Scottish mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor, a standout in the finals of the 2023 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, has released her debut solo album, The Deeps Have Music, with pianist Hamish Brown. The smartly curated programme brings together a satisfyingly salty selection of art song, culminating in an intrepid account of Elgar's Sea Pictures.
A Distinctive Voice and Thoughtful Programming
Taylor's instrument is instantly identifiable. At its ruby-red bottom, she has the breadth of a true contralto, yet there's an upper extension that brands her as a mezzo. Her seamless legato, cushioned lower register, and gift for storytelling come into their own in Schubert songs like Meeres Stille and in the spellbinding opener, Hamilton Harty's arrangement of My Lagan Love. Her gleaming top is showcased in delicate musical aquarelles by Hedwige Chrétien. Brown proves a resourceful partner throughout, bringing imaginative depths to even the briefest of songs.
Rare Gems and a Passionate Elgar
Chrétien, a professor at the Paris Conservatoire but barely remembered today, isn't the only rarity here. Taylor makes an excellent case for Ethel Smyth's reflective Three Moods of the Sea and Harty's melancholy Sea Wrack. Cameron Biles-Liddell's luminous The Breakers, written for Taylor herself, is another find.
The Elgar, with piano accompaniments embellished by Brown, is full of telling details and sung with demonstrable passion. The lilt she brings to In Haven and the tempestuous way she attacks The Swimmer are notable. These considered interpretations hold their own against classic accounts by Janet Baker and Sarah Connolly.
