Jessye Norman. Singer - ACE163.3

Norman recording Alban Berg’s "Über die Grenzen des All... " (Fünf Orchesterlieder nach Ansichtskartentexten von Peter Altenberg, no. 3.) with Pierre Boulez and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Commentary talks about her often working with the sort of twentieth century music that other singers shy away from. Norman on the precision required for recording such music. Boulez suggesting that contemporary music can be more accessible if performed by voices more generally associated with Wagner or Strauss, etc. Playback of the recording. Norman VO explains the Postcard Songs. Singing the fifth song, "Hier is Friede…". Boulez’s VO on the balance of voice and orchestra. Norman and Boulez discussing the recording. Boulez talks about reaching a compromise. The Albert Hall. Norman’s VO saying that a recording is of a performance that she "was able to give on a particular day" and not to be regarded as "the definitive performance". She talks about being at the Last Night of the Proms thirteen years earlier, an experience which may have influenced her to move to Britain. Performance at the Albert Hall of the Altenberg Lieder; Norman’s VO says she prefers to sing for an audience rather than in front of a microphone. Part of the first song, "Seele, wie bist du schöner, tiefer, nach Schneestürmen".