Papagena: Elizabeth Drury, Abbi Temple, Suzzie Vango, Suzie Purkis, Sarah Tenant-Flowers
Macdonald, D: Fire-Flowers, No. 1, Moonset (Version for Treble Chorus)
Shen Khar Venakhi (Arr. S. Tenant-Flowers)
Jagoda: Hamisha Asar (Arr. S. Vango)
Pyotr Ill'ych Tchaikovsky: Legend, Op. 54 No. 5, TH 85 (Arr. G. Weaver)
Sub o salcie (Arr. A. Woods)
Kedrov: Our Father
Ek rizis
O Viridissima Virga (Arr. J. Duggan)
The Snow It Melts the Soonest (Arr. W. Brückner)
Holst: The Swallow Leaves Her Nest, H. 119
Steven Adler: Sweet Child O'Mine (Arr. S. Vango)
Scarlatti, A: Cor mio (Ed. J. Jürgens)
Larsen, L: Jack's Valentine
Mouth Music (Arr. D. Keane)
Bremer, J: William Shakespeare Love Songs, No. 3, Sigh No More Ladies
Lang, D: I Lie
Kakwa Moma (Arr. U. Knorrn)
Clements, J: The Woman's 'If'
Jess Arrowsmith: Changeling's Lullaby (Arr. Papagena)
SOMM Recordings is delighted to announce Hush!, the second release by the extraordinary voices (BBC Radio 3) of female quintet Papagena following their internationally acclaimed, Amazon classical chart-topping debut, The Darkest Midnight (SOMMCD 0189). Hush! unearths a treasure trove of songs largely neglected on disc to deliver a stunning follow-up to The Darkest Midnight. Where it hymned the cold, harsh glamour of sun-starved winter, Hush! playful, poignant, poetic and primed with the expectation of joy celebrates the warmth and light of love. Typically for Papagena, Hush! is a centuries-spanning, genre-defying, culturally diverse recital marrying sacred and secular, ancient and modern, classical, traditional and even stadium rock. The result is an often gorgeous, always intelligent exploration of hush as a harbinger of consolation, of tranquil release and of mild admonition to pause, listen, feel and relish the quietly exultant glories of being alert and alive to the fleeting moment. Papagenas beautifully blended, pristine vocal signature illuminates ecstatic heights, anguished depths and love in all its multi-hued splendour with a becoming thread of wit and humour.
"Each of the five very strong female voices in this accomplished professional consort is full of character, yet they blend perfectly when required in a sequence of immaculate performances of repertoire from a very wide range of cultures and traditions...Papagena brings a bright, focused sound, bell-like tuning and carefully sculpted phrasing to every piece. Highly recommended." - Choir & Organ, May 2020.