Erin Morley and Gerald Martin Moore - Rose in Bloom (2024)

Erin Morley is one of today's most sought after coloratura sopranos, and her debut recital album presents a thoughtfully curated program which mirrors a stroll through a garden, delving into rich repertoire inspired by flowers, birds, and nature. Morley, known for her operatic roles, draws on connections to the natural world, offering a mix of well-known pieces, contemporary compositions, and hidden gems. A notable feature is the premiere recording of Ricky Ian Gordon's "Huit Chansons de Fleurs," a contemporary song cycle exploring themes of death, resurrection, fragrance, and the fleeting nature of beauty, adding a layer of poignancy to an album which features a diverse selection of vocal repertoire. Among the album's highlights is Saint-Saëns's "La Libellule," a rarely heard gem capturing the agile movement of a dragonfly. Sullivan's "Rose-in-Bloom" stands out as the first to present the aria in its original key, the heights of the final cadenza just one example of Morley’s extraordinary performance of the repertoire. The program also includes compositions by Rachmaninov, Zemlinsky, and Milhaud, exploring further connections to the themes of blossoms and birds. "Rose in Bloom" is an exploration of nature's influence on music, a testament to Erin Morley's artistry and originality, and a delightful journey through a garden of musical encounters.
Tracklist
1. La Libellule (Version for Piano and Voice) (4:31)
2. 4 Romances, Op. 2: No. 2, Eastern Song: The Nightingale Enslaved by the Rose (2:58)
3. 7 Frühe Lieder: No. 3, Die Nachtigall (2:33)
4. Parysatis: Le Rossignol et la Rose (3:53)
5. Huit Chansons de Fleurs: No. 1, We Should Not Mind So Small a Flower (2:45)
6. Huit Chansons de Fleurs: No. 2, I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud (3:34)
7. Huit Chansons de Fleurs: No. 3, The Tulips (5:04)
8. Huit Chansons de Fleurs: No. 4, One Perfect Rose (1:44)
9. Huit Chansons de Fleurs: No. 5, Peonies at Dusk (3:56)
10. Huit Chansons de Fleurs: No. 6, Her Garden (3:23)
11. Huit Chansons de Fleurs: No. 7, Afterlife with Lilacs (4:03)
12. Huit Chansons de Fleurs: No. 8, Play, Orpheus (1:55)
13. Chansons de Ronsard, Op. 223: No. 3, Tais-toi, Babillarde (1:35)
14. 6 Romances, Op. 38: No. 3, Daisies (2:31)
15. 12 Romances, Op. 21: No. 5, Lilacs (1:50)
16. Ehetanzlied, Op. 10: No. 3, Vöglein Schwermut (2:46)
17. 4 Gesänge, Op. 70: No. 2, Lerchengesang. Andante espressivo (2:42)
18. Bird-song (5:17)
19. The Rose of Persia: ‘Neath My Lattice Through the Night (Version for Piano, Flute and Voice) (3:07)
20. We’ll Gather Lilacs (From "Perchance to Dream") (4:28)