[ Hyperion / CD ]
Release Date: Friday 11 February 2005
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"Two views on an auspicious start to what could be a defining cycle" - Editor's Choice Gramophone Magazine March 2005
"Another exciting projects gets underway as Johnson and a most impressive line-up of singers tackle the complete Fauré songs. Naturally, the annotation is classy and so, too, are the performances. And what a wonderfully inventive and humane composer Fauré was."
- Gramophone Magazine
This is the first of four discs due for release in 2005 of the complete songs of Gabriel Fauré. Titled Au bord de l'eau, this recital presents a generous programme of mélodies of an aquatic nature including Mirages, L'horizon chimérique and the five 'Venetian' songs.
This first disc takes its title, Au bord de l'eau, from the famous song which became Fauré's calling-card, and presents a generous programme of mélodies of an aquatic nature. The songs are performed in the order of their composition (this rationale of chronology within a general theme will be applied across the other volumes of the series to make up four self-contained and individually satisfying recitals), and alongside several perfect miniatures we here encounter three of the major cycles: the five 'Venetian' songs (to the poetry of Paul Verlaine), L'horizon chimérique, and Mirages, written for Madeleine Grey in thanks for her advocacy of the cycle La chanson d'Ève.
Graham Johnson has employed a veritable panoply of artists - the very finest interpreters of French song that could be found. Generous commentaries are provided for each song along with the original poems and English translations.
Les matelots Op 2 No 2 Théophile Gautier
CHRISTOPHER MALTMAN [1'26]
Seule! Op 3 No 1 Théophile Gautier
JENNIFER SMITH [2'47]
Chanson du pêcheur Op 4 No 1 Théophile Gautier CHRISTOPHER MALTMAN [3'04]
Barcarolle Op 7 No 3 Marc Monnier
JOHN MARK AINSLEY [2'13]
Tarentelle Op 10 No 2 Marc Monnier
GERALDINE McGREEVY & STELLA DOUFEXIS [2'33]
Au bord de l'eau Op 8 No 1 René-François Sully-Prudhomme FELICITY LOTT [2'06]
Les berceaux Op 23 No 1 René-François Sully-Prudhomme CHRISTOPHER MALTMAN [2'35]
Au cimetière Op 51 No 2 Jean Richepin
JOHN MARK AINSLEY [3'38]
Larmes Op 51 No 1 Jean Richepin
CHRISTOPHER MALTMAN [2'15]
Cinq mélodies «de Venise» Op 58 Paul Verlaine
FELICITY LOTT [12'30]
i Mandoline [2'04]
ii En sourdine [3'12]
iii Green [1'49]
iv À Clymène [2'40]
v C'est l'extase [2'42]
Pleurs d'or Op 72 Albert Samain
JENNIFER SMITH & JOHN MARK AINSLEY [2'40]
Accompagnement Op 85 No 3 Albert Samain
STEPHEN VARCOE [3'34]
La fleur qui va sur l'eau Op 85 No 2 Catulle Mendès CHRISTOPHER MALTMAN [2'23]
Mirages Op 113 Renée Bonninière, Baronne Antoine de Brimont
STEPHEN VARCOE [13'24]
i Cygne sur l'eau [3'30]
ii Reflets dans l'eau [4'04]
iii Jardin nocturne [3'35]
iv Danseuse [2'10]
C'est la paix Op 114 Georgette Debladis
JENNIFER SMITH [1'21]
L'horizon chimérique Op 118 Jean de la Ville de Mirmont CHRISTOPHER MALTMAN [8'00]
i La mer est infinie [1'31]
ii Je me suis embarqué [2'24]
iii Diane, Séléné [2'09]
iv Vaisseaux, nous vous aurons aimés en pure perte [1'53]