Overview

Ned Rorem  POEMS OF LOVE AND THE RAIN-FOUR MADRIGALS-FROM AN UNKNOWN PAST

 PHCD108

Ned Rorem        

Poems of Love and the Rain

From an Unknown Past

Four Madrigals

Beverly Wolff, mezzo soprano

Modern Madrigal Quartet

Lois Winter, Helene Miles

Phillip Olson, Michael Stewart

Ned Rorem, piano

PHCD 109 presents three major vocal works by American composer Ned Rorem, showcasing his unmatched sensitivity to text and his distinctive lyrical voice. This collection brings together the emotionally charged Poems of Love and the Rain, the intimate cycle From an Unknown Past, and the finely crafted Four Madrigals, performed by mezzo‑soprano Beverly Wolff, the Modern Madrigal Quartet, and the composer at the piano. Restored with Phoenix USA’s archival clarity, this edition highlights the expressive nuance, textual insight, and musical elegance that define Rorem’s contribution to American art song.

Writing in CD Review, Peter Golub has noted of Rorem’s “Poems of Love and the Rain”: “Most importantly, the composer has given us-regardless of its overall structure-an astonishingly beautiful collection of songs. STOP ALL THE CLOCKS (first version) and THE AIR IS THE ONLY (second version) are among the finest American art songs ever written. Beverly Wolff’s performance is stunning. She unleashes the full range of her considerable musical and emotional power. Combined with Rorem’s pianism, it makes for a compelling listening experience.

Composer: Ned Rorem
Mezzo‑soprano: Beverly Wolff
Pianist: Ned Rorem
Ensemble: Modern Madrigal Quartet
Catalog Number: PHCD 109

This Phoenix USA edition is sourced from archival materials and restored to highlight the clarity, intimacy, and expressive nuance of Rorem’s vocal writing.