Hailed by Opera Today for his “Puccinian fire power and dramatic heat to raise the hair on the back of your neck,” Lester Lynch has longed to record an album of traditional American spirituals since he began his career. Lynch’s newest album, On My Journey Now, is a dream come true. “Music speaks to and heals the human spirit,” writes Lynch in the album’s liner notes. “These songs have had a profound effect on American history. I sing them to honor those who struggled (and died) for freedom, and it is my hope that they will spark the light of freedom anew for every listener.”
"On My Journey Now" is Lynch’s first solo album. He was previously featured in recordings including the San Francisco Opera’s "Porgy and Bess," Gordon Getty’s "The Little Match Girl" and Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic. On stage, Lynch has appeared with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera and San Francisco Opera in roles including Crown and Porgy in "Porgy and Bess," Iago in Verdi’s "Otello" andthe title role in Verdi’s "Falstaff."
The Juilliard-trained musician hand-picked each song and arrangement on the album, teaming up with a variety of musicians, including the ART Singers and Oakland School of the Arts ensemble, to bring his audience a diverse and dynamic recording. Now, Lynch brings his rich operatic baritone to American hymns and traditional spirituals. The diverse album features Lynch accompanied by piano, organ, violin, trumpet, djembe and choir, with instrumentation varying by selection.
