SUSAN GRAHAM                      

Un Frisson Français

A century of French song

 

1 Bizet  Chanson d'avril    2.32

2 Franck  Nocturne   3.48

3  Lalo   Guitare  1.42

4 Gounod   Au Rossignol   4.47

5 Saint-Saëns  Danse macabre  2.05

6 Chabrier Les cigales  3.45

7 Paladilhe  Psyché  3.12

8 Chausson  Les papillons   1.23

9 Bachelet  Chère nuit  5.30

10 Duparc  Au pays où se fait la guerre 5.16

11 Ravel  Le paon   4.59

12 Caplet  Le corbeau et le renard   3.40

13 Roussel  Réponse d'une épouse sage 3.21

14 Messiaen  La fiancée perdue  2.40

15 Debussy  Colloque sentimental  4.08

16 Fauré   Vocalise-Étude  3.20

17 Hahn  À Chloris   3.20

18 Satie  Le Chapelier  0.55

 Honegger  Trois Chansons de la Petite Sirène

19 I Chanson des sirènes 1.32

20 II Berceuse de la Sirène 0.58

21  III Chanson de la poire  0.24

22 Canteloube  Brezairola  4.03

23 Rosenthal  La souris d'Angleterre  2.55

24 Poulenc  La Dame de Monte Carlo 7.00

 

Timing: 77.35

 

Undoubtedly ONYX’s highlight of the year is the first recital disc for 5 years by the great American mezzo Susan Graham. Beloved by audiences the world over, this outstanding recording is sure to be much in demand worldwide.

 

The unique programme provides a celebration of French song in an unusual way – instead of groups of songs by several composers Susan has opted for a single song by  22 different composers from Bizet to Poulenc.  This is the programme she and Malcolm Martineau her regular accompanist took on tour in the USA and Europe in 2007/2008.  Reviews were unanimous “confirms Susan Graham as the ideal package she is”  (Music Web) “resistance is futile” (New York Times); superb, exquisite (Chicago Tribune)

 

Susan Graham is particularly at home in French repertoire, one of the few non-French singers recognised by the French themselves when they made her a Commandeur dans L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.  Susan refutes the idea that all French vocal music sounds the same: "This programme has everything: loud, soft, high, low, fast, slow, romantic, acidic."

 

Includes some surprises- Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre for example, known by everyone as a orchestral showpiece but in fact first written as a song, but hardly ever performed as such; and some favourites such as Hahn’s À Chloris and Canteloube’s Brezairola, but far more discoveries such as the gorgeous Psyché by Paladilhe and Bachelet’s ecstatic Chère Nuit

 

Onyx ONYX4030