Rose in Bloom (CD) – Erin Morley

Composers: Camille Saint-Saëns, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Alban Berg, Ricky Ian Gordon, Darius Milhaud, Sergei Rachmaninov, Alexander Zimlinsky, Johannes Brahms, Michael Head, Arthur Sullivan, Ivor Novello
Artists: Erin Morley, Gerald Martin Moore
Number of Discs: 1
Label: Orchid Classics
Release Date: March 5, 2024

Erin Morley is one of today’s most sought-after coloratura sopranos, and her debut recital album presents a thoughtfully curated program which mirrors a stroll through a garden, delving into rich repertoire inspired by flowers, birds, and nature. Morley, known for her operatic roles, draws on connections to the natural world, offering a mix of well-known pieces, contemporary compositions, and hidden gems. 

A notable feature is the premiere recording of Ricky Ian Gordon’s Huit Chansons de Fleurs, a contemporary song cycle exploring themes of death, resurrection, fragrance, and the fleeting nature of beauty, adding a layer of poignancy to an album which features a diverse selection of vocal repertoire. Another highlight is Saint-Saëns’s “La Libellule,” a rarely heard gem capturing the agile movement of a dragonfly. And Sullivan’s “’Neath My Lattice Through the Night” stands out as the first presentation of the aria in its original key, the heights of the final cadenza just one example of Morley’s extraordinary performance of the repertoire. 

Rose in Bloom is an exploration of nature’s influence on music, a testament to Erin Morley’s artistry and originality, and a delightful journey through a garden of musical encounters.

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