Whoever was fortunate enough to see Barbara Hannigan perform as Lulu at the Koninklijke Muntschouwburg in November 2021 knows what a versatile and talented artist this woman is. But that she also wants to shine in authentic ballroom dance music is quite a surprise, and what a surprise it is! Waltz, tango, rumba, quick-step, it all passes in review in magnificent arrangements for the Ludwig Orchestra and the Berlage Saxophone Quartet.
From the very first number, the delightful "Moonlight Serenade" by Glenn Miller, Hannigan is all sensuality, of course without denying her coloratura skills as a classical singer. A combination that makes her interpretation immediately that little bit special. In Kurt Weill's tango "Youkali" she plays with her high soprano notes, which lift the variety piece, as it were, to a higher artistic level, without wanting to be haughty. Enjoying the dance music remains the main thing. In "Fluffy Ruffles" she plays her voice like a tap dancer. In Copacabana by Barry Manilow you feel transported to a beach in Rio, with Lucienne Renaudin Vary playing a fine trumpet solo. The English waltz "Je veux t'aimer" by Robert Stolz offers a moment of breathing space. Then we move from quick-step to rumba to jive, via the evergreen from "My fair lady", "I could have danced all night", which Barbara Hannigan gives a distinctive sound. The slow dance "Salut d'amour" by Edward Elgar provides a nostalgic touch as the final track on the cd.
The Ludwig Orchestra plays like the best big band from the Roaring Twenties. A disc full of music that makes you happy and you can barely stay in your seat. And that is precisely the intention of Peppie Wiersma, the artistic director of the Ludwig Orchestra: "Our intention for "Dance with me" is that it isn't only an album to draw people to our live performances, but also for people to dance to, with their friends at home."
The cd also confirms that Barbara Hannigan is not only an outsider in the opera world, but above all a musical jack-of-all-trades who is not shy of twentieth-century music. She proved this with one of her previous cds Crazy Girl Crazy a combination of Luciano Berio, Alban Berg and George Gershwin. (Alpha Classics 293 released in 2017). Those who want to verify this live can attend a concert at DeSingel on 17 March, where she will perform the creation of songs on texts by Emily Dickinson composed for her by John Zorn. A world premiere at DeSingel.
WHAT: Dance with me
WHO: Barbara Hannigan [soprano], Lucienne Renaudin Vary [trumpet], Berlage Saxophone Quartet, Ludwig Orchestra
LABEL: Alpha Classics ALPHA790
ORDER: JPC