Soprano Jody Karin Applebaum and her husband pianist Marc-André Hamelin have a knack for finding a wide range of witty, intelligent songs that for the most part lie off cabaret’s beaten track, as this disc proves time and again. For instance, who knew that the noted writer, commentator, and Leopold Godowsky biographer Jeremy Nichols also penned Musical Chairs, a classical music “A-list” invitation litany replete with wicked asides, plus three other charmers included here. There are some choice Flanders and Swann items, including the Mozart-inspired patter-song Ill Wind, along with Sheldon Harnick gems (Someone is Sending Me Flowers) and some twisted humor for good measure (Tom Lehrer’s Masochism Tango and Stephen Sondheim’s I Never Do Anything Twice).
Most of all, Applebaum and Hamelin are flawless musicians and impeccable stylists when it comes to this kind of material. Although the booklet comes with full texts, you won’t need them because Applebaum is a superb vocal actress, and she makes every word clear. Her accompanist is not half bad, either. In fact, Hamelin’s piano functions as the stage, the lighting, the Greek chorus, the orchestra, and the cheerleader, all at the same time. Hear how the two performers relish every note and syllable of William Bolcom’s classic cabaret song Lime Jello Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise, while making it seem as if they’re improvising this through-composed song on the spot. The engineering is too resonant and recessed for my taste (it hardly suggests the intimacy of cabaret), but you can tell that the audience is having as good a time as the performers. Serious fun, indeed! [10/28/2005]
