Gramophone

'The succession of delightful items is very pleasing, and the admixture of light music will probably be welcomed in private even in quarters where it would be impossible to admit to a liking for the tunes of Novello and Kálmán. She is particularly good in the excerpts from Arabella and Capriccio, reminding us that she is now one of the most experienced Strauss sopranos we have. Rebecca Evans sings beautifully in her two duets... there is stylish playing by the LSO under Richard Hickox.'
1 Handel's Rinaldo Armida's Aria 'Ah! Cruel man'
with Eligio Quinteiro, theorbo
& Catherine Edwards, harpsichord
2 Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro Letter Duet
'Well, what did you tell him?' with Rebecca Evans, soprano
3 Mozart's Cosě fan tutte Fiordiligi's Recitative & Rondo
'He's left me...' - 'Ah, forgive, my love, forgive me.'
4 Strauss' Arabella Arabella & Zdenka's Aria
'He's not the one...' with Rebecca Evans, soprano
5 Mozart's Cosě fan tutte Fiordiligi & Ferrando's Duet
'By tomorrow we'll be together' with Bruce Ford, tenor
6 Lehár's The Merry Widow Vilia's Song
with Geoffrey Mitchell Choir & James A. Ellis, arranger/mandolin
& Nigel Woodhouse, mandolin
7 Kálmán's The Gypsy Princess Sylva & Edwin's Duet
'Festive laughter, celebration' - 'Where are they now?'
8 Strauss' Capriccio Closing Scene 'Where is my brother?'
with Rebecca Evans, soprano, Roderick Williams, baritone
& Timothy Jones, horn
9 Gershwin's The Show Is On
'By Strauss' 'Away with the music of Broadway!'
10 Novello's King's Rhapsody Princess Cristiane's Song
'Some day my heart will awake.'

London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Richard Hickox

Recorded in Blackheath Halls, London -
23-26 November 2002
Producer - Brian Couzens
Sound engineer - Ralph Couzens
Assistant engineer - Matthew Walker

CHAN 3099
Great Operatic Arias - Yvonne Kenny 2
International Record Review

'It was a delightful touch to include the Letter duet from Act 3 of Mozart's Figaro. Here, Kenny's pure yet creamy sound and aristocratic line are perfectly suited to Countess Almaviva, with Rebecca Evans equally well cast as Susanna - their voices have just the right degree of contrast and blend.'