Courtney Kenny - Cabaret Songs of Madeleine Dring (2019)

Cambria Master Recordings is pleased to announce Cabaret Songs of Madeleine Dring featuring performances by Dring specialist Wanda Brister, Mezzo-soprano; Courtney Kenny, piano and vocals; and Nuala Willis, contralto. The English composer Madeleine Dring (1923-1977) is best known for her rhythmic and tuneful piano works, art songs, and works for oboe. However, she also enjoyed writing and performing songs for West End Revues. Nearly all the songs on this album are premiere recordings and have not been heard since the close of the original productions. Cabaret Songs of Madeleine Dring includes some of Dring's compositions from West End Revues of the 1950s including Airs on a Shoestring, Child's Play, Fresh Airs, various cabaret songs with texts by Dring, and three arrangements of Cole Porter songs. It features Courtney Kenny, pianist and cabaret artist who was a friend of Dring and Musical Director for Child's Play in 1958 giving us a direct line to that era. Brister discovered Dring in 2000 and helped to have all the unpublished vocal works printed in 2018 by Classical Vocal Reprints. The release was recorded at Kenny's home in Sussex.