KISS ME AGAIN: BELOVED SONGS AND CLASSIC MINIATURES - VICTOR HERBERT.

Virginia Croskery (soprano) and the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. (Marco Polo, 8.225108)

MOST people know the musical Babes in Toyland but not its composer Victor Herbert.

The Irish-born musician was the master of elegant songs, although he actually composed all sorts of music during his career.

This CD is a collection of songs and orchestral pieces from various Herbert compositions, including the title tune from Toyland itself.

Romany Life was a show-stopper in The Fortune Teller, while Italian Street Song and Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life herald from Herbert's 1910 hit operetta Naughty Marietta.

I have to lay my cards on the table and say that, while the orchestral pieces are very enjoyable, and the songs are beautifully crafted, soprano Virginia Croskery's voice is very difficult to listen to.

In some of the works it has a caustic tone which grates on the ear, while in others her voice quite suits the mood of the music, particularly Art is Calling for Me and Italian Street Song.

Victor Herbert was born in Dublin in 1859 and died in New York in 1924.

Herbert's wife-to-be, Therese Foster, was an established soprano when they met in 1885 - Herbert himself was a cellist in the orchestra at Stuttgart's royal court.

In 1896 Therese was discovered by Frank Damrosch who was touring Europe, looking for fresh talent for the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

She refused to go unless Herbert was also offered a position with the orchestra. So they married and both went.

And the rest is history. Herbert became the principal leader of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, leader of the 22nd Regiment Band of the New York National Guard, and conductor of the Pitsburgh Symphony.