This is a list of recordings of Kathleen Battle (born 13 August 1948), an African-American operatic soprano. The list includes live and studio recordings available in audio CD, VHS and DVD. Five of the recordings listed here won Grammy Awards:Grammy Awards official web site Best Classical Vocal Soloist Performance for Kathleen Battle Sings Mozart, 1986 Best Classical Vocal Soloist Performance for Salzburg Recital, 1987 Best Opera Recording for Richard Strauss: Ariadne Auf Naxos, 1987 Best Classical Vocal Soloist Performance for Kathleen Battle at Carnegie Hall (Handel, Mozart, Liszt, Strauss, etc.), 1992 Best Opera Recording for Handel: Semele, 1993
Discography Choral and symphonic YearIn most cases the date given is for the most recent release, not necessarily the actual year of recording.TitleSoloistsConductor,OrchestraLive /StudioLabel1977Bach: Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten, BWV 202 "Wedding Cantata"Kathleen BattleJames LevineChicago Symphony OrchestraStudioRCA1983Berg: Lulu SuiteKathleen BattleMichael GielenCincinnati Symphony Orchestra1984Brahms: Ein Deutsches RequiemKathleen Battle,Hakan HagegardJames LevineChicago Symphony OrchestraLiveSonyMahler: Symphony No. 4 in G majorKathleen BattleLorin MaazelVienna PhilharmonicStudioSony1985Mozart: RequiemKathleen Battle,Ann Murray,David Rendall,Matti SalminenDaniel BarenboimChoeurs Et Orchestre De ParisStudioEMI ClassicsMozart: Mass in C major, K 317 "Coronation Mass"(Celebrated by Pope John Paul II)Kathleen Battle,Trudeliese Schmidt,Gosta WinberghFerruccio FurlanettoHerbert von KarajanSistine Chapel Singers,Vienna PhilharmonicLiveDeutsche Grammophon1986Fauré: RequiemKathleen Battle,Andreas Schmidt,Timothy FarrellCarlo Maria GiuliniPhilharmonia OrchestraLiveDeutsche Grammophon1987Handel: MessiahKathleen Battle,Florence Quivar,Samuel Ramey,John AlerAndrew DavisToronto SymphonyToronto Mendelssohn ChoirStudioEMI Classics1989Poulenc: Gloria; Stabat MaterKathleen BattleSeiji OzawaBoston Symphony OrchestraTanglewood Festival ChorusDeutsche Grammophon1990Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C minorKathleen Battle,Maureen ForresterLeonard SlatkinSt. Louis Symphony ChorusSt. Louis Symphony OrchestraStudioTelarc1991Haydn: The CreationKathleen Battle,Kurt Moll,Gösta WinberghJames LevineBerlin PhilharmonicStudioDeutsche GrammophonMozart: Mass in C minorKathleen Battle,Lella CuberliJames LevineVienna State Opera ChorusVienna PhilharmonicStudioDeutsche Grammophon1992Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's DreamKathleen Battle,Judi Dench,Frederica von StadeSeiji OzawaBoston Symphony OrchestraTanglewood Festival ChorusLiveDeutsche GrammophonFor details, see A Midsummer Night's Dream (Seiji Ozawa recording)1997André Previn: Honey and Rue;Samuel Barber: Knoxville: Summer of 1915;George Gershwin: selections from Porgy and BessKathleen BattleAndré PrevinOrchestra of St. Luke'sStudioDeutsche Grammophon2001Vangelis: MythodeaKathleen Battle,Jessye NormanLondon Metropolitan OrchestraGreek National Opera ChorusLiveSony2003Brahms: Ein Deutsches RequiemKathleen Battle,José van DamHerbert von KarajanVienna PhilharmonicLiveSony2004Mozart: Exsultate, jubilate /AriasKathleen BattleAndré PrevinRoyal Philharmonic OrchestraStudioEMI Classics
Complete operas YearTitleRoleCastConductorOrchestraLive /StudioLabel1979 Massenet: WertherSophieBattle,Crespin,Carlson,Kraus, et al.Richard BonyngeMetropolitan Opera OrchestraLiveGala1985 Verdi: Un ballo in mascheraOscarBattle,Pavarotti,M. Price,C. Ludwig, et al.Georg SoltiNational Philharmonic OrchestraStudioDecca1986 Mozart: Don GiovanniZerlinaBattle,Tomowa-Sintow,Varady,Baltsa, et al.Herbert von KarajanBerlin PhilharmonicStudioDeutsche Grammophon1987 Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem SerailBlondeBattle,Gruberova,Winbergh,Zednik, et al.Georg SoltiVienna PhilharmonicStudioUniversal International1987Mozart: Le nozze di FigaroSusannaBattle,M. Price,A. Murray,Allen, et al.Riccardo MutiVienna PhilharmonicStudioEMI1990 Richard Strauss: Ariadne auf NaxosZerbinettaBattle,Tomowa-Sintow,Lakes,Baltsa, et al.James LevineVienna PhilharmonicStudioPolygramDonizetti: L'elisir d'amoreAdinaBattle,Pavarotti,Nucci,Dara, et al.James LevineMetropolitan Opera OrchestraStudioDeutsche Grammophon1991 Rossini: Il signor BruschinoSofiaBattle,Ramey,Lopardo,Arevalo, et al.Ion MarinEnglish Chamber OrchestraStudioDeutsche Grammophon Rossini: L'italiana in AlgeriElviraBattle,Horne,Ramey, et al.Claudio ScimoneI Solisti VenetiPrague Philharmonic ChorusStudioErato Libretto Mozart: Die ZauberflötePaminaBattle,Araiza,Hemm,Serra, et al.James LevineMetropolitan Opera OrchestraLiveGala1992 Wagner: SiegfriedWaldvogel(forest bird)Battle,Goldberg,Zednik,Gallo, et al.James LevineMetropolitan Opera OrchestraStudioDeutsche Grammophon1993 Rossini: Il barbiere di SivigliaRosinaBattle,Domingo,Lopardo,Gallo, et al.Claudio AbbadoChamber Orchestra of EuropeStudioDeutsche Grammophon1993Handel: SemeleSemeleBattle,Horne,Aler,McNair, et al.John NelsonEnglish Chamber OrchestraStudioDeutsche GrammophonVerdi: Don CarloA Voice from HeavenBattle,Millo,Zajick,Croft, et al.James LevineMetropolitan Opera OrchestraStudioSony
Recitals, concerts, aria and song collections Year recordedTitleGenreCollaboratorsLabel1977Angel's Visits and other Vocal Gems of Victorian America (Note: Battle sings one solo song and one duet)ClassicalRaymond Murcell (baritone)Rose Taylor (mezzo-soprano)Lawrence Skrobakcs (piano)New World Records LP (later reissued on CD)1981Robert Schumann: Spanish Love Songs;Andante and Variations; Piano QuartetClassicalJohn Aler (tenor)Dominic Cossa (baritone)Charles Wadsworth (piano)ASV1983The Metropolitan Opera Centennial GalaOperaElisabeth Söderström (soprano)Frederica von Stade (mezzo-soprano)Deutsche Grammophon DVD00440-073-45381984Salzburg RecitalClassicalJames Levine (piano)Deutsche Grammophon (recorded live at Salzburg Festival)1986A Christmas Celebration: Kathleen BattleClassical,Sacred songs,SpiritualsLeonard Slatkin (conductor),Orchestra of St. Luke'sNew York Choral ArtistsBoys' Choir of HarlemEMI ClassicsKathleen Battle and Christopher Parkening:Pleasures of Their CompanyClassicalEMI ClassicsKathleen Battle Sings MozartClassicalAndré Previn (conductor)Royal Philharmonic OrchestraEMI Classics1987New Year's Concert in ViennaClassicalHerbert von Karajan (conductor)Vienna PhilharmonicDeutsche GrammophonSchubert LiederClassicalJames Levine (piano)Deutsche GrammophonOmbra Mai FuClassicalLawrence Skrobacs (piano), Nancy Allen (harp), Dan Saunders (piano)Seven Seas Records—recorded and released only in Japan in affiliation with Nikka Whiskey. Two separate issues include a 12-inch 33-1/3 rpm vinyl release with 9 art song selections, and a 12-inch 45-rpm release with only 4 song selections.1988Battle & Domingo Live in TokyoClassicalJames Levine (conductor)Metropolitan Opera OrchestraDeutsche Grammophon1991The Metropolitan Opera Gala 1991OperaJames Levine (conductor)Metropolitan Opera OrchestraDeutsche Grammophon DVD00440-073-4582Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman:Spirituals in ConcertSpiritualsJames Levine (conductor)Polygram RecordsHandel AriasClassicalNeville Marriner (Conductor)Academy of St. Martin in the FieldsEMI Classics1992Kathleen Battle and Itzhak Perlman:J.S. Bach AriasClassicalJohn NelsonOrchestra of St. Luke'sDeutsche GrammophonA Carnegie Hall Christmas ConcertClassicalAndré Previn (conductor)Orchestra of St. Luke'sWynton MarsalisFrederica von Stade (mezzo-soprano)Sony DVD and CDKathleen Battle at Carnegie HallClassicalMargo Garrett (piano)Deutsche GrammophonKathleen Battle and Wynton Marsalis:Baroque DuetClassicalJohn Nelson (conductor)Orchestra of St. Luke'sSonyNew Year's Eve Concert 1992: Richard Strauss GalaClassicalRenée FlemingFrederica von StadeClaudio Abbado (conductor)Berlin PhilharmonicKultur Video DVDSony CD1993Kathleen Battle and Jean-Pierre Rampalin ConcertClassicalMyron Lutzke (cello)Anthony Newman (harpsichord)Margo Garrett (piano)John Steele Ritter (piano)SonyKathleen Battle: Bel Canto AriasClassicalBruno Campanella (conductor)London Philharmonic OrchestraDeutsche GrammophonKathleen Battle in ConcertClassicalSpiritualsJames Levine (piano)Deutsche GrammophonSo Many StarsFolk songs,Lullabies,SpiritualsSony1996Angels' GloryClassical,Spirituals,Sacred songsChristopher Parkening (classical guitar)Sony French Opera AriasClassicalMyung-whun Chung (conductor)Orchestre de l'Opéra BastillePolygram Records1997GraceClassicalRobert Sadin (conductor)SonyMozart Opera AriasClassicalJames Levine (conductor)Metropolitan Opera OrchestraDeutsche Grammophon2002Classic Battle: A PortraitClassical,Romantic,Spanish folksongs,American folksongs,JazzSony2003First LoveClassicalBMG (Japan only)200420th Century Masters:The Best of Kathleen BattleClassicalBastille Opera OrchestraLondon Philharmonic OrchestraMetropolitan Opera OrchestraOrchestra of St. Luke'sDeutsche Grammophon
Soundtracks YearFilmSongCollaboratorsLabel2000Fantasia 2000Pomp and Circumstance, marches by Edward ElgarJames Levine (conductor)Chicago Symphony OrchestraDisney2004House of Flying DaggersLovers (Title Song)Tomoko KandaARIGAT OrchestraSony
Notes and references
Richard Dyer, Elizabeth Forbes: "Kathleen Battle", Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed September 21, 2008), (subscription access)
External links Kathleen Battle at Columbia Artists Management