LORRAINE AT EMMANUEL

CELEBRATING THE LIVES OF CRAIG SMITH AND LORRAINE HUNT LIEBERSON
Announcing a CD of newly released recordings

Few people in the operatic world hold the iconic status that Lorraine Hunt Lieberson achieved. Some have compared Lorraine to Maria Callas, Mahalia Jackson and Jessye Norman, but to many Lorraine was simply herself, an amazingly natural and wonderful talent. Not only did she possess an inimitable, beautiful voice but she also had the qualities of a truly great singer: technique, perfect intonation and clarity of each word she sang coupled with a marvelous sense of theatre, always to the service of the composer’s written score.

One of her most beloved friends was Craig Smith, founder and Artistic Director of Emmanuel Music. Craig was a key figure in launching Lorraine’s singing career and putting her onto the world stage. Although she became one of the most sought after performers in the world, this partnership was so dear to Lorraine that her stardom and busy schedule didn’t stop her from coming back again and again for performances in Emmanuel church where Emmanuel Music is the Ensemble-in-Residence. In the 1980s and 1990s Lorraine and Craig performed a number of works by Bach and Handel with the Orchestra and Chorus of Emmanuel Music.

Now, after the untimely passing of these two exceptional musicians (Lorraine in 2006 and Craig in 2007), Emmanuel Music is proud to announce a collection of previously unreleased performances. Recorded from 1992 to 1999, this beautiful collection of music for voice and orchestra with works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Frideric Handel is a celebration of the important artistic collaborations between Lorraine and Craig Smith. These performances by the incomparable Lorraine Hunt Lieberson display the depth of her talents in repertoire new to her substantial discography. This new CD gives the world a chance to rediscover Lorraine at the height of her powers.

Released by Avie Records:  AVI-2130

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