Jamie Barton and Brian Zeger receive a rave review for All Who Wander from Opera Wire!
“It would not be surprising to see a debut album filled with popular repertoire or greatest hits. Taking a risk on the repertoire is not usually a risk we see many opera singers take with their first album. But for Jamie Barton, this very risk sets her apart. …
What works brilliantly about this recording is that each piece retains a clear individuality, yet they all feel like they belong in the same musical world. Barton’s voice is delicate throughout, a sound that the audiences are not accustomed to hearing in the opera house where her potent mezzo soprano exhilarates with its brilliance and forwardness. Here the voice is more subtle, gliding from one phrase to the next, “wandering” if you will, with such freedom as to carry the listener along. It is highly recommended you procure some translation if you can if only to enjoy the poetic marriage of text and music in all the selections, but those that are in it just for the music will be enraptured by the love and care that Barton gives to every phrase. …
Zeger is a wonderful collaborator, every bit Barton’s equal in what was clearly a passion project for both participants. His work in the Mahler might be the most memorable in how he sets the stage for Barton, creating atmosphere and tone. In “Um Mitternacht” he follows her beautifully throughout the climax, building the waves of torment around her in a way that adds to the intensity without overpowering or overstating its presence. … Barton and Zeger put together an album filled with music gems that will captivate those willing to give it a listen. The intimacy of the set will take them wandering through a vast musical landscape that encapsulates almost any human emotion one can imagine.…” —David Salazar, Opera Wire
