Lorraine at Emmanuel: Celebrating the lives of Craig Smith and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson

"This is a superb disc that all admirers of this much-missed singer will want to have. And if you've not heard Lorraine Hunt Lieberson before, buy this disc and discover for yourself what all the fuss is about."
(MusicWeb Recording of the Month July 2008)

Few people in the operatic world hold the iconic status that Lorraine Hunt Leiberson achieved. Some have compared Lorraine to Maria Callas, Mahalia Jackson and Jessye Norman, but to many Lorraine was simply herself, an amazingly natural and wonderful talent. Not only did she
possess an inimitable, beautiful voice but she also had the qualities of a truly great singer: technique, perfect intonation and clarity of each word she sang coupled with a marvellous sense of theatre, always to the service of the composer's written score.

One of her most beloved friends was the conductor Craig Smith, who sadly died late last year. Few people are aware that Smith was a key figure in putting Lorraine onto the world stage, inviting her back for performances of works by Bach and Handel at Boston's landmark Emmanuel Church during the 1980's and 1990's before she became one of the most sought after performers in the world. This partnership was so dear to Lorraine that her stardom and busy schedule never stopped her from coming back time and time again for performances in the church.

Avie Records is proud to announce a collection of previously unreleased performances from 1992 to 1999 by the incomparable Lorraine Hunt Lieberson - in repertiore new to her substantial discography!

This beautiful collection of music for voice and orchestra by Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Frideric Handel is also a celebration of the important artistic collaborations between Lorraine and Craig Smith.