Songs Of The Gilded Age & Beyond
Albany, 2024
8/10
Listen to Songs Of The Gilded Age & Beyond
The British native Clara Kathleen Rogers is a trained opera singer who studied piano, and these 24 art songs illuminate many different styles and influences of her composing prowess.
“The Answer, Op. 26, No. 4” opens the listen with Bryon Grohman’s soaring tenor and Peter Kairoff’s flowing piano interacting with striking beauty and melody, and it isn’t long until “At Break of Day, Op. 10” showcases much emotion from the stirring keys and expressive singing.
Further still, “Aubade, Op. 16” brings Jacqui Carrasco’s meticulous violin into the equation, which adds more richness to the landscape, while “I Have a More Than Friend, Op. 27” spotlights Grohman’s powerful pipes amid the intimate piano for a heartfelt album highlight.
Very close to the end, the dreamy ambience of ‘An Den Mond” has the duo of Grohman and Kairoff collaborating with a cautious yet exploratory dynamic, and “Sudden Light, Op. 33, No. 1” exits with stunning singing and glowing key progressions.
The vocal work here is superb, where Grohman’s delivery hits impressive notes, and the keys and sparing use of violin won’t go unappreciated, either.
Travels well with: Bradley Ellingboe- StarSong; Patrick Yim- New Waves