The title of Yvonne Kenny’s new CD pays homage to a legendary city of great classical music. In particular, the content on this recording sees on operetta and contains some of the genre’s greatest songs, such as Vilja, The Nun’s Chorus and the Merry Widow Waltz.
Of the 18 tracks, five are by Franz Lehar, and two each are by Johann Strauss II, Karl Zeller, Ivor Novello in addition to two unearthed gems (courtesy of Maestro Bonynge) of Paul Abraham. Three songs are in English (Stars in My Eyes, Some Day My Heart Will Awake, and My Dearest Dear), whilst the remainder are in German. Other composers are Rudolf Sieczynski, Emmerich Kalman, Robert Stolz, Richard Heuberger and Fritz Kreisler.
The disc shows Ms Kenny’s full and gloriously rich voice in perfect combination with very sympathetic conducting by Maestro Bonynge capturing songs of which love, kissing and dancing are the primary considerations. The Vienesse lilt and sense of rubato is superb between both, making you itch to spring to the dance floor and waltz.
The MSO Chorus features here in two tracks: Kalman’s Heia, Heia and in the well-known Nuns’ Chorus from Casanova by Johann Strauss II, in which there was a lovely interplay between chorus and soloist.
Lehar features aplenty showing on the one hand a dramatic flair in the entrancing Meine Lippen from Guiditta (with a robust orchestral dance interlude), and on the other, the darker, lustrous low register of Ms Kenny’s voice in Hor’ ich Cymbalklange from Zigeunerliebe. The Zeller songs are very appealing, for they are less frothy than most other tracks.
Ms Kenny has certainly found her city of dreams — the cities of the world with great opera houses in which she has sung: Sydney, London, Venice, Vienna, Paris, Zurich, Berlin, Hamburg and Washington.
No doubt these songs will be welcome additions to many a vocal recitalist looking for a bubbly song or two to lighten a serious programme. Audiences love them as most of these songs give a sense of release and are instantly accessible. Ms Kenny has produced another fine collection showing her wonderful vocal range, and colour and incomparable artistry.