Love Sublime
Brad Mehldau and Renée Fleming
Love Sublime originated as a commission from the Carnegie Hall Corporation, composed expressly for Fleming—along with Mehldau—to perform at Zankel Hall, where it was premiered in May 2005. Most of the songs draw their texts from two collections of poems: The Blue Estuaries by Louise Bogan and The Book of Hours: Love Poems to God by Rainer Maria Rilke. The text of the title track, “Love Sublime,” was written by the Dutch singer/lyricist Fleurine.
“It was a great pleasure to work with Renee," said Mehldau. "I wrote the music, but she brought it to life."
Read Brad's essay on Love Sublime > | Read the Love Sublime poem text >
Love Sublime
01 The Book of Hours: Love Poems to God: Your first word was "light" (Mehldau/Rilke) 5:28
02 The Book of Hours: Love Poems to God: The hour is striking so close above me (Mehldau/Rilke) 5:09
03 The Book of Hours: Love Poems to God: I love the dark hours of my being (Mehldau/Rilke) 4:35
04 The Book of Hours: Love Poems to God: I love you, gentlest of Ways (Mehldau/Rilke) 7:02
05 The Book of Hours: Love Poems to God: No one lives his life (Mehldau/Rilke) 2:36
06 The Book of Hours: Love Poems to God: His caring is a nightmare to us (Mehldau/Rilke) 2:31
07 The Book of Hours: Love Poems to God: Extinguish my eyes, I’ll go on seeing you (Mehldau/Rilke) 6:13
08 The Blue Estuaries: Tears in Sleep (Mehldau/Bogan) 2:31
09 The Blue Estuaries: Memory (Mehldau/Bogan) 3:25
10 The Blue Estuaries: A Tale (Mehldau/Bogan) 4:28
11 Love Sublime (Mehldau/Fleurine)
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Credits:
MUSICIANS
Brad Mehldau, piano
Renée Fleming, vocals
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by Steven Epstein
Recorded January 10–11, 2006, at SUNY Purchase Performing Arts Center, Purchase, NY
Engineered by Todd Whitelock
Assistant Engineer: Jim Yates
Additional Engineering: Richard King
Stage Manager: Andrew Ryder
Mixed by Todd Whitelock at Sony Music Studios, New York, NY
Mastered by Todd Whitelock and Steven Epstein at Sony Music Studios
Executive Producer: Robert Hurwitz
Music by Brad Mehldau; text by Rainer Maria Rilke (1-7), Louise Bogan (8-10), Fleurine (11)
Design by Barbara de Wilde
Photography by Michael Wilson