Love Songs (Anne Sofie von Otter and Brad Mehldau album) explained

Love Songs
Type:studio
Artist:Anne Sofie von Otter, Brad Mehldau
Cover:Love Songs (von Otter–Mehldau album).jpg
Released:November 1, 2010
Recorded:June 2010
Venue:Berwaldhallen (Stockholm)
Genre:French chanson
Length:79:25
Label:Naïve
Producer:Jean-Pierre Loisil
Chronology:Anne Sofie von Otter
Prev Title:Terezín - Theresienstadt
Prev Year:2007
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Next Year:2013

Love Songs is an album by the mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter and the pianist Brad Mehldau.

Background

Carnegie Hall awarded Mehldau a commission to write the song cycle Love Songs for von Otter; they premiered it together in 2009.[1] His music is for love poems – five by Sara Teasdale, and one each by Philip Larkin and E. E. Cummings.[2]

Music and recording

The double album is in two parts: a seven-song cycle written by Mehldau; and songs by Jacques Brel, Michel Legrand, Joni Mitchell, Lennon and McCartney and others, sung in various languages.

Release and reception

Love Songs was released by Naïve Records on November 1, 2010.[3] The BBC reviewer commented that "Von Otter's performances emphasise vocal purity over the content of the verses, giving them a chilly beauty". The AllMusic reviewer's opinion was that von Otter's "tone is full and pure, and her investment in the songs is absolute. Mehldau's exceptionally sensitive and inventive accompaniments contribute immeasurably to the success of the album."[4]

Track listing

Disc 1

  1. "It May Not Always Be So"
  2. "We Met at the End of the Party"
  3. "Child, Child"
  4. "Twilight"
  5. "Because"
  6. "Dreams"
  7. "Did You Never Know?"

Disc 2

  1. "Avec Le Temps"
  2. "Pierre"
  3. "Marcie"
  4. "Something Good"
  5. "Chanson De Maxence"
  6. "Chanson Des Viueux Amants"
  7. "Sakta Vi Ga Genom Stan"
  8. "Att Angora En Brygga"
  9. "Dis, Quand Reviendras-Tu?"
  10. "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?"
  11. "Calling You"
  12. "Blackbird"
  13. "Some Other Time"

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. Ouellette, Dan (May 2009) "Mehldau, Otter Blend Poetry, Jazz–Classical Lyricism". Down Beat. p. 22.
  2. Eyles, John (2010) "Anne Sofie von Otter & Brad Mehldau Love Songs – Review". BBC.
  3. News: Sweeting . Adam . October 20, 2010 . Anne Sofie von Otter Interview . . September 6, 2020.
  4. Eddins, Stephen "Brad Mehldau / Anne Sofie von Otter – Love Songs". AllMusic. Retrieved December 3, 2016.

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