Sylvia McNair
Subject to Change!
(Harbinger Records)
June 6, 2016
Reviewed by John Hoglund for Cabaret Scenes
On this live recording, the two-time Grammy winner Sylvia McNair recalls her turns in Antony and Cleopatra, La Traviata and other productions. In 1999, she abandoned a starring career with The Metropolitan Opera and other companies, expanding to other endeavors, including teaching diction and following her heart—singing the Great American Songbook in concert halls and cabarets.
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She even studied with legendary soprano Eileen Farrell who helped guide her on scaling her voice to the song.
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Ultimately, this glorious singer conquered it all and mastered subtexts and flawless phrasings on a vast repertoire in a career that just gets better with time.
On this unique album, McNair displays her thrilling soprano on a bevy of eclectic songs. In shimmering voice, she also has a lot of fun. Opening with (an appropriate) “Everybody Says Don’t” (Stephen Sondheim) and closing with “With a Song in My Heart” (Rodgers & Hart), the sheer beauty of her clarion-toned voice expresses an entertaining tale of a lady who has followed her heart and is a survivor. She performs stunningly realized renditions of beauties like “This Time the Dream’s on Me” (Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer), “It’s Good to Have You Near Again” (Andre & Dory Previn) and a medley of “Tonight” with “One Hand, One Heart” (both from the score of West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein/Sondheim). She also offers a pensive and rarely heard “I Cannot Hear the City” from Sweet Smell of Success (Marvin Hamlisch/Craig Carnelia) that is powerful and poignant in its subtlety. On “Orange Colored Sky” (Milton DeLugg/Willie Stein), she proves she is equally at home with swing/jazz material. Throughout, she also displays a winning, down-to-earth personality that sparkles.
Like Broadway soprano Barbara Cook (whose lead she might check out as she further expands her repertoire), McNair has the grace and intelligence to melt to a whisper on a ballad as well as belt out show tunes from the rafters with equal grace. It’s all here in this gem of an album that is sure to gain well-deserved attention.
With Ted Taylor on piano and serving as musical director, she’s in good hands.
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Also, Jeremy Allen on bass and Steve Houghton on drums and percussion offer excellent support.