Music Album Review: Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Shines in Kiri Sings Kern

Kiri Sings Kern (1993)

Label: Angel/EMI Records

Genre: Crossover/Standards

Artists: Kiri Te Kanawa (Soprano), London Sinfonietta (Orchestra), Jonathan Tunick (Conductor/Arranger)

Release Date: March 16, 1993

Jerome Kern (1885-1945) remains one of the most influential composers in American popular music. Alongside legends like Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers, the New York-born Kern penned over 700 compositions, primarily foxtrots and ballad waltzes. He transformed the European operetta into the uniquely American stage musical. Kern’s collaborations with lyricists such as Oscar Hammerstein II, George Grossmith Jr., P.G. Wodehouse, Otto Harbach, Ira Gershwin, and Dorothy Fields produced a treasure trove of standards. These include timeless classics like “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” “The Folks Who Live on the Hill,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” “The Song is You,” and “All the Things You Are.”

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, born Claire Mary Teresa Rawstron on March 6, 1944, in Gisborne, New Zealand, is a celebrated lyric soprano renowned for her mellow yet vibrant voice. Adopted as an infant by Thomas and Nell Te Kanawa, she was trained by the esteemed Sister Mary Leo and quickly rose to international fame with her 1971 debut as the Countess in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro at the Royal Opera House in London. Over her illustrious career, she has performed with leading orchestras and opera houses worldwide, earning accolades such as a Grammy Award and the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Her extensive discography includes beloved albums like Kiri Sings Gershwin and Kiri Sings Kern, showcasing her versatility and artistry.

Kern’s extensive musical work shaped American popular music from pre-World War I to the rock ‘n’ roll era. Many artists, including those from rock, pop/jazz, and opera, have covered his songs. In 1993’s Kiri Sings Kern, Dame Kiri performs 14 Broadway and film songs arranged and conducted by Jonathan Tunick with the London Sinfonietta.

Track List

1. The Folks Who Live on the Hill  (from High, Wide and Handsome, 1937)

2. I’m Old Fashioned (from You Were Never Lovelier, 1942)

3. The Way You Look Tonight (from Swing Time, 1936)

4. The Song Is You (from Music in the Air, 1932)

5. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (from Roberta, 1933)

6. All Through the Day (from Centennial Summer, 1946)

7. The Last Time I Saw Paris (from Lady Be Good, 1941)

8. A Fine Romance (from Swing Time, 1936)

9. Yesterdays (from Roberta, 1933)

10. All the Things You Are (from Very Warm for May, 1939)

11. Bill (from Show Boat, 1927)

12. Long Ago and Far Away (from Cover Girl, 1944)

13. Look for the Silver Lining (from Sally, 1920)

14. Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man (from Show Boat, 1927)

My Take

I didn’t buy many compact disc albums during my 10-month sojourn in Madison, New Hampshire. I lacked storage space for the CDs I had lugged from my erstwhile home in the Tampa Bay area to New England last December—most of my music collection was still in boxes when I moved back to Miami two months ago. I did, however, buy two CDs while I was still in the Granite State: Big Band Salute: Theme Songs and Hits of America’s Greatest Bandleaders by the Avalon Big Band and Kiri Sings Kern.

I bought Kiri Sings Kern after listening to Dame Kiri’s cover of – what else? – “All the Things You Are” as I worked on a Jim-and-Maddie scene in Reunion: Coda. This song, a collaboration between Kern and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, was featured as an audio-only offering on the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa channel on YouTube. It’s my current go-to standard, and I liked the straightforward, no-frills rendition so much that I decided to buy the entire album.

As I mentioned earlier, Kiri Sings Kern features 14 songs from stage and screen. I recognized six right away; besides “All the Things You Are,” I was familiar with “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” “The Song is You,” “Long Ago and Far Away,” “The Last Time I Saw Paris,” and “The Way You Look Tonight.” I have other albums – such as Nothing But the Best by Frank Sinatra – which include these songs, and – of course – I’ve seen American Graffiti, which includes the popular cover of “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” by The Platters in its soundtrack.

Although some listeners familiar with the original versions of these songs may complain that Dame Kiri’s “straight” renditions leave out the emotional context from the film or stage performances, I have no issues with any of the 14 songs in Kiri Sings Kern. Her voice is clear and lovely, and her delivery is both confident and direct; there’s no unnecessary overemoting or operatic grandstanding here by Dame Kiri.

Kiri Te Kanawa is backed by the London Sinfonietta, the same British orchestra that the late John McGlinn led in many of his meticulous reconstructions of Broadway scores composed by Jerome Kern. Under the direction of conductor and arranger Jonathan Tunick, the London Sinfonietta beautifully supports the Kiwi soprano with their performance of Kern’s melodies, enhancing her vocal artistry with compelling obbligatos and fine musicianship.

All in all, Kiri Sings Kern is an enjoyable compilation of some of the best songs composed by Jerome Kern, as well as a triumphant crossover by one of opera’s most accomplished singers into the Great American Songbook. I listen to this album often, especially when I’m working on my novel, because its songs are beautiful and timeless, and Dame Kiri performs them with clarity, self-assurance, and vocal artistry.

Outstanding Songs:

• “All the Things You Are”
• “The Folks Who Live on the Hill”
• “I’m Old-Fashioned”
• “All Through the Day”
• “The Way You Look Tonight”
• “The Last Time I Saw Paris”
• “The Song is You”
• “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”