My “to watch” pile now consists entirely of older productions of 19th century operas (pretty much the dregs of the Toronto Public Library collection) and the COC season doesn’t start for another six weeks or so. I have one other live performance booked before then; a rather peculiar Handel piece performed in various locations at a local hotel. I’ve been listening to some new CDs then at least partly as a form of procrastination.

The first two were part of an ENO “goody bag” that I scored on Twitter.  Songs of Muriel Herbert is a most worthwhile project.  Herbert, like so many women composers, has never had the recognition she deserves.  Not as “romantic” as a drug addled loon like Peter Warlock I guess.  The CD contains thirty six songs setting texts ranging from Peter Abelard to James Joyce.  I’d say they stand up well against other early twentieth century English art songs and would be well worth mining by anyone looking for some less well known recital repertory.  The works are most sympathetically performed by Ailish Tynan, James Gilchrist and David Owen Norris.  Continue reading →