With Flowers Crowned

On this CD:

1. Ixa Fitepsi mia Kardia (I Planted a Heart)
Composed by Mikis Theodorakis
Performed by Maria Zouves

2. Potamos (The River)
Composed by G. Lambelet
Performed by Maria Zouves

3. Yasemi (Jasmine)
Composed by G. Lambelet
Performed by Maria Zouves

4. Kapou iparxi i agapi mou (Somewhere My Love Exists)
Composed by Manos Hadjidakis
Performed by Maria Zouves

5. I Anthostefanoti (With Flowers Crowned)
Composed by G. Lambelet
Performed by Maria Zouves

6. To Parapono (The Heartache)
Composed by Mikis Theodorakis
Performed by Maria Zouves

7. Sinevi stin Athina (It Happened in Athens)
Composed by Manos Hadjidakis
Performed by Maria Zouves

8. Floghera (The Flute)
Composed by L. Zoras
Performed by Maria Zouves

9. O Yiftos (The Gypsy)
Composed by L. Zoras
Performed by Maria Zouves

10. O Naos (The Temple)
Composed by Manolis Kalomiris
Performed by Maria Zouves

11. Yia sas Triandafila ke Yasemia (Hello, Roses and Flowers)
Composed by Manolis Kalomiris
Performed by Maria Zouves

12. Stou Othona ta Xronia Bouzouki Interlude
Composed by Stavros Xarhakos
Performed by Maria Zouves

13. Barcarolle, for voice & piano
Composed by Stavros Xarhakos
Performed by Maria Zouves

14. Vale Kialo Piato sto Trepezi (Place Another Plate on the Table)
Composed by Stavros Xarhakos
Performed by Maria Zouves

15. There will be Better Days, Even for Us, for voice & piano
Composed by Stavros Xarhakos
Performed by Maria Zouves

16. Never on Sunday, film score Never on Sunday
Composed by Manos Hadjidakis
Performed by Maria Zouves

17. Kourazmeno Palikari (Tired Young Man)
Composed by Manos Hadjidakis
Performed by Maria Zouves

18. Chanson de la mariée, song for voice and piano
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Maria Zouves

19. Là-bas, vers l'église, for voice & piano
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Maria Zouves

20. Quel galant m'est comparable, for voice and piano
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Maria Zouves

21. Chanson des cueilleuses de lentiques, for voice and piano
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Maria Zouves

22. Tout gai!, for voice & piano
Composed by Maurice Ravel
Performed by Maria Zouves

Tracks:

Garllo st'aftA carnation behind your ear)
Oniro pediis gitoni(Dream of urban children)
O tahidr (The postman)
M Magioday in May)
To tr fi stis okthe train leaves at eight)
Se pa rodmo (I gave you rose-water to drink)
Stou Othona ta hr (When Otto was king)
pri m ke ya mas (There will be better days, even for us)
Varkar (Barcarolle)
Ta tr pou fn
,Arhssa (Princess of my heart)

Album Description

This album features Baltsa's unrivalled voice singing folk music that is a basic source of the Greek tradition in song. All tracks feature folk songs arranged by leading contemporary Greek composers.

Customer Reviews:

Sheer beauty from Agnes Baltsa.......2005-06-23

This disc from Agnes Baltsa (Greek opera-singer) containing the most beautiful Greek songs is a real treat. It's recorded in the -80s when she was around 40 and in her prime. The songs are written by famous Greek composers like Theodorakis, Hadjidakis and Tsitsanis. My only complaint is that the cd only contains 11 songs. I wish it had at least 11 more.... But fortunately, my cd-player has a "repeat-button".......(Which I might add, is soon worn-out..)

For people unfamiliar with either Greek music or opera, this is the place to start. To me it seems that Greek music often is a matter of strong likes/dislikes, as is opera. You either love it or you hate it. After listening to this disc you will definitely want to seek out more recordings of Greek music and/or opera-recordings featuring Agnes Baltsa.

I know and love Agnes Baltsa from the opera stage, but even so, this record still amazes me. You will not hear her belt out painfully high notes like an opera-star on this cd - just beautiful singing throughout the whole disc. She also has a clear phrasing which I think is great, because it enables me to understand what the songs are all about. Being a classically trained singer one should perhaps think her voice unsuitable for simple-styled Greek folk songs. You couldn't be more wrong. Her crystal clear voice lends an elegancy to the songs that has to be heard to be believed. I'm a long time fan of Greek music and own a lot of recordings from various Greek artists, but never have I heard these songs so beautifully sung. This is definitely my "desert-island-recording" of Greek songs. I never tire of hearing them played again and again and again....

My favourite tracks from the disc have to be "Oniro pedion tis gitonias", "to treno fevgi stis okto", "O tahidromos" and "Arhontissa" and not to mention "Varkarolla". Her voice is just so hauntingly beautiful in these tracks. Don't be surprised if you end up in tears. But really, all the tracks are real treasures, gift-wrapped in Baltsa's velvet voice. It's a treat to hear Baltsa sing in her native tongue for the first time. It's obvious that she feels perfectly at ease here. She captures the melancholic beauty of the Greek soul so wonderfully. To me it's a mystery why she hasn't recorded more of this sort (at least I haven't been able to find any...)

The Athens Experimental Orchestra which is playing on this disc also deserves some words of praise. They make the Greek instruments sound heavenly and in the instrumental parts of the songs you just want to get up and dance.

This disc is really a proof of Greek supremacy - the music, the lyrics and Agnes Baltsa's singing - so simple and yet so powerful and breathtakingly beautiful. What more can I say? Just buy the cd ASAP!

A Wonderful Collection.......2004-12-10

This album was first released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) in 1986 under the title "Agnes Baltsa, Songs My Country Taught Me." I have owned it and enjoyed it for probably 15 years. It's a wonderful collection of very melodious Greek folk songs with fine arrangements sung by one of the great mezzo sopranos of our time. It's great that DG has seen fit to re-release it so many of you can also enjoy it. Buy it; you won't regret it.

Average customer rating:

Horrible
If you can't go to Greece this is the next best thing!

With Flowers Crowned

Manufacturer: Video Artists Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000C2CA
Release Date: 1999-11-30

Tracks:

Ixa Fitepsi mia Kardia: I Planted A Heart
Potamos - Yasemi: Medley: The River - Jasmine
Kapou Iparxi i Agapi mou: Somewhere My Love Exists
I Anthostefanoti: With Flowers Crowned
To Parapono: The Heartache
Sinevi stin Athina: It Happened In Athens
Floghera: The Flute
O Yiftos: The Gypsy
O Naos: The Temple
Yia sas Triandafila ke - Yasemia: Hello, Roses And Flowers
Bouzouki Interlude
Varvarola: Barcarole
Vale Kialo Piato sto Trepezi: Place Another Plate On The Table
Aspri Mera Ke yia Mas: A Better Day For Us
Ta Pedia tou Pirea: Never On Sunday
Kourazmeno Palikari: Tired Young Man
Greek Folk Songs 'Song For The Bride'
Greek Folk Songs 'Down At The Church'
Greek Folk Songs 'What Dandy Can Compare With Me!'
Greek Folk Songs 'Girls Gathering Pistachieos'
Greek Folk Songs 'Merrily'

Customer Reviews:

Horrible.......2000-12-17

A pseudo-operatic rendition of greek popular songs. Try Nana Mouskouri's early recordings of some of them and you'll see what I mean. The interpetation is pretentious and kitschy. The voice reminds us of one of those drawing room "recitals", with the bourgeois parents listening proudly to their daughter's efforts in serious music.

If you can't go to Greece this is the next best thing!.......1999-02-15

This young Greek-American artist captures the beauty of Greece and its music with a voice of an angel. The soul of her heritage comes through. It is an honor to be Greek and listen to this CD. Na zisi i Elatha mas!

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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