Shirley Verrett had one of the world’s most opulent and versatile mezzo voices from about 1960 to 1990. Her Carmen, Dido, Amneris, Eboli, Azucena, Dalila, Orfeo, Leonora (in La Favorita), and a dozen other roles were masterly, and in the mid-’70s, when she began to sing soprano parts (her top notes were always easy), she was a brilliant Lady Macbeth and a very good Tosca. This recital was recorded on January 30, 1965 at Carnegie Hall. It is a mixed bag.
“Die Allmacht” and “An die Musik” are the best of the four Schubert songs, sung with somewhat bigger voice than needed in “An die Musik”, but so sumptuously that few will complain. Handsome also are the full-throated Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov selections. The two Copland songs require more simplicity of delivery, but the traditional “He’s goin’ away” (arranged by John Jacob Niles) shows off some fine, dark organ tones.
Three other spirituals are good–Verrett sings beautifully in English–but, though each note is articulated, the “Alleluia” from Mozart’s K. 165 sounds graceless. Charles Wadsworth’s piano accompaniments sound under-rehearsed. Verrett can be heard better elsewhere, particularly in opera. Sony’s notes (for the original release), devoid of texts or translations, are tacky and uninformative: “She is a slender 5 feet 6 inches, takes care of her own hair…”
