The Art of Grace Bumbry.(Arias from Jeanne d'Arc, Le Cid and Un Ballo in Maschera; songs by Liszt, Schumann, Brahms and Wolf)(Review)

[] Arias from Jeanne d'Arc, Le Cid and Un Ballo in Maschera; songs by Liszt, Schumann, Brahms and Wolf. Taped for Radio-Canada, 1972. Orchestra of Radio-Canada, Jacques Beaudry cond. John Newmark, piano. VAI VHS 69430, 39 mins.

This collection catches Bumbry during that controversial period in her long career when she was gradually moving from the mezzo to the soprano repertory on the opera stage. It is unlikely to settle arguments about how well advised she was to make the switch. The voice is in top shape, the only sign of strain being a shrill top C in Amelia's "Ma dall'arido" from Ballo.

But even though she has all the notes for arias sung by sopranos and is perfectly secure in that range, there is a marked change in sensuousness, in comfort of delivery between, say, "Pleurez, mes yeux!" from Le Cid and the Liszt and Schumann songs that follow it here, probably recorded on a different day. It was often said at the time that from an exciting mezzo, Bumbry became a chilly soprano; perhaps she had to use more energy on technique in higher ranges than in those more natural to her instrument. Her very ease in the lieder means ...