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Magdalena Kožená Songs My Mother Taught Me Review

Album. Released 1 December 2008. Discography information comes from MusicBrainz. You can add or edit information about Songs My Mother Taught Me at musicbrainz.org.

BBC Review

Carries the same personal originality that made her debut album stand out from the crowd.

Charlotte Gardner 2008-11-28

Magdalena Kozena's new album presents a recital of songs by various Czech composers, all of whom were deeply rooted in their national folk song tradition. The title comes from one of the Dvorak songs featured, but it isn't just an atmospheric title; there are indeed songs that Kozena's mother sang to her as a child, plus others she heard in her village. As a result, this CD carries the same personal originality that made her debut album, Czech Love Songs, stand out from the crowd.

The opening of the album packs a considerable punch; Kebych bola jahodú is an unaccompanied anonymous traditional song, and Kozena sings it in a rough, almost guttural way that is far, far removed from the western classical vocal technique. She describes it as the kind of singing one might hear in wine cellars, and it certainly conjures up images of sober (in feeling, not in alcohol consumption!) faces, listening intently in the flickering firelight of a mountain drinking tavern. It is the only song Kozena sings in this style, but it is an arresting, evocative start that emphasises the folkloric mood of the recital. Kozena, whilst her performances are always memorable, is lifted to an entirely different plateau with these songs in her home tongue and all the emotional resonance they hold for her. It's hard to pick out highlights, but the Lute Songs of the only-recently-deceased Petr Eben are captivating. Accompanied by guitar, these are beguiling little vignettes (or whatever the Czech word for vignette is) about the painful fears and realities of losing one’s love. Given that Kozena points out that the texts Eben sets are the oldest on the album, and that his choice of poetry is always fascinating, it is incredibly frustrating that the sleeve notes don't then say anything about their origin or age. Why dangle that carrot if you're going to snatch it away?

Kozena is joined for Dvorak's Moravian Duets by soprano Dorothea Roschmann, and their voices are perfectly matched. Martin Martineau on piano and Michael Freimuth on guitar provide perfectly judged musical accompaniments.

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Songs My Mother Taught Me

Tracks

  1. 1 Kebych Bola Jahodú
  2. 2 Moravská Lidová Poesie V Písních (Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs) 37. Lavecka
  3. 3 Moravská Lidová Poesie V Písních (Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs) 12. Jabúcko
  4. 4 Moravská Lidová Poesie V Písních (Moravian Folk Poetry in Songs) 50. Muzikanti
  5. 5 Ciganské Melodie (Gypsy Melodies), Op.55 - 4. Songs My Mother Taught Me (Kdyz Mne Stara Matka)
  6. 6 Ciganské Melodie (Gypsy Melodies), Op.55 - 5. Tune Thy Strings (Struna Naladena)
  7. 7 Ciganské Melodie (Gypsy Melodies), Op.55 - 3. Silent and Lone the Woods (Ales Je Tichy Kolem Kol)
  8. 8 Národní Písne a Tance Z Tesinksa (Folksongs and Dances From the Tesinskso Region), WV120 - 3. Pasala Volky [Out in the Beechwood]
  9. 9 Národní Písne a Tance Z Tesinksa (Folksongs and Dances From the Tesinskso Region), WV120 - 15. Kdyz Jsem Byla Mamince Na Kline [On My Mother's Knee]
  10. 10 Národní Písne a Tance Z Tesinksa (Folksongs and Dances From the Tesinskso Region), WV120 - 4. Sidej Na Vuz [Mount the Waggon]
  11. 11 Písne K Loutne - 1. Milovánie Bez Vídánie
  12. 12 Písne K Loutne - 2. I Dare Not Ask
  13. 13 Písne K Loutne - 3. Quand Ce Beau Printemps
  14. 14 Písne K Loutne - 4. Ach Gott, Wie Weh Tut Scheiden
  15. 15 Písne K Loutne - 5. Jakz Sem Te Najprv Poznal
  16. 16 Písne K Loutne - 6. Stratilat Sem Milého
  17. 17 An Die Entfernte
  18. 18 Pohádka Srdce, Op.8 - 1. Písen Melancholická
  19. 19 Pohádka Srdce, Op.8 - 2. Zda Není Snem?
  20. 20 Pohádka Srdce, Op.8 - 3. Vecer
  21. 21 Pohádka Srdce, Op.8 - 4. Podzimní Nálada
  22. 22 Pohádka Srdce, Op.8 - 5. Az Prejde Den
  23. 23 Vecerné Písne (Evening Songs) - 2. Mne Zdálo Se Zes Umrela [I Dreamt Last Night]
  24. 24 Moravské Dvojzpevy (Moravian Duets) - 9. Prsten
  25. 25 Moravské Dvojzpevy (Moravian Duets) - 11. Zajatá
  26. 26 Písnicky Na Dve Stránky (Songs on Two Pages, Seven Songs an Moravian Folk Poetry) - 1. Devce Z Moravy (Moravian Girl)
  27. 27 Písnicky Na Dve Stránky (Songs on Two Pages, Seven Songs an Moravian Folk Poetry) - 2. Súsedova Stajna (The Neighbour's Stable)
  28. 28 Písnicky Na Dve Stránky (Songs on Two Pages, Seven Songs an Moravian Folk Poetry) - 3. Nadeje (Hope)
  29. 29 Písnicky Na Dve Stránky (Songs on Two Pages, Seven Songs an Moravian Folk Poetry) - 4. Hlásný (The Night Watchman)
  30. 30 Písnicky Na Dve Stránky (Songs on Two Pages, Seven Songs an Moravian Folk Poetry) - 5. Tajná Láska (Secret Love)
  31. 31 Písnicky Na Dve Stránky (Songs on Two Pages, Seven Songs an Moravian Folk Poetry) - 6. Bozi Muka (The Wayside Cross)
  32. 32 Písnicky Na Dve Stránky (Songs on Two Pages, Seven Songs an Moravian Folk Poetry) - 7. Zvolenovci Chlapci (Lads of Zvolyn)
  33. 33 Slezké Písne (Ze Sbírky Heleny Salichové) [Siesian Songs (From Helena Salichová's Collection)] - 7. Aj, Co to Je Za Slavicek
  34. 34 Slezké Písne (Ze Sbírky Heleny Salichové) [Siesian Songs (From Helena Salichová's Collection)] - 10. V Cernym Lese

Release Details

  • Label

    Deutsche Grammophon

  • Release Date

    2008

  • Country

    Germany

  • Format

    CD

  • Catalogue No.

    477 6665

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