For centuries, composers have found inspiration in love stories, love poems, and often their own love affairs. Clara and Robert Schumann wrote music for each other; Gustav Mahler wrote the Adagietto of his Fifth Symphony while madly in love with his new wife, Alma Schindler; and when Peter Lieberson read the love sonnets of Pablo Neruda, he knew right away that he would set them to music for his wife, Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Berlioz, Prokofiev, Bellini, and Delius were some of the many composers who fell under the spell of the Romeo and Juliet story. We know that no week of love songs would be complete without hearing Pavarotti, Domingo, and Callas in arias from La Bohème, Carmen, and Tosca.
First Love….Then Later
Playlist
Episode 1
Finzi, Gerald: Let Us Garlands Bring, Op. 18 – 5 It Was A Lover And His Lass
Bryn Terfel, Malcolm Martineau
The Vagabond
DG 445 946
2:42
Elgar, Edward: Salut D Amour, Op. 12
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Gil Shaham, violin
Violin Romances Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
DG 449 923
3:03
Schumann, Robert: Romanze, Op. 28/2
Orli Shaham, piano
Brahms Inspired
Canary Classics CC15
3:27
Schumann, Clara: 3 Romances for Violin and Piano, Op. 22
1. Andante Molto
2. Allegretto
3. Leidenschaftlich, Schnell
Joseph Silverstein, violin; Veronica Jochum, piano
Piano Concerto
Pro Arte 395
11:23
Schumann, Robert: Kreisleriana, Op. 16
1. Äusserst Bewegt
2. Sehr Innig Und Nicht Zu Rasch
3. Sehr Aufgeregt
4. Sehr Langsam
András Schiff, piano
Schumann/ András Schiff
Teldec 14566
17:34
Kreisler, Fritz: Liebesleid
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin; Lambert Orkis, piano
The Silver Album
DG 479 2949
4:24
Kreisler, Fritz: Schön Rosmarin
Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin; Lambert Orkis, piano
The Silver Album
DG 479 2949
2:15
Kreisler, Fritz: La Gitana
Fritz Kreisler
Plays Kreisler
RCA Gold Seal 09026 68448 2
3:11
Arr. Jeremy Jackman: Annie Laurie
The King Singers
Annie Laurie: Folksongs of the British Isles
EMI CLassics 54904
3:17
Episode 2
Berlioz, Hector: Love Scene (Adagio)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Carlo Maria Giulini, conductor
Romeo and Juliet
EMI 47616
16:52
Prokofiev, Sergei: Romeo & Juliet
Balcony Scene
Romeo’s Variation
Love Dance
USSR State Symphony Orchestra/Algis Ziuratis, conductor
Romeo and Juliet
MCA 32116
8:20
Delius, Frederick: The Walk to the Paradise Garden from ‘A Village Romeo and Juliet’
London Symphony Orchestra, John Barbirolli, conductor
English Tone Poems
EMI 47984
9:52
Bellini, Vincenzo: I Capuleti E I Montecchi
Act 1: Se Romeo T’Uccise Un Figlio…La Tremenda Ultrice Spada
Suisse Romande Orchestra,Henry Lewis, Marilyn Horne, mezzo-soprano
Souvenir of a Golden Era (The Sisters Garcia)
London 4758493
7:40
Dankworth , John & William Shakespeare: “Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer’s Day”(Sonnet 18)
“All The World’s A Stage (As You Like It)/If Music Be The Food Of Love” (Twelfth Night)
Cleo Laine, John Dankworth
Wordsongs
RCA Red Seal 7208
5:55
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich: Francesca Da Rimini, Op. 32:
III. Andante Cantabile (excerpt)
The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, conductor
1812 Overture
RCA Victor Silver Seal 60492
03:26
Episode 3
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich: Francesca Da Rimini, Op. 32:
III. Andante Cantabile
IV. Allegro Vivo
The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, conductor
1812 Overture
RCA Victor Silver Seal 60492
15:10
Dvořák, Antonín: Romance in F Minor for Violin & Piano, Op. 11
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Gil Shaham, violin
Gil Shaham/ Violin Romances
DG 499923
11:56
Purcell, Henry: Dido and Aeneas, Z. 626:
Thy Hand, Belinda – When I Am Laid in Earth (“Dido’s Lament”)
The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, conductor; Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano
Purcell
Archiv Produktion 474 672 2
4:28
Foster, Stephen: Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair
Thomas Hampson, Michael Parloff, flute
American Dreamer – Songs of Stephen Foster
EMI 54621
4:17
Helen Deutsch and Bronislaw Kaper: HI-Lili, Hi-Lo
Jimmy Durante
Hello Young Lovers
Warner T1531
02:57
LeGrand, Michel: What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan with Michel Legrand
3:58
Russell, Leon: A Song for You
Leon Russell, Helen Deutsch and Bronisław Kaper
The Best of Leon Russell
Capitol Records 509990 71044 28
4:07
Presley, Elvis, Tommy Durden and Mae Axton: Heartbreak Hotel
Leon Russell and Willie Nelson
The Best of Leon Russell
Capitol Records 509990 71044 28
3:01
Episode 4
Delibes, Léo: Lakmé:Act 1: “Viens, Mallika, … Dôme Épais” (Flower Duet)
SWR Symphony Orchestra Baden-Baden and Freiburg/Marco Armiliato
Anna Netrebko, Elina Garanca
The Opera Gala – Live from Baden-Baden
DG 4777177
6:43
Donizetti, Gaetano: L’Elisir d’Amore: “Una furtiva lagrime”
Luciano Pavarotti, Zubin Mehta
Pavarotti: The Early Years
RCA 62541
5:04
Puccini, Giacomo: La Bohème: “Che gelida manina”
Rai Symphony Orchestra, Rome/Nino Bonavolonta; Luciano Pavarotti
Pavarotti: The Early Years
RCA 62541
4:56
Puccini, Giacomo: La Bohème: “Si, Mi chimano Mimi”
Montserrat Caballé; Charles Mackerras: London Symphony Orchestra
The Ultimate Aria Collection [Disc 2]
EMI 65597
5:17
Puccini, Giacomo: La Bohème: Act I: “O soave fanciulla”
Luciano Pavarotti; Mirella Freni, A. Magiera
Pavarotti: The Early Years
RCA 62541
4:19
Puccini, Giacomo: Tosca, Act II: “Vissi d’arte”
Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Victor de Sabata, conductor Maria Callas, soprano
Casta Diva – 50 Best Maria Callas – 2
EMI 57057
3:20
Puccini, Giacomo: Tosca: Act 3: “E lucevan le stelle”
Jussi Bjorling
Jussi Bjorling 100th Anniversary Anthology
i-Tunes
3:28
Bizet, Georges: Carmen – Act 2:
“La Fleur Que Tu M Avais Jetée”
Paris Opera Orchestra/Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos; Jon Vickers
Voices of French Opera
EMI 5099992804
4:20
Mahler, Gustav: Rückert Lieder: “Ich atmet einen Lindenduft”
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/ Leonard Bernstein Thomas Hampson
Mahler: Lieder Eines Fahrenden Gesellen
GD 431682
3:00
Wagner, Richard: Tristan Und Isolde:
Act 3: “Mild Und Leise Wie Er Lachelt”
Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Opera House Chorus/Wilhelm Furtwängler
Ludwig Suthaus, Kirsten Flagstad
Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde [Disc 4]
EMI Classics 85873
7:08
Episode 5
Chopin, Frédéric: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor Op. 21: II. Larghetto
Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra, Garrick Ohlsson, piano
Chopin: Piano Concertos 1 and 2
EMI 62512
9:30
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor, Op.27/2, “Moonlight”
1. Adagio Sostenuto
Rudolf Serkin, piano
Rudolf Serkin Plays Beethoven
CBS 37219
6:30
Mahler, Gustav: Symphony No.5 in C Sharp Minor; IV. Adagietto
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Bruno Walter, conductor
“Symphony No. 5
Sony 64451
7:36
Lieberson, Peter: Neruda Songs:
“Amor mio, si muero y tu no mueres”
(My love, if I die and you don’t)
Boston Symphony Orchestra;
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, mezzo-soprano
Lorraine Hunt Lieberson sings Peter lieberson ‘Neruda Songs’
Nonesuch 79954
7:12
Lins, Ivan/ Vitor Martins: “Te Amo”
Karrin Allyson, Gil Goldstein, accordion, Danny Embry, guitar
From Paris to Rio
Concord Records CCD 4865
5:03
Morricone, Ennio: “Cinema Paradiso” (Love Theme)
Pat Metheny; Charlie Haden
Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories)
Verve Records 537 130
3:37
Morricone, Ennio/ Stan Dunn: “That Day”
Karrin Allyson, Danny Embry, guitar
From Paris to Rio
Concord Records CCD 4865
5:01
Puccini, Giacomo: Turandot: Act 3: “Nessun Dorma”
Orchestra of the Rome Opera House/Francesco Molinari-Pradelli; Franco Corelli
Turandot
EMI 69327
3:28
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Piano Sonata No. 14 In C Sharp Minor, Op.27/2, “Moonlight”
2 Allegretto (excerpt)
Rudolf Serkin, piano
Rudolf Serkin Plays Beethoven
CBS 37219
01:46