Soprano Golda Schultz, though named after former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir and resident in Germany, is neither Israeli nor German but a South African. This Be Her Verse is her debut album. It is something of a bold choice; Schultz has been known mostly for opera, but this is a song recital. Furthermore, the songs included are all by female composers, and they are a nice mix of familiar and less common items; in the latter category is an Erlkönig setting by composer Emilie Mayer, something that took a bit of cheek ...
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Soprano Golda Schultz, though named after former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir and resident in Germany, is neither Israeli nor German but a South African. This Be Her Verse is her debut album. It is something of a bold choice; Schultz has been known mostly for opera, but this is a song recital. Furthermore, the songs included are all by female composers, and they are a nice mix of familiar and less common items; in the latter category is an Erlkönig setting by composer Emilie Mayer, something that took a bit of cheek but does manage to set itself apart from Schubert. Schultz has an utterly distinctive voice; those who hear it once will remember it for good. It has a metallic edge that sounds like it can certainly slice through the air in an opera house. In art song, it seems to click into place with some composers but not so much with others. Schultz excels in the four lieder of Clara Schumann, where she gives one of the most persuasive performances available, and in the final group of songs by...
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