Soprano Louise Toppin, professor of music in the Department of Voice & Opera, and countertenor Darryl Taylor (MM ’91, DMA ’95, voice) recently released Dear Friends & Gentle Hearts, an album of African American art songs, on Albany Records.
The seed for this album was planted after a concert Toppin (DMA ’90, voice) and Taylor performed in Ann Arbor, when their mentor and former teacher, George Shirley, Joseph Edgar Maddy Distinguished University Emeritus Professor of Voice, commented on the mingling of their voices. “We sang the spiritual duet ‘Balm in Gilead’ by Hale Smith to close the program,” Toppin recalled, “and Mr. Shirley commented that we blended so beautifully that we should record an album together.”
Years later, having performed together in concerts and operas and even on the same recordings, the long-time friends recorded their first duets with each other for Dear Friends & Gentle Hearts, on which they are accompanied by Alastair Edmonstone on piano. Toppin commented, “This is a two-CD compilation of songs by African American composers representing our life singing: spirituals, duets, art songs by new composers, works written for us, historic composers, and song cycles. We are proud to be a part of the proud legacy of African American art song developed by Willis Patterson and George Shirley at Michigan and we are delighted to share this project that is an extension of that legacy.”
The Albany Records overview of Dear Friends & Gentle Hearts states:
DEAR FRIENDS & GENTLE HEARTS from Albany Records celebrates the decades-long friendship and shared mission of Louise Toppin and Darryl Taylor in promoting classical vocal music by Black composers. United by a common goal since their formative years at the University of Michigan and Aspen Music School, they have long championed underrepresented works through Toppin’s Videmus and Taylor’s African American Art Song Alliance.
This album, their first duet recording, features compositions by Black composers across generations, reflecting on cultural and societal issues. Many pieces were commissioned for or dedicated to the artists, highlighting their deep connections with the composers.
Dear Friends & Gentle Hearts released in February 2025 and is available on multiple platforms.