“BLUE SKIES”: 12 SONGS BY BERLIN, WEILL,...

“BLUE SKIES”: 12 SONGS BY BERLIN, WEILL, RODGERS, KERN, VAN HEUSEN, PORTER, LEWIS, ROMBERG AND WRUBEL. Kiri Te Kanawa, soprano; orchestra conducted by Nelson Riddle. London 414 666-1 (digital). As classical-pop crossover projects go, this one goes astonishingly well. The question is not whether the celebrated New Zealand soprano and wedding guest should scatter her considerable talents in the neighborhoods of Broadway and Tin Pan Alley, but whether she accomplishes the feat with any measure of credibility. In truth, Te Kanawa’s temperament fits the material sleekly without a hint of condescension or starchiness, despite the fact these songs exploit the lower fifth of her voice where she is least comfortable, and despite the sneaking suspicion that she has been boning up via old Doris Day and Billie Holiday records. The late Nelson Riddle contributes apt, tasteful and sympathetic arrangements.