| Seduction: Songs by Strauss - Review Excerpts |
 Fanfare (USA) (November / December 2008) "...a real pleasure... [Davislim's] pliant and supple phrasing, his clear love of singing this music, and the remarkable partnership he and Simone Young forge in this music communicate so fully to the listener that it is impossible to turn away from it... this is a very enthusiastic recommendation." SACD.net (UK) (October 2008) "...refreshing to hear a selection of Strauss songs sung by a tenor as fine as Steve Davislim... Simone Young’s credentials as an outstanding Strauss interpreter are by now well established... the presentation of the disc is outstanding. This is an interesting and valuable addition to the SACD catalogue. Recommended. Performance/Sonics: 4 stars" AllMusic Guide (USA) (August 2007) "This is a superlative disc... Davislim is robust and luxurious ... This is one of the loveliest Strauss discs to come along in many years – and anyone who enjoys the composer’s way with words and music shouldn’t miss it. Performance: 4½ stars Sound: 4 stars." MusicWeb International (UK) (December 2001) "In this performance [Davislim] sings confidently and with clarity: his tone is appealing and he is sensitive to the dynamics of the material ... [Young] handles the forces extremely competently and gives an excellent performance ... This is another first class recording from Melba, a good compilation and well produced." Gramophone (UK) (December 2001) "An outstanding recital by an excellent young tenor singing superb Strauss ... Here's a solo recital to warm the hearts of all lovers of attractive, well-contoured singing and engaging interpretation ... Possessed of well-produced, sappy, lyrical tenor, [Davislim] has the ideal instrument with which to sing Strauss" BBC Music Magazine (UK) (May 2001) "The years drop off Richard Strauss ... in this new disc of his orchestrated songs ... [Davislim's] lithe, rhythmically and verbally alert tenor has the red blood surging from the start ... Davislim's sense of line, and warm, supple legato create an 'Allerseelen' and a 'Morgen!' without indulgence, where tender sentiment never slides over into sentimentality ... This selection of some of Strauss's most mouth-watering songs comes with two orchestral lollipops, from Capriccio and from Der Rosenkavalier, and excellent booklet notes from Michael Kennedy by way of bonus." The Age 'Green Guide' (Australia) (28 December 2000) "Particularly appealing was a collection of songs by Richard Strauss" Sunday Herald Sun (Australia) (December 2000 - Top 10 CDs) "... a 'must' for all devotees of Richard Strauss at his sexiest." Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) (27 August 2000) "Davislim has a ringing heroic sound ... Simone Young is his very assured collaborator throughout." Australian Financial Review (Australia) (30 September 2000) "[Simone Young is] a peerless conductor... material that lives up to the set's title: Seduction ... These aren't clarion songs of grand passion, they are slow-burners. Unlike the candle burning at both ends, this glow WILL last the night. Give into it." Sunday Herald Sun (Australia) (27 August 2000) "Melba is an unequivocal triumph. Another titillatingly titled...recording, Seduction... showcases the extraordinary talent of ... Steve Davislim [and] ranks this among the finest Strauss recordings of recent times." Herald Sun (Australia) (27 September 2000) "[Davislim's] timbre is just right for the genre, and is matched by his expressiveness, his control - he's wonderfully fearless in the higher notes - and his pure musicianship ... If the new Melba can repeat this quality in her next few CDs her success is assured." |