CARL RATNER & DMITRY CHASOVITIN - CD SUMMER MOON

Popis - SUMMER MOON:
This CD is the culmination of a Fulbright residency that I participated in at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory of Music in the Russian Federation. The material on the recording was also presented in recital in the exquisite small hall (Glazunov Hall) of the Conservatory, where Prokofiev and Shostakovich presented premieres of their works. I aimed to present the Russian songs in the most authentic way possible, and to present the American songs in a way appropriate for an art song recital at a Conservatory, in the hopes of interesting Russian Conservatory students and faculty in performing these gems, which can benefit by performance by trained voices, on their vocal recitals. So I sang the standards on this album somewhat more 'legitimately' than the way I would in a Cabaret setting or a wedding, or even at a benefit gala dinner concert. The circumstances of the recording were less than ideal, though it was a dream come true to have my session in the Petersburg Recording Studio, which was once part of Melodiya Records. However, it was freezing cold there, and, in order to avoid banging pipes on the recording, there was almost no heat in the studio. I performed the sessions wearing boots, two pairs of socks, a down coat, a scarf, a hat, and, for any songs that did not require page turns, gloves. My collaborator, Dmitry Chasovitin, was a brilliant pianist and a kind and helpful human being. Along with my soprano colleague Victoria Evtodieva, he carefully guided me through preparing the Russian songs, cannily weighing when a particular choice I was making simply veered from the composer's wishes, and when I was finding an appropriate but fresh interpretation. His understanding of the American works just astounded me. It is a great tragedy that this wonderful artist died in an automobile accident in August of 2013 at the far too young age of 56. While I am told that my Russian diction was very good for a Westerner, it is of course not exactly the same as a native speaker's. I can honestly say that I have continued to improve in my Russian pronunciation since making this recording and have had the honor of singing for diplomats from many countries, including the Russian Ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kislyak. By the way, the beautiful cover photo of me is by Stephen Orsillo of the Naples, Florida, area. Below is the biographical information provided with the CD. Thank you for your interest in this recording! Carl Ratner, baritone, has performed in opera, oratorio, and recital in ten states and five European countries. His operatic roles include Papageno in The Magic Flute, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, John Proctor in The Crucible and the title roles of Verdi’s Falstaff and Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. His recital programs have been noted for their depth of repertory and compelling programing, and he has sung in 14 languages. He recently returned from a Fulbright residency at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in Russia, and has also performed in England, Italy, Germany and the Czech Republic. His undergraduate studies were at the Oberlin Conservatory; he earned a master’s degree in vocal pedagogy from Northeastern Illinois University and completed his doctorate in vocal performance at Northwestern University. He is an Associate Professor of Music at Western Michigan University, and also serves as a stage director and consultant for opera companies throughout the United States. Dmitry Chasovitin, pianist, was a merited artist of the Russian Federation and an international prizewinner, lecturer, and recording artist who performed extensively as a soloist, concert artist, and collaborative pianist. He recorded several CDs and was featured on the radios of Russia, Poland and on the BBC. From 1987 until his death in 2013 he taught piano and served as Vice-Rector of Studies and Music Education at the Saint Petersburg State Conservatory.