Kate 2021

Corruption? Betrayal? Persecution? Tyranny? These subjects resonate with the current events of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. They also provide the subject matter of many seventeenth-century musical works. Kate Lindsey has chosen to devote this second Baroque recital with the English ensemble Arcangelo directed by Jonathan Cohen (following Arianna in 2020, ALPHA576) to the figure of Nero. Scarlatti, Handel and Monteverdi wrote works focusing on this tragic protagonist and his entourage, including his mother Agrippina and his wives (Poppaea and Octavia). Interpreted with incredible intensity by the American mezzo-soprano, the programme features world premiere recordings of two cantatas: Alessandro Scarlatti’s La morte di Nerone (c.1690) and Bartolomeo Monari’s La Poppea (1685). Tenor Andrew Staples and soprano Nardus Williams join Kate Lindsey for duets from L’incoronazione di Poppea, including the sensual ‘Pur ti miro’.

It was 50 years ago when Kate Taylor released her first full-length LP, Sister Kate. The album reached the Billboard Top 100, propelled by her version of brother James‘ lovely lullaby “You Can Close Your Eyes”. Kate was part of a whole skew of Taylor siblings (Alex, Hugh, Livingston) whose musical careers were piggy-backed on top of the rocketing success of James. After all, she was billed as “Sister Kate”, not Kate Taylor. Her musical career lost steam after the debut album, but she still occasionally recorded and performed…

Kate Ceberano releases “Sweet Inspiration,” the 28th album of her extraordinary music career!