CHAUSSON
Melodies Op. 2/6 & 7; 8/1 & 3; 11/1 & 2; 13
1-4; 19/3 & Op. 36/2
DEBUSSY
Fetes galantes (1); Proses lyriques; Nuits blanches
Christine
Schäfer (soprano) and Irwin Gage
(piano) with Stella Doufexis (mezzo)
Deutsche Grammophon 459
682-2
75'56"
Crotchet
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Dans la foret du charme et l'enchantement op.36 No.2. Quatre Melodies
op.13. Le Temps des lilas op.19 No.3 (Chausson). Fetes galantes. Proses lyriques.
Nuits blanches (Debussy). Hebe op.2 No.6. Le Colibri op.2 No.7. Nocturne
op.8 No.1. Printemps triste op.8 No.3. La Nuit op.11 No.1. Reveil op.11 No.2
Chausson (1855-99) and Debussy had a close friendship for a
few years until a rift brought about by marital complications. Ernest
Chausson's songs featured here date mostly from the 1880s, when he
was attracted by the Symbolist poets. Most of his texts and their settings
displaying a romantic gloom, with increasing chromaticism during that period,
the lively La cigale and the two charming duets of Op. 11 being
exceptions. Dans le foret Op 36/2, which has 'not a single unclouded
major chord' (Roger Nichols), was composed in 1898, the year before Chausson
was killed in a cycling accident.
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) is represented by three of his famous
Verlaine settings, and 6 settings of his own words. Christine
Schäfer brings concentration and poise to each
of these songs, and sings seemingly effortlessly in her exquisite high lyric
soprano, which I had enjoyed recently in the demanding coloratura of
Zerbinetta in Strauss's Ariadne at The Barbican
[reviewed by
S&H,
March 2000].
There is no feeling of routine in these studio performances and the
accompaniments by Irwin Gage are exemplary in their equal sensitivity and
well balanced by Rainer Maillard, who does not suppress the piano at all
at climaxes. It is an imaginative touch to end the recital by introducing
Stella Douflexis in two of Chausson's duets, composed for his wife
and sister.
A first class CD, recommended unreservedly.
Reviewer
Peter Grahame Woolf
