The Art of Nance Grant

16/06/2012
Geoff Adams
Otago Daily Times (NZ)

In deluxe box with booklet, Melba presents an amazing tribute to the great Australian voice hardly heard beyond its shores. Recordings from the 1960s and '70s have been restored and remastered making CD 1 of solo recitals (Greig, Hageman and Strauss) accompanied by pianist Geoffrey Parsons and CD 2 of opera, oratorio and lieder with various Australian orchestras.

Grant won the Mobil Quest in Australia in 1957 and other honours. She had a lustrously bright lyric soprano voice suited to Mozart, Richard Strauss and Wagner roles in opera and won overseas offers (including Bayreuth) she could have taken up. Sound excellent on CD 1, fair on CD 2 with original tapes from rehearsals, backstage, AM radio broadcasts and even a hand-held recorder. A vocal treat!

Highlight: Grieg's Solveig's Song, Wagner arias.