THE DEEPEST DESIRE REVIEWS

Jake Heggie’s song cycle “The Deepest Desire” was written for Susan Graham, but the songs fit Joyce DiDonato like a glove. A setting of texts by Sister Helen Prejean (whom DiDonato and Graham have both played in Heggie’s opera “Dead Man Walking”), the cycle opens with a Holy Spirit-like solo flute prelude, while the voice enters singing of being drawn to God’s will. There follows an effusion of vocal sound, underpinned by a chordal ostinato, one of Heggie’s most successful textures, at the words “Love is the pure energy of God.” DiDonato’s pure-toned rendition of the final poem, accompanied by haunting flute slides, is almost painfully touching.

- Drew Minter, Opera News (June 2006)

Heggie’s “The Deepest Desire” is dramatic, but its style is easy and articulate. On the final of the set’s four songs, “Primary Colors,” the accompaniment by piano and flute quietly caresses sentences by Sister Helen Prejean. Joyce DiDonato’s tone echoes stillness like a lullaby. DiDonato performed Heggie’s “The Deepest Desire” at WSU in October 2004 and on her first recital tour that followed. This is a wonderful encore performance by an important singer on the path or a stellar international career.

- Chris Shull, The Wichita Eagle (April 2, 2006)

It is Heggie’s set [The Deepest Desire] that caps this unforgettable CD. Composed for Susan Graham, these achingly beautiful songs about the sister’s calling – not to mere obedience, but to “the deepest desire of my heart” (“Justice”) – are given new life by a singer [Joyce DiDonato] who has sung the role of Sister Helen.

- Tim Pfaff, Bay Area Reporter (March 2, 2006)

The main reason to hear this is The Deepest Desire, a new song cycle by Jake Heggie. It’s emotionally tough stuff, and one of his most penetrating, original works yet.

- David Patrick Stearns, The Philadelphia Inquirer (March 2006)

There was special local interest in Heggie’s settings of Sister Helen Prejean’s The Deepest Desire. Susan Graham had portrayed Sister Helen in the premiere of Heggie’s Dead Man Walking at San Francisco Opera in 2000. More than just poems set to music, these four songs are meditations on spiritual life. Heggie, who was in the audience, catches their spirit with a melodic line enriched by its powerful simplicity. Especially forceful was “I Catch on Fire,” in Graham’s voice a full-out drama on spiritual rewards to be found in the religious life.

- Mariliyn Tucker, American Record Guide (July/August 2005)

The four vast songs with flute by Jake Heggie, composer of Dead Man Walking in which Joyce DiDonato played the principal role, that of Sister Helen, are a major discovery.

- Jean-Charles Hoffele, Diapason D’Or

"The Deepest Desire" is another work that I would like to hear again. From her first words, the way Christina Gill inhabited Sister Helen's text was stunning. The autobiographical poems describe the nun's feelings vividly... The musicians gave it a radiant performance, but most telling was Heggie's art: a seamless crafting of words, music and emotion.

Janelle Gelfand, Cincinnati Enquirer (Aug 20, 2006)