User:Hrannar/sandbox/k battle

1990s
1990s saw performances ranging from a concert and recording featuring spirituals to a recording of Baroque music, from complete Opera to Jazz. In 1990 Battle sang a program devoted to spirituals with Jessye Norman ; in December 1993 she was joined by Martin Katz and Kenny Barron on piano and Grady Tate (drums) and Grover Washington, Jr. (saxophone) and David Williams (musician) (bass) at Carnegie Hall for a concert featuring the music of Haendel and Haydn as well as Duke Ellington and Christmas Spirituals. During this time she also collaborated with other musicians including trumpeter Wynton Marsalis in a recording of baroque arias entitled, Baroque Duet, with violinist Itzhak Perlman on an album of Bach arias, and flautist [Jean Pierre Rampal]] for a recital at Alice Tully Hall. In May 1993 Battle added Pop music to her repertoire with the release of Janet Jackson's album janet lending her vocals to the song, This time. First Love, an album where she sings Japanese melodies, followed in November 1993.

Battle's Carnegie Hall solo recital debut came on April 27, 1991; the recital was part of the Centennial Festival celebrating the 100th anniversary of Carnegie Hall. The recording of the recital earned Battle her fourth Grammy award. Another first came in January 1992 when Battle premiered Andre Previn's song cycle Honey and Rue with lyrics by Nobel Laureate in Literature Toni Morrison. The piece was comissioned by Carnegie Hall and was composed specifically for Battle. And in 1993 Battle won her fifth grammy singing the title role in a recording of Semele.

On the Opera stage, she performed the operas of Mozart, Rossini, and Donizetti. Between 1990 and 1993, she sang performed various roles at the Metropolitan Opera: Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia (1990), Pamina in Die Zauberflöte (1991 and 1993), and Adina (with Pavarotti) in L'elisir d'amore (1991, 1992, and the Met's 1993 Japan Tour). Battle also sang her first Marie in Donizetti's La fille du régiment at San Francisco Opera in 1993.

In February 1994 The relationship between with the Metropolitan Opera management and Battle ruptured when Metropolitan Opera General Manager Joseph Volpe dismissed Battle from the upcoming the Mets production of Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment for "unprofessional actions" during rehearsals. Volpe called Battle's conduct "profoundly detrimental to the artistic collaboration among all the cast members" and indicated that he had "canceled all offers that have been made for the future." Battle was replaced in La fille du régiment by Harolyn Blackwell. In a statement released by her management company, Columbia Artists, Battle said: "I was not told by anyone at the Met about any unprofessional actions. To my knowledge, we were working out all of the artistic problems in the rehearsals, and I don't know the reason behind this unexpected dismissal. All I can say is I am saddened by this decision." Since then Battle has not appeared in opera performances.

Battle continued with a variety of projects including solo recitals, concerts and recordings. In a May 1994 release she is a featured guest artist on the album Tenderness singing a duet, My Favorite Things, with grammy-winning jazz vocalist Al Jarreau. In 1995 she, Baritone Thomas Hampson, conductor John Nelson and the Orchestra of St. Lukes presented a program of Opera arias and popular songs at Lincoln Center. Also in 1995 came the albums, So Many Stars a collection of folk songs, lullabies, and spirituals (with accompanying live concert performances) with Grover Washington, Jr. and Christian McBride and Angels' Glory, a Christmas album recorded with guitarist Christopher Parkening. In 1997 came the release of the albums Mozart Opera Arias and Grace, a collection of sacred songs. And in October 1998, she joined jazz pianist Herbie Hancock on his album Gershwin's World on the Ravel piece Prelude In C# Minor. And December 1999 saw the release of Fantasia 2000 where she is the featured soprano in the Eglar's Pomp and Circumstance performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and conducted by long-time collaborator James Levine.

In solo recitals she performed in cities including NYC, Cincinnati, and Chicago in programs that featured art songs from a variety of eras and regions, Opera arias, and spirituals. It was increasingly more common to hear an unaccompanied spiritual at the end of a recital or concert program.

NOTE: Album information is taken from Amazon.com. The references.can be put in, as time permits.