Album Notes

Patricia Kent's rich soprano embodies the art and essence of lyric singing. She has been praised for the "grace, authority, beauty and power" of her voice. She has performed in New York with the Manhattan and Amato opera companies. She made her European debut in London in 2000, performing as soprano soloist in Mendelssohn's Elijah under conductor Benjamin Pope. She has studied in New York with Martin Lies and Sheila Schonbrun and in Minnesota with Elizabeth Mannion and Lawrence Weller. Currently residing in St Paul Minnesota, she performs with many prominent Midwest ensembles. She has performed with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) under Christopher Hogwood in Bach's Christmas Oratorio. Ms. Kent has also soloed with the SPCO under the direction of maestros Joel Revzen, John Harbison and Hugh Wolff. Patricia has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra (MO) for their Viennese Sommerfest under the direction of Joseph Silverstein and as the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors with the MO and the James Sewell Ballet in 2002.
Patricia Kent and Roderick Kettlewell have been a musical team for many years. They performed the music on this recording at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in February, 2002. Daniel Rosenbluth of the New York Concert Review described the program as such: "in a program titled 'La Vie Intérieure' Ms. Kent led us in both strong and loving example through the gates that most often remain closed to our vision of music's ultimate purpose: the singing of the human soul. Through disciplined craft and the plum nectar of her voice, Ms. Kent's full power of personality and ability to communicate so incisively and broadly, and truly, was of nearly mythic proportion.." Mr. Rosenbluth also said that "Mr. Kettlewell's contribution was of stunningly beautiful substance, his playing a continuum of every nuance, and replete with the variegated textures and colors that swim and sparkle in this repertoire."
Pianist and conductor Roderick Kettlewell brings a wealth of experience and long standing passion for French music to this recording. Born in London, he had the privilege of studying the French repertoire with Robin Bowman, Jean-Christophe Benoit, Irène Joachim, Gerard Souzay, Hughes Cuenod, Thomas Grubb and Margo Garrett. Now residing in St. Paul, Minnesota, Kettlewell has also performed with the SPCO and worked closely with Bobby McFerrin.