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Sweet Peace CD

Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Ukraine, Yemen...Our neighborhoods. Our own hearts, the cradle of the peace or war we find around us.

Sweet Peace is a moving collection of international classical songs that celebrate peace or express the tragedy of war. The texts of this album span five previous centuries, yet the emotions expressed are entirely of our time: the joy of those reunited with loved ones at war's end, the anguish of a soldier's widow; an individual's desperate yearning for inner peace and the relief of one whom it has visited. "....sweet peace and consoling peace, that places a cool kiss upon all scars..., that descends upon the weary..." Georges Boutelleau

Will our human nature ever evolve to keep pace with our technical ability to destroy one another? Perhaps if it is our priority. Feel peace. Speak peace. Act peace. Pray for peace. And sing peace.

Soprano Claire Stadtmueller sang the role of Tosca in New York's Central Park with New York Grand Opera under Maestro Vincent La Selva.

She made her Carnegie Hall debut in Beethoven's Missa Solemnis. Egon Stadelman wrote for the New Yorker Staats-Zeitung: "Of the solo quartet, soprano Claire Stadtmueller was by far the most outstanding. She enjoyed a star moment and took advantage of it to the loudly exclaimed enthusiasm of the audience."

Maestro David Randolph of the St. Cecilia Chorus and Orchestra immediately re-engaged her for Mozart's Mass in C Minor and Requiem, about which Mr. Stadelman wrote: "Of the soloists, Claire Stadtmueller stood out considerably; her timbre and demeanor reminded me of Elisabeth Schwarzkopf."

She has since performed at Carnegie Hall in Handel's Israel in Egypt, Mendelssohn's Second Symphony, Bach's Christmas Oratorio and St. Matthew Passion, and in Orff's Carmina Burana.

Ms. Stadtmueller has performed in concert with the Richard Tucker Foundation, at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, and on NPR's A Prairie Home Companion and WGBH Boston's Classics in the Morning.

She performed scenes from Bellini's Norma at NYC's United Palace. Other opera roles she has performed include the title role in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, the Mozart roles of Pamina (The Magic Flute), Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte) and Miss Silverpeal (The Impresario); Rosario in Granados' Goyescas, the Mother in Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors and the Dew Fairy in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. She created the leading role of Persephone in the world premiere of Geoffrey Gibbs' opera Potnia.

As a recitalist, Ms. Stadtmueller has performed at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, at New York City's Trinity Church, for the American Wagner Society in Chicago, and on numerous concert series on the East Coast.

Ms. Stadtmueller holds degrees from New England Conservatory and the University of Rhode Island, and studied with international basso Dimitri Kavrakos.

SONGS & SAMPLES

FRANZ SCHUBERT

Wanderers Nachtlied II

LIZA LEHMANN

Paix du Soir

CLAUDE DEBUSSY

Noël des enfants qui n'ont plus de maisons

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ARNOLD BAX

The White Peace

REYNALDO HAHN

La Douce Paix

GABRIEL FAURÉ

C'est la Paix

FRANCIS POULENC

Priez pour paix

NED ROREM

Poemes pour la paix

Lay

Ode

Sonnet

L'Hymne de la Paix

FRANZ LISZT

Wanderers Nachtlied I

RICHARD STRAUSS

Ruhe, meine Seele

HENRI DUPARC

Au pays ou se fait la guerre

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HERBERT HOWELLS

When there is peace

LATVIAN TRADITIONAL

arr. Herbert Fromm

A young man was sent off to war

SLOVAKIAN TRADITIONAL

arr. Herbert Fromm

In the war my love has fallen

SERGEI RACHMANINOFF

The Soldier's Wife

JOHN KANDER

A letter from Sullivan Ballou

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Total playing time: 60:20

Michael Strauss studied at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and began his teaching career at the University of the Witswatersrand in Johannesburg, where he taught piano, chamber-music and was head vocal coach of the Opera Department.

As a performer, Mr. Strauss has been associated with the South African Broadcasting Company, appearing frequently as a soloist and accompanist on radio and television. He has also been the featured concerto soloist with the main orchestras of the country.

Mr. Strauss is active in the Boston area as a performer, accompanist, conductor and vocal coach. He has recorded with various chamber music ensembles for WGBH radio. He is an opera coach for the department of opera studies at New England Conservatory and is on the faculty of the Boston Conservatory

REVIEWS

"....thanks for your beautiful CD Sweet Peace. I love it."

-Frederica von Stade

"Thanks for the very beautiful CD....Your voice sounds accurate and expressive."

-Ned Rorem

"At a time when the peace of the world is once again threatened by the beating of war drums, it is the moment for the appearance on the music scene of a CD of international songs for peace. Ms. Stadtmueller brings to these songs a fine clear soprano voice, impeccable diction and a wonderful feel for the text she is singing. This connection with the text is what one looks for in the best recitalists and on this CD we are not disappointed. This is singing of a very high order. The artists have put together a collection of beautiful song for this CD, but one piece I found particularly poignant is "A Letter From Sullivan Ballou". Here is a soldier writing home to his wife on the eve of battle saying all the things we would imagine a soldier in such circumstances saying. It begins as a reading and then becomes a song by John Kander. Ms. Stadmueller's reading and singing here makes us feel the full range of the soldier's emotions. The art of the accompanist is a very special art indeed. Michael Strauss brings masterful sensitivity and a profound understanding of his art to these songs for peace. The soloist could not have wished for better. I heartily recommend this CD to all who love fine singing, first class playing of the piano, and who in their hearts hate war and yearn for peace."

-Thomas Lawlor for The Warwick

Beacon and The Cranston Herald

"Ms. Stadtmueller is a richly communicative singer, and her music making here is as strong and direct as the message of the works she presents. This is a lovely and a timely collection beautifully sung by an accomplished artist. It is not to be missed."

-Thomas Hinds, Music Director, Montgomery Symphony Orchestra

Elgar's "In Haven"