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Susanne Mentzer
mezzo-soprano

scores in her first solo CD
WAYFARING STRANGER

- a unique recital of Lieder,
American and French songs

accompanied on the guitar
by Sharon Isbin

Susanne Mentzer treats us to a palette of colors with this, her first solo CD which also introduces us to her recital repertory. She starts off with Wayfaring Stranger and four other beautiful folk songs from her beloved Blue Ridge Mountains. She grew up singing these songs and listening to her, one cannot for a moment doubt that these are indeed dear to her heart. Across the Atlantic, she finds parallels in French folk songs which she sings with the same richness and warmth of voice.

It is not unusual for folk songs to be sung to guitar accompaniment - indeed one almost expects it, but Schubert's Lieder? The duo pulls it off beautifully giving a new spin to the German art song. One is wonderfully surprised to hear how guitar and Schubert's soulful Lieder (the popular Ständchen among them), go so well together until one reads the notes and discovers that the guitar was a popular instrument in Schubert's time and some of his Lieder were actually published first for guitar and only later for piano accompaniment. But what is guitar music without some Spanish flavor? Singer and accompanist complete the varied fare on this CD with Rodrigo's Adagio from his classic Concerto de Aranjuez bracketed between lively Spanish pieces for solo guitar. Happily for fans and folk music afficionados, the CD marks only the beginning of this unique musical partnership. Check out FanFaire's Susanne Mentzer performance calendar for future concerts.

- GC/FanFaire99