Let me clarify the header - Dutch contralto Aafje Heynis does not attempt the Dietz-Schwartz semi-standard "Haunted Heart." She leaves that fine number to several great pop singers. Instead, she favors us with an Elgar song cycle.
To clarify further, this post is a follow-up to my two most recent items - the contemporary recordings of the 1948 Dietz-Schwartz revue
Inside U.S.A., and a 1962
Brahms collection featuring Heynis, the Vienna Symphony and its chief conductor, Wolfgang Sawallisch.
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| Ilene Woods |
First,
Inside U.S.A. and its ballad "Haunted Heart." In the comments of my post, I decided to include a link to my remastering of a Frank Sinatra aircheck from Your Hit Parade. (Sinatra never did a commercial recording of the song, to my knowledge.) Old friend David Federman one-upped me (actually five-upped me) by posting contemporary versions from Bing Crosby, Don Rodney with Guy Lombardo, Jo Stafford, Margaret Whiting and the very young Ilene Woods (soon to be the voice of Cinderella). The latter is particularly interesting because it includes a vocal bridge that I have not heard in any other recording. I've now added Frank to the Federman collection, and included a fresh link in the comments to this post.
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| Aafje Heynis |
Meanwhile, reader Andrew alerted me to the existence of an 1962 aircheck of Heynis as the soloist in Elgar's cycle, "Sea Pictures," Op. 37. I quickly hunted it down, remastered what I found and am pleased to offer it to all of you who were enchanted by Heynis' singing in the "
Alto Rhapsody." She is accompanied by the Netherlands Radio Orchestra under its chief conductor, Henk Spruit. The sound is good quality mono. Here, too - as always - the link is in the comments.
12 comments:
A very entertaining and wonderful pairing. I enjoy contralto performances because my maternal grandmother was a very talented one herself. And it's always a treat to get to hear more from artists new to my ears. Thanks, Buster!
You're very welcome, Don!
Haunted Heart was also of favorite of Chet Baker, who was an effective singer as well as a superb trumpeter.
Thanks, as always, for your interesting posts.
There are a number of very good recordings out there, particularly those made during his younger days.
hkitt - Yes, I like Chet's singing a great deal! Thanks for writing.
I am not aware of any recording of "Haunted Heart" by Chet Baker and I own practically every vocal LP he ever made. If you know of such a recording, please post it or share some discographical information which would lead avid fans like me to such a treasure.
My mistake--for some strange reason, I was confusing it with "Let's Get Lost"
Mea Culpa!
Thanks for this wonderful Haunted Hearts compilation.
As well as for this Elgar rarity confirming how Heynis was a great artist. Spruit left few recordings but excellent ones, such as Le Cid by Massenet and Bruckner Symphony 0 in d minor (what a scherzo under him !!).
Sorry I missed the Haunted Heart collection. If you ever get chance to re-up I'd appreciate it.
The Zippy link Must have recently expired. I'll reup it in a few minutes.
New links:
Elgar - Sea Pictures (Heynis - Spruit)
https://mega.nz/#!iQ8ClCoA!gcqXAeG-c76nVtazPRz-Ehu-qNl3aY2imvgtX0iErao
Haunted Heart on Records and Broadcasts
https://mega.nz/#!WIkAFYIJ!VQxWmh0q2AT1ihkhSZzmGSej2Rc-e7rWYX6_rdaYpCw
Thanks!
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