7 54159 2 |
Humperdinck | Hansel und Gretel (Sandman '71) | Eurodisc 610 266-232 |
Mahler | Sym. 2 (City of Birmingham; Rattle) | EMI CDS 7 47962 8 |
Mahler | Symphony no. 8 (Soprano III 8-9/71) | Decca 460 972-2 |
Marschner | Der Vampyr (Malwine Munich 1974) | Enterprise LV 1009/10 |
Massenet | Werther (Sophie 2/79) | DG 413 304-2 |
Mendelssohn | Midsummer night's dream (soprano P.1983) | Philips 411 106-2 |
Meyerbeer | Huguenots (1st bohemian '69) | London 430 549-2 |
Monteverdi | Incoronazione di Poppea (Poppea 7/88) | Virgin Classics VCT 7 90775-2 |
L. Mozart | Mass in C major (Soprano Berlin '81) | Koch CD 313 028 |
Mozart | Apollo et Hyacinthus (Melia 1/81) | Philips 422 526-2 |
Mozart | Ascanio in Alba (Fauno 1/76) | Philips 422 530-2 |
Mozart | Clemenza di Tito (Servilia Vienna 5/76) | RLS 969/970 |
Mozart | Don Giovanni (Elvira '85) | RCA 74321 25284 2 |
Mozart | Don Giovanni (Anna 7/89) | Oiseau Lyre 425 943-2 |
Mozart | Entführung aus dem Serail (Constanza 9/73) | DG 429 868-2 |
Mozart | Lucio Silla (Giunia 1/75) | Philips 422 532-2 |
Mozart | Mass in C minor, K.427 (1st soprano Stuttgart) | Topazio TP 2604.5 |
Mozart | Mass in C minor, K.427 (1st soprano 11/88) | Oiseau Lyre 425 528-2 |
Mozart | Mass in C minor (Sop. 2 Berlin '90) | Sony SK 46671 |
Mozart | Mass in C minor; Exusultate jubilate (1st sop 4/90) | DG 431 791-2 |
Mozart | Mitridate (Sifare Salzburg 8/25/71) | Opera d'Oro OPD 1361 |
Mozart | Mitridate (Aspaisa DG 1/77) | Philips 422 529-2 |
Mozart | Nozze di Figaro (Countess Almaviva 8/87) | Oiseau 421 333-2 |
Mozart | Requiem (Soprano Rilling P1979) | Columbia MBK 42614 |
Mozart | Requiem (Soprano Atlanta; Shaw '86) | Telarc CD 80128 |
Mozart | Requiem (Soprano Vienna; Solti 12/5/91) | London 433 688-2 |
Mozart | Schauspieldirektor (Silberklang 9/73) | DG 427 881-2 |
Mozart | Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots (Weltgeist 1/80) | Koch CD 313 065 |
Orff | Carmina Burana (soprano p1980) | EMI 7243 5 69868 2 4 |
Ravel | Enfant et les Sortilèges (Fire; Princess; Nightingale p.1982) | EMI CDC7 47169 2 |
Ravel | Sheherazade; Vocalise (Philharmonia; Pesek) | Virgin Classics CDC 59235 |
R. Strauss | Ariadne auf Naxos (Najade Vienna 1967) | Melodram CDM 270105 |
R. Strauss | Capriccio (Italian soprano 4/71) | DG 445 347-2 |
R. Strauss | Rosenkavalier (1st orphan p1969) | London 417 493-2 |
Sullivan | Pirates of Penzance (Mabel Cologne Radio; 6/68 [Ger]) | Gala GL 100.566 |
Verdi | Don Carlo [5 act plus] (Voice from Heaven '83/84: Fre) | DG 415 316-2 |
Weill | Street scene (1st nursemaid 8/89 & 3/90) | London 433 371-2 |
Other major recordings: | |
Arabesque Z6623 | Rossini-Songs and ensembles (Baldwin) |
Auger Fund | Recital: 5/29/90 (Cleveland: Gage) |
BBC Music v.9 #10 | Mozart-Nozze: Deh vieni |
Bella Voce BLV 107.212 | Munich concert '68 & '69 |
Berlin Classics 0021862BC | Schumann-Lieder (Olbertz) |
Berlin Classics 0090442BC | Haydn-Lieder |
Berlin Classics 0090502BC | Händel-Deutsche Arien |
Columbia MK 42447 | Mozart, Strauss & Wolf (Gage) |
Decca 458 137-2 | Bellini-Puritani: A te o cara (w/Pavarotti) |
Decca 473 317-2 | Strauss-Arabella: Aber der richtige (w/Lorengar) |
Delos D/CD 3026 | Bach & Handel arias |
Delos D/CD 3029 | Love songs (Baldwin) |
Delos D/CD 3041 | Villa-Lobos,-Bachianas Brasileiras #5 (Yale Cellos) |
Donemus CV 50 | Diepenbrock-Hymne an die Nacht |
EMI CDC 7 49857 2 | Berg-Lulu suite |
Hanssler Classic 98.911 | Geistliche Musik der Bach-Familie |
Hyperion CDJ 33009 | Schubert-Lieder v. 9 (Johnson) |
Hyperion CDA 66590 | Wolf-Goethe and Moerike songs (Gage) |
Koch 3 7248-2 | Art of Arleen Auger |
Myto 3MCD 002.218 | R.Strauss-Rosenkavalier: Trio and duet (Munich '68) |
Oiseau Lyre 425 496-2 | Haydn-Arias and cantatas |
Originals SH 832 | Concert-Mozart & Strauss w/Janowitz & Troyanos (Munich '68) |
Orfeo 394 501B | Mozart-Exsultate (Salz. '73) |
Orfeo 509 011 | Recital: Salzburg 5/11/78 (Werba) |
Telarc CD 80180 | Strauss-Vier letzte Lieder (Previn) |
Teldec 8.42957 | Villa-Lobos-Bachianas Brasileiras Nr. 5 (12 Cellist of Berlin Phil) |
Virgin Classics VC 7 59295-2 | Ravel-Sheherazade; Vocalise |
Virgin Classics VC 7 90714-2 | Canteloube: Chants d'Auvergne selections |
Virgin Classics VC 7 91195-2 | Schubert-Lieder (Orkis) |
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