Philippe Jaroussky - Opium: Mélodies françaises

Information

1. Reynaldo Hahn - A Chloris
2. Cécile Chaminade - Sombrero
3. Jules Massenet - Elégie
4. Gabriel Fauré - Nell, Op. 18 No. 1
5. Ernest Chausson - Le colibri, Op. 2 No. 7
6. Gabriel Fauré - Automne, Op. 18 No. 3
7. Cécile Chaminade - Mignonne
8. Reynaldo Hahn - Fêtes galantes
9. Ernest Chausson - Le temps de lilas
10. Ernest Chausson - Les papillons, Op. 2 No. 3
11. André Caplet - Viens! une flûte invisible soupire
12. Ernest Chausson - Les heures, Op. 27 No. 1
13. Reynaldo Hahn - Quand je fus pris au pavillon
14. Reynaldo Hahn - Offrande
15. Camille Saint-Saëns - Tournoiement "Songe d'opium", Op. 26 No. 6
16. Claude Debussy - Romance
17. Paul Dukas - Sonnet
18. Jules Massenet - Nuit d'Espagne
19. Guillaume Lekeu - Sur une tombe
20. Camille Saint-Saëns - Violons dans le soir
21. César Franck - Nocturne
22. Gabriel Dupont - Les donneurs de sérénades
23. Vincent d'Indy - Lied maritime, Op. 43
24. Reynaldo Hahn - L'heure exquise

Philippe Jaroussky, countertenor
Jérôme Ducros, piano
Renaud Capuçon, violin (20)
Gautier Capuçon, cello (3)
Emmanuel Pahud, flute (11)

Date: 2009
Label: Virgin Classics

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Review

An initially strange but ultimately beautiful recital of mélodies

This is beautiful but it takes a bit of getting used to. Philippe Jaroussky’s countertenor (he has often been called a male soprano), so well suited to Vivaldi and Monteverdi, at first seems quite wrong in the repertory of belle époque mélodies. The song that gives the disc its title, “Tournoiement, ‘Songe d’Opium’” by Saint-Saëns, with its madly whirling accompaniment – splendidly played by Jérôme Ducros – benefits from the otherworldy sounds Jaroussky can produce.

Some of the better-known songs, for instance Chausson’s “Le temps des lilas” and Hahn’s “Offrande” are so familiar as performed by richvoiced female singers (think Maggie Teyte or Susan Graham) that hearing just the initial phrases one might suppose that the disc were being played at an exaggeratedly high pitch. However, there is no denying the accomplishment of Jaroussky’s vocalism, although the basic tone lacks warmth and variation at several key moments. The selection is certainly adventurous, including rarities such as Dukas’s “Sonnet”, d’Indy’s “Lied maritime”, and two songs by composers who may be unfamiliar to many listeners: “Sur une tombe”, words and music by Guillaume Lekeu (1870-94), the first of his Trois Poèmes of 1892, is a little elegy that begins gently but rises to quite a passionate climax, while Gabriel Dupont’s “Les donneurs de sérénades” is yet another setting of Verlaine’s “Mandoline”. Povla Frijsh recorded it long ago (reissued on Pearl) and there could be few greater contrasts than between her earthy interpretation and Jaroussky’s flirtatious performance. The songs that require extra instruments are well served by the trio of guest players, with Gautier Capuçon especially eloquent in Massenet’s “Elégie”.

-- Patrick O'Connor, Gramophone

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2009/Aug09/Opium_Jaroussky_216621.htm
https://www.limelightmagazine.com.au/reviews/opium-melodies-francaises-counter-tenor-philippe-jaroussky-piano-jerome-ducros-violin-renaud-capucon-cello-gautier-capucon-flute-emmanuel-pahud/
https://www.allmusic.com/album/opium-m%C3%A9lodies-fran%C3%A7aises-mw0001408848
https://www.amazon.com/Opium-M%C3%A9lodies-francaises-Philippe-Jaroussky/dp/B001PKVFEO

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Philippe Jaroussky (born 13 February 1978) is a French countertenor. He began his musical career with the violin, winning an award at the Versailles conservatory and then took up the piano before turning to singing. Jaroussky was inspired to sing by the Martinique-born countertenor Fabrice di Falco. He received his diploma from the Early Music Faculty of the Conservatoire de Paris. Jaroussky is noted for a virtuosic coloratura technique and for compelling and enlivened interpretations of baroque cantatas and operas. He was awarded "The Best Singer of the Year" at the Echo Klassik Awards, 2008 and 2016.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Jaroussky
http://www.philippejaroussky.fr/

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