by Naomi Louisa O'Connell | Oct 17, 2019 | Song of the Day
This recording of Jessye Norman singing ‘Afterthoughts’ with Michel Legrand at the piano is remarkable. I love it—the tone of her, the risk-taking, the musical chemistry between them both and the journey they take us on. What a gift they left us… Composer: Gene de...
by Naomi Louisa O'Connell | Oct 16, 2019 | Song of the Day
I do love a good rhyme. Maybe this was my gateway drug… My brother and I watched the Marx Brothers a lot when we were kids and At The Circus was one of our favorites. Here’s Groucho singing ‘Lydia, the Tattooed Lady’. (I mean, let’s talk about the...
by Naomi Louisa O'Connell | Oct 15, 2019 | Song of the Day
Just listen to how Bobby Short sings Cole Porter’s ‘I’m In Love Again’! It’s perfection. I am addicted to rough edges around a beautiful voice: that little bit of grit, the almost-growl, the ability to sense the breath in the sound. And pretty much any recording of...
by Naomi Louisa O'Connell | Oct 14, 2019 | Song of the Day
I could listen to Jacques Brel all day every day: that fast vibrato, that tone, that uvular R… He’s one of my favorite performers—always fully committed and without any barrier to the story he’s telling. I find him electrifying to listen to. ‘Madeleine’ is a...
by Steven Blier | Oct 12, 2019 | Program Notes
The New York Festival of Song opened its doors for business 32 years ago. Bolstered by a great passion for song, the generous good will of our friends, and a thousand-dollar gift from our first benefactor Joe Machlis, Michael Barrett and I mounted our first season in...
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