Search - Louise Talma, William Schuman, Hugo Weisgall :: Paul Sperry Sings An American Sampler

Tantalizing tidbits

Harlie Gene Sponaugle | Washington, DC | 06/14/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You may not love Paul Sperry's voice, but you gotta love his wide-ranging interests and his obvious joy in performing American music. Singers exploring the contemporary American art song will note numerous composers' dedications to this quirky tenor, and listening to his recordings, you quickly understand why. His interpretations go right to the heart of the matter, and proceed right over the top only when it's rigorously demanded in the music. Singers looking for new repertoire will also appreciate the extensive liner notes, in which Mr. Sperry explains where he found the songs.The range of composers, beyond Billings and Bolcom to Weill and Weisgall, is maddening, giving a tantalizing taste of the diverse flavors of American song in the 20th century. The songs run the gamut of emotions, too, from Ben Weber's powerful 'Mourn, Mourn' to Cowell's sarcastic 'Who Wrote This Fiendish Rite of Spring?' to the loving memory of 'George.'I highly recommend this accessible and communicative Sampler, and would also suggest that listeners try Mr. Sperry's more tightly focussed collection, Romantic American Songs."