Sleep is a common enough subject in art song, and Come to Me in My Dreams, a recital by mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly and pianist Joseph Middleton, isn't the only one. It may well, however, be the best. There are numerous attractions, starting with Connolly's voice, seeming to catch the mixture of clarity and seductiveness in the sleep phenomenon. Connolly touches on some little-known numbers, including a gem by the still rarely heard Muriel Herbert right at the beginning (sample the unaccompanied opening, and you'll be hooked for the duration). The music is all British, mostly from between the world wars, and all more or less similar in tone, although there's some splendid poetry involved. This leads you to Connolly's real triumph: given these limitations, she forges a varied and compelling program that has distinct parts and moods put together effectively. Connolly is most known for singing early music, and that serves her well here. Pieces like John Ireland's chilling setting of The Three Ravens, and Charles Villiers Stanford's traditional song adaptation A Soft Day evoke earlier styles. The program has a centerpiece, Britten's very lively A Charm of Lullabies, Op. 41, and a forward look near the end, Michael Tippett's three Songs for Ariel. Carrying it all is Connolly herself, who seems to hold each song suspended over the realm of sleep. Middleton knows enough to keep his part restrained and stay out of the way of her extraordinary performance. An essential British song recital.
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