Sally Silver - Songs by William Vincent Wallace (2014)

Wallace wrote for some of the great singers of his day (1830’s – 1860’s), Jenny Lind (Gipsy Maid), the Irish soprano Carherine Hayes (Happy Birdling), the baritone Johann Baptist Pischek (Go thou restless wind), Henriette Sontag (Orange Flower) and his soprano wife (Cradle Song).

Wallace was nothing if not versatile. He was born in Waterford, Ireland in 1812 and died in France at the age of 53 after a colourful career as a violinist (dubbed ‘the Australian Paganini’ at the age of 23, whilst in New South Wales), pianist and conductor (in South America and the USA) and finally in London as an operatic composer whose operas, particularly Maritana, Lurline and the Amber Witch gained great popularity when premiered in the London theatres.

In his excellent CD booklet notes, Andrew Lamb (author of William Vincent Wallace: Composer, Virtuoso and Adventurer), writes: “Wallace’s songs readily display his instinctive melodic gift, and the graceful melodic lines are allied to the same comfortable grasp of keyboard technique that pervades his piano output. The collection recorded here is mostly upbeat, avoiding the maudlin sentiment that disfigures much of Victorian balladry.”