Benjamin Britten | On This Island - Paul Austin Kelly, tenor & Martin Isepp, pianist

Part 2 of their Brighton Fringe recital of 15th May 2011. This was Martin Isepp's very last performance. He died on 25th December, 2011.
Britten's "On This Island" song cycle was written in 1937 with setting of 5 poems by his friend W. H. Auden.
1. Let the Florid Music Praise
2. Now the Leaves are Falling Fast
3. Seascape
4. Nocturne
5. As it is, Plenty

[@Hyramess]

A lovely performance! Thank you so much. What a beautiful lyric tenor voice! I had the great pleasure of accompanying this cycle, myself numerous times years ago. The last was April 1, 1976 as part of a recital at New York University with a fine young soprano. We included On This Island in the program as tribute to Auden who had died just a few months before. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I regret never having had an opportunity to play these accompaniments again.

[@Bold5858]

I've really enjoyed listening to your interpretation! Thanks for posting!

[@PaulKelly88]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed this performance. I know it was one of Martin Isepp's favourites to play, as well. Although we both agreed that As it is, Plenty is a very strange ending for it.

[@rcastrejon]

This is great!!!! I will sing this cicle on october 26 th!!!! :)

[@PaulKelly88]

Thanks for listening and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Martin and I did a better performance of it at the Brighton Fringe Festival. It's not on KZbin but you can listen to it on my paulaustinkelly website under audio clips.

[@wanderleyreis7233]

BRAVISSIMO !!!! QUESTO TENORE È SORPRENDENTE !!!! COMPLIMENTI !!!!!!

[@PaulKelly88]

+Wanderley Reis Many thanks!

[@wanderleyreis7233]

You deserve, for their competence, caro Maestro !!!

[@Chr1st0ph3r9]

@8:30 Nocturne

[@PaulKelly88]

Excellent! I wish I could hear it. In bocca al lupo!

[@arthurcolman189]

why is this so often sung by sopranos? I'm a tenor just starting to learn this.

[@PaulKelly88]

Hm, an interesting thought. No, I wouldn't muck about with Britten either. I only question it as a musical choice, not the poetry itself. I adore the Nocturne. To me it's the most powerful of the cycle.

[@PaulKelly88]

Hi, Well, other than the fact that it is no way gender specific, I'm not really sure. I think the opening song with its flourishes might sit quite well in the soprano voice. Any other thoughts? Anyone?

[@auburnsynge-perrin6075]

When I could sing, as before my voice broke, I sang everything I liked, even if the words indicated a love song sung by a woman. Mostly the words to me were simply a vehicle for the singing voice .Usually song cycles or collections are marked 'For High Voice' or 'For Low Voice.' showing that the rane of the voice is more crucial than the gender.

[@Hyramess]

I never thought that, myself. There's irony and comic genius in the music of As it is Plenty. The words, of course, are bitingly satirical -- a harsh indictment of the shallowness, vanity and absurdity of modern middle-class materialism. So the cycle which starts out so full of confident splendor ends on a wry note of comedy. As it is Plenty might work even better as a prelude to Nocturne. Then the cycle could end with the energetic musing of Seascape, but who would dare do such a thing? Not I!