DISCOGRAPHY
Franz Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin
Reiko Uchida, fortepianist
![EARLY MUSIC AMERICA: Meglioranza's fresh sounding voice and easy delivery serve him well here in his role as a young, vulnerable suitor. [Uchida] takes easily to the Zierer fortepiano, and her sensitive touch and clear articulation produce a vast ra…](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d95df9f2d658a52cbac14e4/1571062949317-R78EYCY54JZDQDGZ7I0H/Meglioranza_DSM_iTunes_1400px_300dpi.jpg)
EARLY MUSIC AMERICA:
Meglioranza's fresh sounding voice and easy delivery serve him well here in his role as a young, vulnerable suitor. [Uchida] takes easily to the Zierer fortepiano, and her sensitive touch and clear articulation produce a vast range of colors and moods.
THE WHOLE NOTE:
Meglioranza’s fine baritone, intelligent singing and impeccable German diction, thoroughly inside the poetry, with sympathetic and stylish accompaniment by Ms. Uchida, deserves Fischer Dieskau’s praise and mine too.
THE ARTS FUSE:
Meglioranza’s diction and intonation are faultless throughout and his accounts of the opening lieder brim with energy and spirit...Uchida, playing an 1829 fortepiano, delivers an accompaniment that’s clean-toned and rhythmically incisive...At the same time, there’s a glowing warmth to her playing in the lyrical songs...The pair’s is, in the end, a deeply-felt and touching reading of this familiar set of songs. For beauty of tone and sincerity of interpretation, they won’t lead you astray.
RAFAEL DE ACHA's MUSIC NOTES:
Welcome the golden voiced baritone Thomas Meglioranza, whose partnership with the gifted Reiko Uchida yields splendid results in their just-released CD, titled Die schöne Müllerin. . .There is much to celebrate here, including both artists’ uncomplicated, unaffected approach that mercifully avoids over-interpretive eccentricity. . .A valuable addition to the libraries of those who love German Lieder.
Louis Karchin’s American Visions and Gods of Winter
Orchestra of the League of Composers
Louis Karchin, conductor
GRAMOPHONE
Thomas Meglioranza has the lion's share of the vocal work, and sings with eloquent passion and command."
Gabriel Fauré’s La bonne chanson and other French songs
Reiko Uchida, piano
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Sublime is the first word that comes to mind when confronted with this new recital disc by the skillful, intelligent baritone, Thomas Meglioranza, whose knack for French songs by Fauré, Debussy, Ravel and Poulenc matches the distinction he has shown previously in recordings of canonical Schubert and contemporary music. Reiko Uchida, playing an 1890 Pleyel piano, supports his light, handsome voice with insight, subtlety, and pearly luminosity.
GRAMOPHONE
"...those who know his voice well might be astounded at how much it is transformed by the French language, which gives him a light baritonal quality recalling the young Gérard Souzay, though with a faster vibrato. His manner in La bonne chanson is so inside the music that he approaches the text almost as a conversation."
AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE
"Meglioranza has a rich, slightly understated baritone voice. Perfect for Schubert, even better for Fauré."
THE STAR LEDGER
Following up his enjoyable recording of Schubert songs, Thomas Meglioranza delivers sophisticated performances of French mélodies. Fauré's "La bonne chanson", the title song cycle, is full of romantic selections set to Paul Verlaine's poetry that could be well suited to Valentine's Day listening. Meglioranza's smooth baritone suits the French style. He sings with subtlety but still vividly conveys enthusiasm and affection. In "Avant que tu ne t'en ailles", he becomes particularly dynamic as he illustrates animated quail song, the tenderness of a poet's expression, and a majestic lark. He and the attentive Uchida switch gears effectively for the mysterious world of Debussy's "Fêtes galantes II" and bring vitality to Poulenc's "Chansons gaillardes", not shying away from their torment in love, giddiness in sin, vulgarity, or bitterness.
LIMELIGHT MAGAZINE
"The Good Song is a fine collection of some more unusual and exciting vocal repertoire from the late romantic and early modern periods, faithfully realised with subtlety and nuance."
AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE
"A couple of years ago I attended a chamber music concert, where the baritone Thomas Meglioranza and the pianist Reiko Uchida performed. I was impressed with their performances then and am no less so by this recording. . . Meglioranza has a rich, lovely lyric baritone voice which he uses to great effect. . . Ms. Uchida adds immeasurably to the pleasure with her immaculate playing."
CLASSICAL VOICE OF NORTH CAROLINA
"Ravishingly executed French art song cycles"
CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
"Warm" and "subtle" are also apt adjectives for the new album of French songs by baritone Thomas Meglioranza and pianist Reiko Uchida . . . like Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, one of his idols, Meglioranza has a light, beautiful voice that can be plaintive or funny or touching. Uchida accompanies him with a supple and winning style, never receding into the background or overshadowing the singer. If you like classical chansons and lieder, this is a team to remember.
RAFAEL DE ACHA’S MUSIC NOTES
"Thomas Meglioranza's voice is ideally suited to French music. With Bernac and Souzay long gone, I would challenge those who love French mélodie to find a voice as supple, as clear, as beautiful singing this repertoire. Reiko Uchida not merely accompanies, but perfectly partners Meglioranza providing superb support with enormous sensitivity." -
J.S. Bach: Cantata 244a
Taverner Consort and Players
Andrew Parrott, dir.
Franz Schubert: Winterreise, D. 911
Reiko Uchida, pianist
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE:
Thomas Meglioranza's light, well-groomed baritone gives a meticulously thought-through account of Winterreise, his excellent German and instinctive musicality engaging immediately with the text and the listener. --Hilary Finch
AUDIOPHILE AUDITION:
Winner of the 2005 Walter W. Naumburg Competition, the Franz Schubert/Modern Music Competition in Graz, the Concert Artists Guild Competition, and the Joy in Singing Award, baritone Thomas Meglioranza, in this unabashed vanity issue, has given us one of the best modern recordings of Schubert’s genre-defining Winterreise. His voice is simply ravishing in all registers, a haunting, despondent, creamy, and melismatic instrument that seems tailor made for Schubert in general and this cycle in particular. Meglioranza’s impeccable diction serves to characterize every nuance of the text so to make subtle inflections and profoundly deep emotional connections to each of these wondrous songs. Uchida plays on an 1881 Steinway D Centennial, and accompanies with force, formidable sense of supporting the melody, and a cat-like ability to give depth and proper harmonic undergirding to the line—she is there at every moment, never dragging and never behind. [...]
The qualities that we all like to hear in any Winterreise are present here in overwhelming quantities. As I said, this sumptuously recorded performance is engrossing and completely convincing from beginning to end. There are no notes but Meglioranza has seen fit to give us texts and translations. This is a first class issue all the way, and the established record companies are really going to be sorry they didn’t pick this one up. —Steven Ritter
TIME OUT NEW YORK:
Schubert's lieder cycle Winterreise ("Winter Journey") can be a grim ride if approached as the marmoreal icon it's becom in the art-song world. One of the strengths of the fine new recording by baritone Thomas Meglioranza and pianist Reiko Uchida is that although the implicit tragic love story is keenly traced and elaborated over in the span of two dozen songs, a sense of youthfulness and recurring hope against the odds provides some respite from the potential gloom. Meglioranza mines any and every opportunity for variety in Wilhelm Müller's text, which is beautifully articulated. Uchida, playing on a gorgeous-sounding 1881 Steinway, provides consistently supple and responsive rhythmic and melodic support.
The New Jersey-raised Meglioranza is an integral part of New York's new-music scene; Uchida, a Californian graduate of Mannes and Juilliard, teaches at Columbia. Both have broad artistic curiosity and experience, but very specific stylistic insights that prove complementary. The baritone easily encompasses the required range; plusher voices have recorded these songs, but his command of textual and dynamic nuance proves compelling throughout--plus, a hint of tonal fragility at climaxes doesn't come amiss in this love-haunted work.
--David Shengold
BANGKOK POST
"With the outpouring of new recordings of Schubert’s Winterreise we’ve had over the past few years, it would be sad if this one, released with little fanfare on a small, private label, got lost in the crush, because it is one of the best..."--
ALLMUSIC.COM:
"Even though Thomas Meglioranza is an established operatic singer, his first recording on his own label is one of the great masterpieces of the art song: Franz Schubert's "Die Winterreise." Praised for his insightful singing of Schubert by no less a judge than Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Meglioranza has a personal warmth and ecstatic vocal quality that immediately brings his distinguished colleague to mind.
Accompanied by his frequent collaborator, pianist Reiko Uchida, Meglioranza sings with a convincing blend of rapt lyricism and wounded idealism, two characteristics that give "Winterreise" a heightened sense of tragedy that goes beyond mere heartache. The temptation to ignore the meaning of the words is strong, though, because Meglioranza's voice is almost too smooth and ethereal to stay grounded in Wilhelm Müller's dark texts for long. But pay close attention to the subtle expressions that Meglioranza brings to consecutive verses and to Uchida's controlled changes in dynamics and phrasing that communicate the emotional context and meaning.
The sound of the recording is clear and focused, giving the musicians credible presence in a natural acoustic. This disc is a promising beginning for Meglioranza's label, and one may hope that the rest of Schubert's lieder appear on it soon."--Blair Sanderson
THE STAR LEDGER:
A self-released recording of Schubert’s popular "Winterreise" is a surprise hit from Thomas Meglioranza. An artist in residence at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Mass., with credits at Opera Boston, the singer displays a supple, beautifully polished lyric baritone and musical integrity.
Throughout the "winter journey," Meglioranza stays true to his natural, youthful sound, finding ample expressive range without ever forcing or using breathy affectations that are all too common. His diction is impeccable and pianist Reiko Uchida is equally refined.
Together, they create a fresh and moving vision of lost love and harsh nature, beginning with the trudging verses of the opening song, in which they go from stoic to snarling. Their storytelling excels in the light-dark shifts of "Frühlingstraum." Meglioranza’s detachment as he observes his "frozen tears" makes him seem slightly — and fittingly — deranged. You can hear the sorrow in his voice in the exposed "Mein Herz" refrain in "Auf dem flusse," but he never overdramatizes the music, maintaining dignity and realism.
Louis Karchin: Jane Eyre
Orchestra of the League of Composers
Louis Karchin, conductor
Louis Karchin: Romulus
The Washington Square Ensemble
Louis Karchin, conductor
Franz Schubert: Songs
Reiko Uchida, pianist
DIETRICH FISCHER-DIESKAU
Lovely singing. Let me tell you, that you gave me much pleasure on a healthy and beautiful sounding way to these difficult songs. Your accompanist is of the best qualities, strictly in the style called for in these songs. Your german is excellant so that I assume you are of German ancestors.
THE BANGKOK POST
This imaginatively programmed and performed selection of Schubert lieder is one of the most satisfying new vocal recital recordings to have come my way in months. Thomas Meglioranza is gifted with a voice of unusual warmth and richness, and on the evidence of what he offers here is well on his way to becoming a master interpreter of this repertoire.
Virgil Thomson: The Feast of Love, Five Songs from William Blake
Boston Modern Orchestral Project
Gil Rose, conductor
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE
"Meglioranza's light, clear voice is ideal for the mildly erotic The Feast of Love, and the simple and affecting Five Songs from William Blake."
FANFARE
"Exquisitely performed by Thomas Meglioranza" , "He inflects the music with intelligence and meaning" , "[the recording] is a must. I can't stop listening to it."
THE NEW YORK TIMES
"The baritone Thomas Meglioranza, singing with hale voice and crisp diction, gives a compelling account of The Feast of Love...also strong in Five Songs from William Blake."
Purcell: Dido and Aeneas
New Trinity Baroque
Predrag Gosta, conductor
Waverly Consort: The Christmas Story
Michael and Kay Jaffee, directors
William McClelland: Songs
with Donald Berman, piano
Maximiliano Amici: The Pit and the Pendulum: a dramatic cantata for baritone and chamber orchestra, male choir, and electronics. Featuring the Ciompi Quartet and Imani Winds. (Available for streaming on all the usual platforms.)
