Gramophone Magazine, April 2009

The title of Patricia Green's new disc, "Unsleeping", is a bit of resourceful wordplay. The Canadian mezzo-soprano's recital of art songs pays tribute to living composers from England, Canada, Hungary, Germany, Puerto Rico and me United States. And there's no danger that a listener will doze off while Green is wrapping her Wagnerian-sized mezzo and keen story-telling skills around this appealing and varied repertoire.
Beyond providing the impetus for the recording's name, Jonathan Harvey's "Lullaby for the Unsleeping" is a lovely, lilting ode to youthful procrastination at bedtime. The barcarolle rhythm and interplay of accessible and mysterious harmonies provide just the right aura for John V Taylor's verses, especially as rendered with such fervent delineation by Green and her vivid collaborator, pianist John Hess. Among the many attractions of R Murray Schaefer's Kinderlieder are the German texts by Bertold Brecht, at once tender (surprise, surprise) and tart (as might be expected from this potent Socialist poet). The Canadian composer's responses to Brecht's words abound in thematic allure and harmonic intrigue. Hungary's Andre Hajdu travels through creepy territory in Bestiary, his quartet of aI fresco scenes set to English poems by Ted Hughes and cast in dark colours and soaring, novel vocal lines. The finale, "The Rat's Dance", is partly sung, partly spoken, entirely eerie. Wilhelm Killmayer's Harting Lieder comprise nine engaging songs about nature and identity, while Roberto Sierra's Rimas employ verses by Gustavo A Becquer to exotic, turbulent and haunting effect. The teaming of composer Lori Laitman and poet Sara Teasdale in Mystery results in five songs of generous lyricism and propulsive ardour.
Green brings urgency, detail and drollery to the repertoire's myriad demands. John Hess's pianism helps mightily in awakening the music's inner voices.
 Donald Rosenberg

Unsleeping. Songs by Living Composers

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