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Brian Asawa: The Complete RCA Recordings

Brian Asawa (countertenor), Brian Asawa (Arsamene), Judith Malafronte (Serse), Jennifer Smith (Romilda), Lisa Milne (Atlanta), Susan Bickley (Amastre, Gary Gray (clarinet), Margaret Batjer (violin), Jake Heggie (piano), David Tayler (lute), David Taylor (lute)

Hanover Band and Chorus, Arcadian...

Brian Asawa: The Complete RCA Recordings

Brian Asawa: The Complete RCA Recordings

Brian Asawa (countertenor), Brian Asawa (Arsamene), Judith Malafronte (Serse), Jennifer Smith (Romilda), Lisa Milne (Atlanta), Susan Bickley (Amastre, Gary Gray (clarinet), Margaret Batjer (violin), Jake Heggie (piano), David Tayler (lute), David Taylor (lute)

Hanover Band and Chorus, Arcadian...

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About

The American Brian Asawa, who died tragically young in 2016, became one of the world’s foremost countertenors before he was 30, acclaimed for the exceptional size, richness, agility and beauty of his voice. In 1991 he was the first countertenor ever to win the Metropolitan Opera Auditions and soon he was singing with opera companies all over the world. He was also a gifted recitalist and made a notable series of recordings for RCA/BMG. All reissued here in a 5-CD set, they range from Elizabethan Lute Songs to a disc of songs by Ned Rorem and include excerpts from the complete recording of Handel’s opera Serse conducted by Nicholas McGegan, in which BBC Magazine singled out for praise Brian Asawa’s “luscious legato” in the role of Arsamene.

Artists

Brian Asawa (countertenor), Brian Asawa (Arsamene), Judith Malafronte (Serse), Jennifer Smith (Romilda), Lisa Milne (Atlanta), Susan Bickley (Amastre, Gary Gray (clarinet), Margaret Batjer (violin), Jake Heggie (piano), David Tayler (lute), David Taylor (lute)

Hanover Band and Chorus, Arcadian Academy, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Nicholas McGegan, Jeffrey Kahane, Sir Neville Marriner

Contents and tracklist

Dowland: Come again, sweet love doth now invite
Work length2:44
Dowland: The First Booke of Songes: His golden locks time hath to silver turned
Work length3:13
Dowland: Flow my teares (Lacrimæ)
Work length4:06
Dowland: It was a Time when silly bees could speak
Work length2:28
Dowland: Sorrow, stay
Work length3:28
Dowland: Can she excuse my wrongs? (First Booke of Songes, 1597)
Work length2:44
Dowland: A shepherd in a shade his plaining made
Work length2:51
Dowland: Time stands still
Work length4:07
Dowland: Go Crystal tears
Work length3:16
Dowland: I saw my Lady weepe
Work length5:18
Dowland: Away with these self-loving lads
Work length2:44
Campion: Now hath Flora robb'd her bow'rs
Work length2:54
Campion: Author of Light
Work length3:02
Campion: Come let us sound with melody the praises
Work length1:54
Campion: Oft have I sigh’d for him that hears me not
Work length3:39
Campion: Turn Back You Wanton Flyer
Work length1:45
trad.: This merry pleasant Spring
Work length2:09
trad.: There were three ravens
Work length4:05
trad.: The dark is my delight
Work length1:05
trad.: Willow Song
Work length5:11
trad.: Miserere my Maker
Work length3:37
trad.: Where the bee sucks
Work length1:09
trad.: O Death, rock me asleep
Work length4:17
Fauré: Le voyageur Op. 18 No. 2
Work length1:44
Fauré: Nocturne, Op. 43 No. 2
Work length2:28
Fauré: Arpège, Op. 76 No. 2 (Samain)
Work length2:29
Fauré: Cinq Melodies 'de Venise', Op. 58
Work length3:15
En Sourdine
Track length3:15
Fauré: Pavane, Op. 50
Work length5:19
Medtner: 6 Gedichte von W. Goethe
Work length3:21
Das Veilchen, Op. 18 No. 5
Track length3:21
Medtner: 9 Goethe Lieder
Work length6:18
Mailied, Op. 6 No. 2
Track length2:28
Aus "Claudine von Villa-Bella," Op. 6 No. 5
Track length2:32
Aus "Erwine und Elmire," Op. 15 No. 4
Track length1:18
Medtner: Suite-Vocalise, Op. 41 No. 2
Work length4:20
Villa-Lobos: Floresta do Amazonas: Canção do Amor (Song of Love)
Work length4:01
Villa-Lobos: Canções típicas brasileiras, W159: VIII. Pálida Madona
Work length3:21
Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5: Aria (Cantilena)
Work length6:02
Excerpt,Rachmaninoff: Songs (12), Op. 14
Work length1:55
I Wait for Thee (Ya zhdu tebia) Op. 14. no. 1
Track length1:55
Rachmaninoff: She is as beautiful as midday, Op.14 No. 9
Work length2:34
Excerpt,Rachmaninoff: Songs (6), Op. 38
Work length2:09
To Her (K nei) Op. 38 No. 2
Track length2:09
Excerpt,Rachmaninoff: Songs (6), Op. 4
Work length2:46
In the Silent Night (V molchan'i nochi tainoi) Op. 4 No. 3
Track length2:46
Rachmaninoff: Songs, Op. 34
Work length4:56
Vocalise, No. 14
Track length4:56
Rorem: More than a day
Work length24:59
I. Do I Love You?: 1. More Than a Look
Track length1:21
I. Do I Love You?: 2. More than a Word
Track length2:05
I. Do I Love You?: 3. More than a Room
Track length1:50
I. Do I Love You?: 4. More than a Mirror
Track length3:42
I. Do I Love You?: 5. More than a Day
Track length1:24
I. Do I Love You?: 6. More than a Rock
Track length1:53
I. Do I Love You?: 7. More than the Air
Track length1:52
II. My Brain is Littered
Track length6:24
III. Oh Love - See How the Flowers Maste
Track length4:28
Rorem: Water Music
Work length14:29
Prologue (Variation 1)
Track length1:21
The Tune - Calm and Sad
Track length1:07
Variation 2
Track length0:59
Variation 3
Track length1:27
Variation 4
Track length0:27
Variation 5
Track length1:42
Variation 6
Track length2:14
Variation 7
Track length1:03
Variation 8
Track length2:29
Variation 9
Track length1:40
Rorem: From an unknown past
Work length9:22
The Lover in Winter, Plaineth for the Spring
Track length1:28
Hey Nonny No!
Track length1:26
My Blood So Red
Track length1:01
Suspiria
Track length0:18
The Miracle
Track length2:01
Tears
Track length1:43
Crabbed Age and Youth
Track length1:25
Heggie: Encountertenor
Work length9:32
Countertenor's Conundrum
Track length5:14
The trouble with trebles in trousers...
Track length4:18
Scarlatti, A: Nel Silenzio Comune
Work length19:13
Introduzione - Grave
Track length1:31
Corrente
Track length1:14
Minuetto
Track length0:45
[Recitativo accompagnato:] Nel silenzio comune
Track length1:41
Aria - Largo: Nel dormir l'anima mia
Track length5:23
[Recitativo:] E pure, e pure voi dormite
Track length0:45
[Aria - ] Andante: Pupile care
Track length1:59
[Recitativo:] Ma no, dormi, ben mio
Track length0:52
Aria: Se negasti vegliando
Track length1:58
[Recitativo:] Filli, Filli crudele destati
Track length1:25
[Aria - ] A tempo giusto: Acciò che rimbombe intorno al ben mio
Track length1:40
Scarlatti, A: Ferma Omai
Work length10:07
And[ante] moderato: Ferma omai
Track length3:02
[Recitativo]: Ov'unque il guardo giri
Track length2:11
And[ante] giusto: Va' che i lamenti miei
Track length4:54
Scarlatti, A: Clori vezzosa e bella
Work length7:16
Rec[itati]vo: Clori vezzosa, e bella
Track length0:52
Aria - And[ante] Lento: Volgi lo sguardo
Track length2:33
Rec[itati]vo: Vivo, vivo penando
Track length0:57
Aria - Allegro: Sì, ben mio, sì
Track length2:54
Scarlatti, A: Piango, Sospiro e Peno
Work length10:08
Arioso: Piango, sospiro e peno
Track length3:01
Aria: Ah' crudele / Non ti basta
Track length2:48
[Recitativo:] Sì, sì che in cener disciolto il cor vedrai
Track length0:46
Aria: Povero core / Dopo la morte
Track length2:02
Recitativo: Dunque tormenti e scherni
Track length1:07
Arioso: L'amarti o Filli
Track length0:24
Scarlatti, A: Non sò qual più m' ingombra
Work length17:00
Allegro - Rec[itati]vo: Non sò qual più m'ingombra
Track length2:55
Moderato: Che die sarà
Track length5:37
[Recitativo:] E nato, è nato, al fin mi dice
Track length1:17
Aria Pastorale - Moderato: Nacque col Gran Messia
Track length7:11
Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act 1
Work length33:25
Overture
Track length1:25
Allegro
Track length1:59
Gigue
Track length1:51
No. 1 Recitativo accompagnato "Frondi tenere"
Track length0:46
No. 2 Arioso: "Ombra mal fu"
Track length2:47
Recitativo: "Siam giunti, Elviro"
Track length0:29
No. 3 Sinfonia e Recitativo: "Sento un soave concento"
Track length1:50
No. 4 Arioso e Recitativo: "O voi, che penate!"
Track length2:27
Recitativo: "Arsamene!" - "Mio Sire!"
Track length0:23
No. 5 Aria: "Va godendo vezzoso e bello"
Track length1:57
Recitativo: "Quel canto a un bel amor"
Track length1:18
No. 6 Aria: "lo le diro che l'amo"
Track length1:38
Aria: "Tu le dirai che l'ami"
Track length1:40
Recitativo: "Arsamene!" - "Romilda"
Track length1:14
No. 7 Aria: "Si, si, mio ben, si, si"
Track length2:31
Recitativo: "Presto, signor"
Track length1:14
No. 8 Aria: "Meglio in voi col mio partire"
Track length2:13
Recitativo: "Eccoti Il foglio, Elviro"
Track length0:35
No. 15 Arietta: "Signor, signor, lasciate far a me"
Track length0:30
No. 16 Aria: "Non so, se sia la speme"
Track length4:38
Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act 2
Work length11:57
Recitativo: "E pazzo affe!"
Track length0:50
No. 32 Aria: "Quella che tutta fe"
Track length4:21
No. 33 Coro di marinari: "La virtute sol potea"
Track length0:22
Recitativo: "Ariodate!"
Track length0:34
Coro di marinari: "La virtute sol potea"
Track length0:24
No. 34 Ariosa: "Per dar fine alla mia pena"
Track length1:13
Recitativo: "Arsamene, ove andante?"
Track length1:24
No. 35 Aria: "Si, la voglio e la otterro!"
Track length2:49
Handel: Serse, HWV 40, Act 3
Work length30:11
Sinfonia
Track length3:07
Recitativo: "Sono vani i pretesti"
Track length1:44
No. 44 Arietta: "No, no, se tu mi sprezzi"
Track length1:08
Recitativo: "Ecco in segno di fe"
Track length1:16
No. 45 Aria: "Per rendermi beato"
Track length4:04
Recitativo: "Ubbidiro al mio re?"
Track length1:11
No. 46 Aria: "Amor, tiranno Amor"
Track length4:33
Recitativo: "Come gia vi accennammo"
Track length0:48
No. 47 Aria: "Del ciel d'amore"
Track length2:24
Recitativo: "Il suo serto rifiuto!"
Track length2:56
No. 48 Aria: "Cagion son io del mio dolore"
Track length2:29
Recitativo: "Romilda infida, e di me pensa ancora?"
Track length0:20
No. 49 Duetta: "Troppo oltraggi la mia fede"
Track length2:41
No. 53 Coro: "Ritorna a noi la calma"
Track length1:30
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