PATRICE DJEREJIAN

• Telemann

"[Patrice Djerejian] is sympathetic and capable in this endeaver. "
Fanfare - June 2008
"A lively, magisterially crystalline performance."
World Magazine - April 2008
"For all his immense productivity, Telemann very rarely disappoints. This disc does nothing to make me change my working axiom.... the Trio Sonata for two flutes is thoroughly delightful... It gets an affectionate but disciplined performance here, the two flutes of William Bennett and Kate Hall interweaving in a fascinating and gently compelling fashion, ably supported by the continuo work of Sir Philip Ledger and Josephine Knight, springy, supportive and attentive... [Djerejian] sings with gravity and beauty in the second aria of Weg mit Sodoms gift’gen Früchten... her phrasing intelligent and her work often conveying a real sense of serious religious thought. ... evident commitment of Djererian’s performances is always attractive; she is clearly a singer who thinks hard about the words she is singing... Antippo’s aria elicits some particularly fine singing from Djerejian, plaintive but strong in its opening (where she is beautifully supported by Ledger and the orchestra), and more fiercely passionate later."
MusicWeb International - February 2008
"[Djerejian's] phrasing is active and she brings an attractive expression to the sacred cantatas..."
Gramophone - February 2008
"Djerejian again impresses through her ability to move her weighty voice with agility and for her capacity for expressing the varying moods of her texts... Ledger's leadership from the keyboards is predictably deft...an appealing Telemann package..."
American Record Guide - January / February 2007
"Contralto Patrice Djerejian builds on the success of her earlier all-Handel release Love Lost and Found [MS1091] with Divine Harmony, a program of rarely heard sacred cantatas by Georg Philipp Telemann... In these cantatas, typically consisting of two florid arias with a soberly meditative recitative in between, Patrice Djerejian gives a good account of herself in the Baroque decorations that embellish the vocal line, underscoring the intent of the verse...an attractive program".
Atlanta Audio Society - September 2007
"a distinctive young contralto"
The Gramophone PATRICE DJEREJIAN, a young and gifted contralto who performs actively in the United States and Europe, is gaining international recognition for her radiant stage presence and captivating voice. Patrice’s passionate and fiery spirit, open heart and natural presence are irresistibly communicated to her audiences.
Recent performances include Ms. Djerejian’s Carnegie Hall debut with the American Composers Orchestra, performing the music of Leonard Bernstein, her Carnegie Weill Hall Recital debut, appearances as alto soloist in performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 and soloist with Columbia Artists Community Concert Series. Ms. Djerejian has performed many operatic roles, including: Maddalena in Rigoletto, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, Nancy in Albert Herring, Meg in Falstaff, and Isabella in L’Italiana in Algeri.
Patrice Djerejian created the role of Gossip in the world premier of Bright Sheng’s opera The Song of Majnun, co-produced by Houston Grand Opera and the Aspen Opera Theatre Center. She is also known for her work as alto soloist in oratorios, among them Bach’s Magnificat and Christmas Oratorio, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and Saint-Saens’ Christmas Oratorio, in performance with numerous international and national orchestras. Patrice is equally at home with interpretations that range from baroque to contemporary music. Regardless of what she sings, most important to Patrice is communicating the meaning of the words through her singing.
Patrice Djerejian’s talent is supported by an unusually extensive musical background. Born in South Carolina and later moving to Ohio, Patrice grew up in a music-loving Armenian-American family. Soon, she was winning scholarships and awards to begin her vocal study completing her Masters in Voice Performance, followed by training abroad in Austria and Italy.
For her debut recording with the English Chamber Orchestra under Sir Philip Ledger, Ms. Djerejian sang Handel Arias & Italian Solo Cantatas, receiving great critical acclaim in the press. More recently, she brought her colorful interpretive skills to Caldara’s Il Giuoco del Quadriglio for the Albany Records label. Patrice’s next recording project will be the role of Asteria in Gluck’s La Corona, to be premiered in concert at Merkin Hall in New York City.
SIR PHILIP LEDGER CBE was born in Bexhill and educated at King’s College, Cambridge. When appointed Master of the Music at Chelmsford Cathedral, he became the youngest cathedral organist in the United Kingdom. As Director of Music at the University of East Anglia, he worked closely with Benjamin Britten as an Artistic Director of the Aldeburgh Festival before returning to King’s College, Cambridge as Director of Music. There he conducted the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols which is broadcast each year on Christmas Eve, made an extensive range of recordings with the famous choir, and directed recitals and tours throughout the world. He then became Principal of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He has conducted many of the leading symphony and chamber orchestras in the United Kingdom and overseas. As conductor, pianist, and harpsichordist, he has given performances in the USA, Canada, Asia, and extensively throughout Europe. He has worked with numerous international artists, including Thomas Allen, Janet Baker, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Gidon Kremer, Yo Yo Ma, Yehudi Menuhin, Itzhak Perlman, Paul Tortelier and Pinchas Zukerman. He is widely recognized as a recording artist of great distinction. Philip Ledger has five honorary doctorates, was created a CBE in 1985, and was Knighted for Services to Music in 1999. GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN
Sacred Cantatas
Weg mit Sodoms gift’gen Früchten; Wie sollt’ ich da; Gewünschtes Fest der süßen Brote; Glaubet, hoffet, leidet, duldet; Ach, freilich kommt die Zeit; Brich auf, o starker Herr der Scharen!; Stille die Tränen des winselnden Armen; Ist’s möglich, unbarmherzige Gemüter; Ja, ja, sammle nur bei meinen Garben; Ergeuß dich zur Salbung der schmachtenden Seele; Samaria empfing den heilgen Geist; Schwarzer Geist der Dunkelheit
TRIO for 2 FLUTES in D MAJOR
DER GEDULDIGE SOCRATES SCENA 12
Halt!; Hegt dein Herze Kein Erbarmen; Erwäge sein Verdienst!; Meine Triebe zu erzählen



MSR Classics