Great artists talk about their past recordings
This month: LUCY CROWE Soprano
Lucy Crowe has enjoyed a long collaboration with The English Concert
MY FINEST MOMENT
Handel Rodelinda
Lucy Crowe (soprano) et al; The English Concert/Harry Bicket Linn Records CKD658 (2021)
I love the freedom you get singing Handel; you can sing different ornaments every night if you want to, which keeps it exciting and the conductor on their toes. It’s never dull. Having performed Rodelinda in Madrid, Amsterdam and Frankfurt, I came to the recording knowing her really intimately. Knowing it that well and having performed it so many times with an orchestra and conductor that you are really familiar with, there’s a feeling of trust. I’ve had a long-standing relationship with The English Concert, initially with conductor Trevor Pinnock when I was still at college. I just love working with them, and to be surrounded by friends and colleagues that are fantastic musicians is joyful.
We recorded it in lockdown, so were all socially distanced, which was bizarre, but somehow we still managed to produce something which sounded fantastic. It was just very special making music at that time, and the feeling of release, excitement and energy was palpable. We were all chomping at the bit to be making music again and it provided us with this escapism – I find this recording particularly special from that point of view.
MY FONDEST MEMORY
Janáček The Cunning Little Vixen
Lucy Crowe (soprano) et al; LSO/ Simon Rattle LSO Live LSO0850 (2020)
The Vixen has always held a special place in my heart; she was one of the first roles I ever performed and she has been one of my favourite roles ever since. She’s feisty, strong, smart, in control, intelligent and often I find that I’m performing her when I’m maybe having a bit of a down time. I perform her and I just feel stronger, like I’ve grown and I am a better version of myself.
When I got the call to say Simon Rattle wanted me for the Vixen with the Berlin Phil and the LSO, and Peter Sellars directing, I thought ‘Oh my God!’ And then to find out they were recording it with the LSO was the cherry on the top.
In the performance, I was doing quite a lot of running around and was pretty out of breath, but luckily in the live recording I did get to stand and sing through the arias without being breathless, running around and jumping on tables. My nieces were never very inter
