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New Release on Albany Records
How Sweet the Sound - a charm of spirituals
Hear three clips here!
"Darryl Taylor's singing is masterful on this recording. He demonstrates long, legato lines, unbelievable breath-control, surprising high notes plucked out of the sky, and occassional blues riffs..."
The Countertenor Voice
Darryl Taylor's performances have been noted for their compelling artistry and authority. His is an international career highlighted by performances of art song, opera and oratorio. His repertoire extends from Bach to Britten, and beyond.
Mr. Taylor has appeared with orchestras in the USA and in Europe. These include the Johann Strauss Sinfonietta of Vienna, the W.A. Mozart Philharmonic of Cluj, Romania, Camerata Mediterania of Barcelona, and the Aspen Music Festival (Young Artists Series), under the batons of conductors Conxita Garcia, Cristian Florea, Gert Meditz, Gustav Meier, Richard Rosenberg, James Vail, Rebecca Burkhardt, and Bruce Nehring. Among his operatic credits is the premier of the jazzopera by Nathan Davis, Just Above My Head, on the novel by James Baldwin (role of Jimmy), lead roles in operas by Mozart, Verdi, Handel, Britten, and Gershwin. Taylor's international itinerary includes some 19 tours of Spain, singing to enthusiastic, capacity audiences.
Recent performance highlights include singing the title role in Phillip Glass' Akhnaten for Long Beach Opera; Pergolesi and Vivaldi Stabat Mater with Lyra Baroque Orchestra of St. Paul, Minnesota; performances with the Carmel Bach Festival; the Bach Collegium San Diego under Richard Egarr, and a first place win in the Alexander International Vocal Competition, culminating in a performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
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He was also heard performing Solomon with the City Choir of Washington under Robert Shafer; with further performances at Munich’s Hochschüle für Müsik with composer Robert Owens at the piano, for Radio Bavaria; at the historic Maria la Nova Cathedral in Naples, Italy; with jazz great Kenny Burrell at Royce Hall in Los Angeles; and in recital at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC......Read More
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Press Quotes
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“Very often, programs of African-American spirituals are performed either by chesty-voiced baritones or powerhouse sopranos. Less frequently, you'll hear them performed by a countertenor -- and less frequently still, by a countertenor with the kind of range, fluency, and delicacy of tone that characterize the singing of Darryl Taylor…and Taylor delivers everything with both penetrating musical insight and a light but sturdy grace. He is supported brilliantly throughout by pianist Brent McMunn. Very highly recommended.”
Baker&Taylor CDHotlist
"Darryl Taylor's singing is masterful on this recording. He demonstrates long, legato lines, unbelievable breath-control, surprising high notes plucked out of the sky, and occassional blues riffs..."
Oliver Camacho, The Countertenor Voice
"(Taylor) was superb (as Akhnaten)...You couldn’t really ask for more."
Out West Arts
"Taylor, who stepped in between the first and second performances, received a giant, and well-deserved, hand at the curtain. He has a fine, clear countertenor, and was especially good in the hymn to the sun god Aten, the longest solo in the opera."
San Francisco Classical Voice
“Darryl Taylor plumbed the greatness of Langston Hughes…He is intense without pleading and likable without effort…It’s an engaging dynamic, the way he comes to the audience and then lets the audience come to him. Singing or speaking, Taylor savored the beauty and power of Hughes’ writing and graciously shared it with the rest of us.”
Tom Strini, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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| "(Dreamer: A Portrait of Langston Hughes) grabs you and doesn't let go. Darryl Taylor's new CD is a collection of some twenty art songs that covers a wide range of expression and demonstrates just how versatile this singer can be with formidable powers of expression and a beautiful voice. This modern piece (Dreamer) demands of the singer an encyclopedic production of the vocal sounds found in spirituals, gospel music, blues, field hollers, and new age music and Darryl Taylor meets them all with no apparent strain or effort and with clear diction." Artsong Update, Issue #15 |
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| "Love Rejoices: Songs of H Leslie Adams...[is] a winner is every respect. Darryl Taylor is a joy to hear. He doesn't sound like anyone else…he sounds like Darryl Taylor. Here we can listen to these two American artists as they ought to be heard, and we cannot fail to be impressed." John Boyer, American Record Guide |
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“(Darryl Taylor) offered an uncommonly splendid and spiritual evening…(he) delighted us with a truly exciting recital 'among friends.' ” ABC, Barcelona, SPAIN
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More Quotes
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