The Artist's Secret

Mezzo-soprano Bettina Smith and pianist Jan Willem Nelleke are out with a new album. This time, they have really dug up songs that are rarely performed. And here it's definitely a lot of fun, also because Smith's voice fits very well with these songs. 

I want to highlight some works, which in addition to great dissemination also hit this reviewer.

Henriëtte Bosmans (1895-1952) to verk; "The Artist's Secret" and "La Chanson du chiffonier" are imaginative, well written and when Smith's communication hits like this, these are two songs that should definitely be performed in the concert hall. 

Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) is represented with three lively and funny songs, where Bettina Smith is shown what a fine sound register she has.

From the Norwegian composer Borghild Holmsen (1865-1938), the duo has found 2 songs from her opus 14. Why the middle song is omitted is a bit of a shame, as the collection so definitely tickles the ears.

But it is "Quatre chants" by Lili Boulanger (1893-1918) that hit the undersigned right into the soul. The reason is this composer's tragic life, where she has been ill throughout her short life. The four songs on this record were written in the period from 1911 to 1916, and already here one senses her gloom, but also her maturity in her works - something that also manifested itself when she, as the youngest ever, won the Prix de Rome in 1913 , only 19 years old.

This album brings a number of other female composers to light, which shows that quality - regardless of man or woman - should be communicated to the music-loving audience.

In addition to the aforementioned, the album contains music by Luise Greger (1862-1944), Cécile Chaminda (1857-1944), Anna Cramer (1873-1968), Marguerite Canal (1890-1978) and Régine Wieniawski (1879-1932).

If you are curious about rarely performed music, this album can be highly recommended!