The Mezzosoprano Magdalena Kožená sings together with Ondřej Havelka and his Melody Makers on a new CD with musical tunes by Cole Porter. The album is being issued today by their new label Brnofon.
The mezzosoprano Magdalena Kožená recorded fifteen songs from the classical American musical repertoire of the first half of the 20th century, which last year she performed in several concerts in the Czech Republic and abroad. Cole Porter’s works as arranged by Juraj Bartoš were sung by Kožená accompanied by Ondřeje Havelky a jeho Melody Makers. The orchestra focuses on authentic interpretations of jazz, swing and dance music from the 1930s and 40s. On the CD you will find the famous melodies Night And Day, I've Got You Under My Skin, Love For Sale, Begin The Beguine or the hit that provided the subtitle for the prepared concert tour, Let's Misbehave!
"Last year as part of my European residency I had a free hand and could choose the artists I would appear with and the music that we would offer the public," explains Magdalena Kožená, about how this untraditional project was born. "It is music that I like to listen to in my free time, but the fact that I will be singing it myself is exceptional. However I was inspired by listening to the recent recordings of Cole Porter songs with Frederica von Stade, which I really admired. Without any effort to change her way of singing she gave Porter’s songs great charm and took them into another, interesting dimension. I had to work my way into a new genre, for example learning the principles of swing phrasing, much softer singing into the microphone, or perhaps a way of interpreting a text that needs to sink in as naturally and comprehensibly as possible. The main idea is to perform this music in the way that I feel it."
Ondřej Havelka, the leader of the Melody Makers has already worked with Magdalena Kožená many times, not just as a musician but also as a theatre and film director: "Working with Magdalena is always a great joy. She is an exceptional singer and a wonderful person," confesses Ondřej Havelka. "We have known each other a long time, and I have had the honour of carrying out a number of projects with her. We have been working together for a number of years. Magdalena got the offer to become the face of, or as we say today artist in residence of several European concert halls and so created several programmes in various genres and styles. This is also one of the reasons why she got involved in Cole Porter," explains Havelka.
Kožená comments on their cooperation: "Breaking into what is for me a relatively different musical world would in no way have been possible without the help, belief and patience of Ondřej Havelka and the pianist Mirek Lacek, nor without the moral support of the band which jumped head first into this adventure with me. I also have great admiration for Juraj Bartoš for his gorgeous arrangements."
The CD named simply COLE PORTER is coming out as Kožená’s first title for the new label Brnofon. From 24 November it will be distributed by Supraphon. The Brno stop on the concert tour of Magdalena Kožená, Ondřej Havelka and his Melody Makers will take place on 7 December in the Boby Centre.
Further information is available here.
No comment added yet..