La Vie A L'Amour [Import]

1. Le Temps De La Rengaine

2. D' Aventures En Aventures

3. Superman Apeman

4. Une Ile

5. De France

6. Je Suis Malade

7. Les P' Tites Femmes De Pi

8. L'enfant D' Un Autre

9. Les Glycines

10. L'esclave

11. Star

12. Chez Moi

13. Mon Ami, Mon Maitre

14. L'algerie

15. Le 15 Juillet A Cinq Heur

16. L'enfant Au Piano

17. Femme, Femme, Femme

18. Marie La Polonaise

19. La Vie Simple Et Tranquil

20. La Vie Simple Et Tranquil

See all 21 tracks on this disc

La Vie A L'Amour,Serge Lama,Universal/Polygram,France,World Music

Average customer rating: Susan Graham is a True Recitalist

Susan Graham at Carnegie Hall Manufacturer: Warner Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berg | Berg, Alban | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Mahler | Mahler, Gustav | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Poulenc | Poulenc, Francis | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Susan Graham - La Belle Époque (The Songs of Reynaldo Hahn) Susan Graham - Mozart & Gluck Arias ~ Il tenero momento Artist Portrait: Susan Graham Susan Graham ~ Berlioz - Les nuits d'été Poèmes de l'Amour ASIN: B0000AOVT4 Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

1. Zigeunerlieder, Op.103
2. Zigeunerlieder, Op.103
3. Zigeunerlieder, Op.103
4. Zigeunerlieder, Op.103
5. Zigeunerlieder, Op.103
6. Zigeunerlieder, Op.103
7. Zigeunerlieder, Op.103
8. Zigeunerlieder, Op.103
9. Proses Lyriques
10. Proses Lyriques
11. Proses Lyriques
12. Proses Lyriques
13. Seven Early Songs
14. Seven Early Songs
15. Seven Early Songs
16. Seven Early Songs
17. Seven Early Songs
18. Seven Early Songs
19. Seven Early Songs
20. Quatre Poemes De Guillaume Appollinaire
21. Quatre Poemes De Guillaume Appollinaire
22. Quatre Poemes De Guillaume Appollinaire
23. Quatre Poemes De Guillaume Appollinaire
24. Vois-Tu, Je M'en Veux (Les P'tites Michu)
25. J'ai Deux Amants (L'amour Masque)
26. C'est Ca La Vie, C'est Ca L'amour (Toi C'est Moi)
27. A Chloris
28. Fantoches
29. Liebst Du Um Schonheit (Ruckertlieder)
30. Sexy Lady

Amazon.com

Susan Graham has firmly established herself as one of our leading mezzos in opera and recital. Her voice, infinitely varied, perfectly focused, and produced, has the mellow glow of burnished bronze, but at the top she narrows her vibrato to give it a brighter, more intense quality. This live recording of her Carnegie Hall concert last April combines total vocal control with the spontaneity and excitement of a performance--complete with audience reactions--and displays her stylistic versatility, her charm, expressiveness, and communicative projection to brilliant advantage. The program features two German song cycles and several groups from her signature French repertoire. Brahms' "Gypsy Songs," one of his numerous Hungarian-influenced compositions, use texts derived from Hungarian folksongs and deal essentially with love and yearning. Graham captures all their changing moods, from melancholy to exuberance, making the last one soar ecstatically, but sometimes loses their simplicity in mannerisms and over-inflection. Alban Berg's "Seven Early Songs" on texts by various poets, written long before he became an atonalist, are super-romantic, amorous, dramatic; only the two final ones harbor hints of his future style. They are sung with rapturous inwardness. Four songs by Debussy on his own descriptive, pensive verses are calm, dreamy, mellow, caressing; four by Poulenc on poems of Apollinaire are satirical parodies; one is a bravura patter-song. Two songs by André Messager and one by Moises Simons, taken from their operettas, are basically cabaret songs and grand fun; they give Graham a fine opportunity to show the lighter side of her artistry. The encores include a serious song by Reynaldo Hahn, a humorous one by Debussy, Mahler's "Liebst du um Schönheit," a love song he wrote for his wife, and the first performance of a song written for Susan Graham by Ben Moore: a hilarious spoof on the fate of a mezzo condemned to sing trouser roles--with quotes from them--when she longs to be a "Sexy Lady." --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

Susan Graham is a True Recitalist.......2004-12-16

Though not usually one for true live recordings that include audience applause and response, SUSAN GRAHAM AT CARNEGIE HALL works well on every level. Not only is she in top form (as is her collaborator Malcolm Martineau at he piano) vocally and interpretatively, she demonstrates here an obvious rapport with her audience that is magical.

The repertoire here could not be more varied - and successful in every portion of this recital. Graham's voice has that ability to move from her usual mezzo soprano range into the lyric/spinto range with the greatest of ease. The Brahms 'Zigeunerlieder' are full of zest and sparkle. The Debussy 'Proses lyriques' are sensually liquid and Graham's French diction is as perfect as it gets: the Poulenc cycle feels so very natural for all its underlying difficulties. The too rarely heard Berg 'Sieben fruhe Lieder' are elegant and involved and the Messanger and Simons highlight Graham's ease of strolling through unknown works, making them sound so familiar.

Encores are included and for once "thank goodness!" Susan Graham has a special affinity for Reynaldo Hahn and she has mad 'A Chloris' her very own. For the Mahlerites she offers 'Liebst du um Schonheit' (including a comment to the audience) and a Debussy song and a witty ditty written for her by Ben Moore - just for fun.

The audience fortunate enough to have been present during this live recording on April 14, 2003 have now a living memento. For the rest of us that magic is fully contained on this very special recording. Grady Harp, December 2004

Average customer rating:

Kiri Te Kanawa Sings French Songs and Arias Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Songs of Henri Duparc Kiri Te Kanawa Sings Verdi and Puccini Arias Debussy - Mélodies / Ameling · Mesplé · Command · Souzay · von Stade · Baldwin ASIN: B0009LNQZG Release Date: 2005-06-21

Tracks:

1. Phidyle
2. L'Invitation Au Voyage
3. La Vie Anterieure
4. Le Manoir De Rosemonde
5. Testament
6. Au Pays Ou Se Fait La Guerre
7. Chanson Triste
8. I. Asie
9. II. La Flute Enchantee
10. III. L'Indifferent
11. Depuis Le Jour
12. L'Annee En Vain Chasse L'Annee...Azael! Azael!
13. D'amour L'Ardente Flamme

Average customer rating: Natalie Dessay in the French Repertoire: Nicely Done! Another French Album?! Le vrai Amour & la Grande Musique Salut à la France! Wonderful, but a minor quality control problem

Natalie Dessay - French Opera Arias Natalie Dessay , Michel Plasson , Jules Massenet , and Jacques Offenbach Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Donizetti | Donizetti, Gaetano | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gounod | Gounod, Charles | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Massenet | Massenet, Jules | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Offenbach | Offenbach, Jacques | ( O ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Thomas | Thomas, Ambroise | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rossini | Rossini, Gioacchino | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Arias | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Mozart Heroines; Natalie Dessay Natalie Dessay - Vocalise The Miracle of the Voice Natalie Dessay ~ Delirio (Handel Italian Cantatas) Natalie Dessay - French Opera Arias ASIN: B0000ZOJZW Release Date: 2004-01-13

Tracks:

1. Acte III - Air Du Cours La Reine: Suis-Je Gentille Ainsi?
2. Gavotte: Obessions Quand Leur Voix Appelle
3. Fabliau: Rire Toujours? Vous Vous Trompez
4. Acte II - Polonaise: Oui, Pour Ce Soir...Je Suis Titania La Blonde Philine
5. Acte III - Aubade: vive Amour Qui Reve L'Ensoleillad
6. Acte I - Bolero: Profitez de La Vie Mme De Ligneul
7. Acte II - Grande Valse: Conduisez-Moi Vers Celui Que J'Adore Edwige
8. Acte I: En Proie A La Tristesse La Comtesse
9. Acte II: C'En Est Donc Fait...Salut A La France! Marie
10. Acte I - Valse De Juliette: Ah ! Je Veux Vivre Juliette
11. Acte IV - Air De La Foile: A Vos Jeux Mes Amis Ophelie
12. Mort D'Ophelie: Le Voila, Je Crois L'Entendre Ophelie

Amazon.com

Yet again, the fascinating French soprano Natalie Dessay has come up with a winning recital. Canary fanciers can love her without guilt: her high notes are all in place (up to a solid E natural), her skill with fast coloratura is astonishing, her pitch is ideal, and her breath control is massive. But she's as interested in creating character as she is in pure singing. For once Ophelia's long Mad Scene from Thomas' Hamlet is a truly dramatic, heartbreaking event, for instance; similarly, Manon sounds young and sassy, as she should. Rarities by Boieldieu and Offenbach are a joy to hear; "Je suis Titania" and Juliette's Waltz Song are suitably virtuosic and show-offy--she's as good as any of the so-called "Golden Age" sopranos in this repertoire. Her tone remains full and pretty; only the very top notes have a bit of an edge, but this hardly detracts. In short, this is a remarkable recital--interesting pieces, gloriously sung. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

Natalie Dessay in the French Repertoire: Nicely Done!.......2007-03-08

Here, Natalie Dessay sings French arias. All in all, a satisfying album, with a few exceptions as noted below. A few samples of the cuts on this CD.

From Massenet's "Manon," she sings nicely. "Suis-je gentile ainsi" shows off her clear, light, agile voice. She demonstrates a decent trill and nice high note. "Obeissons quand leur voix appelle" is sung at a slower pace. Well sung, with some subtle vocal effects. This closes with a nice run, but a rather harshly sung high note. Then, "Rive toujours." This begins at a slower pace, but picks up. There is some nice ornamentation. For the most part, this is sweetly sung.

Thomas' "Mignon" features a wonderful piece, "Je suis Titania la blonde." Dessay, again, displays an agile and attractive voice. She demonstrates capable coloratura technique, featuring some nicely done appoggiaturas. In the last segment, she manifests a nice trill. Her penultimate high note is a bit harsh. However, she concludes with a very well done set of trills and a good high note.

From Gounod's "Romeo et Juliette," we have "Ah! Je veux vivre." The first part is smoothly sung. Nice characterization by Dessay. There is some attractive and pleasant florid singing at the end. Finally, from Thomas' "Hamlet," she essays "A vos jeux mes amis." Nice effects and good vocal technique are displayed. Her voice is attractive in this cut. Nice ornamentation toward the end. Some good trills and some nicely hit high notes.

This is a fine CD. Natalie Dessay shows her vocal virtues to good effect. She is obviously quite at home on the French repertoire, and this CD demonstrates that statement very clearly.

Another French Album?!.......2005-12-26

Does Natalie Dessay even know how to sing Italian? Whatever. I find her boring and flat. Her middle range drives me batty 'cas it's non exsistent and too sharp for my taste. I have no clue how anyone can compare her to Lily Pons becuase Pons notes were flawless and effortless. I always hold my breath to see if Dessay hits her notes well or if it just comes out piercing and sharp. She's about 50/50. She is no Lily Pons. She's decent but utterly forgettable and frankly I'm not sure why people are so enraptured by her. I find Sumi Jo much more appealing and talented

Le vrai Amour & la Grande Musique.......2004-05-14

Elle musique est si paisible et claire. Natalie Dessaix est épousé au baryton chanteur d'opéra Laurent Naouri. Ils ont deux beaux enfants. Natalie et Laurent ont participé dans les films télévisé nombreux. Dans Orphée aux enfers (1997) elle a joué Eurydice et il a joué Jupiter. Laurent Naouri est présenté dans Rameau 'Hippolyte et Aricie'. Dans cet opéra baroque français,
Naouri dans son aria 'Puisque Pluton' il est destiné à tuer son fils.

Salut à la France!.......2004-05-10

Natalie Dessay is a delight on this CD of arias from 19th century French Opera. The listener can experience a singer who is both concerned about the vocal and interpretative values of each selection of this recital. The first two tracks of the Cours de la Reine Scene from Massenet's 'Manon' show a fresh voice that portrays easily the youth and frivolity of the title character. All the stacattos, cadenzas and high notes are on the service of the character. It is delightful to find some rarities on this recital, like the Fabliau from 'Manon' (an alternative aria that Massenet composed for sustitution of the Gavotte) and the pieces from 'Chérubin', 'La fête du village voisin' and 'Robinson Crusoe'. On the selection by Offenbach, Dessay sings a stunning trill on a Dflat and then goes to expectacular scales, finishing the dazzling waltz with an elaborate cadenza and a firm high E. Another highlight of the CD is the elaborate aria from 'Le Comte Ory' by Rossini, where the soprano's attention to the nuances of the piece bring out a lively interpretation. The aria from 'La fille du régiment' makes us wish for a complete recording of the opera. However, the best part of the CD are the last two tracks. Dessay brings all her gifts to a climax with a marvelous performance of the Ophélie's Mad and Death Scenes from 'Hamlet' by Ambroise Thomas. This version of the Mad Scene is even better than her previous rendition on her last recital of French arias. This is a highly emotional interpretation where all the brilliant scales and cadenzas reflect the changing moods of Ophelie's madness and her despair as well as her innocence. This is the definitive performance of this music on records, period. The Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and the Choeur 'Les Eléments', ably conducted by Michel Plasson, complement Dessay beautifully. In summary, another wonderful CD by one of the most remarkable coloratura sopranos of our time.

Wonderful, but a minor quality control problem.......2004-04-02

Five stars for Natalie Dessay, who has an incredible instrument, and a great selection of arias. But I've listened to 4 copies of this disc and each had a very short "click" at 2:22 on track 2 (the Gavotte from Manon). Must be a quality control problem. Maybe it was just a bad batch.

Anyway, Dessay's voice is a force of nature; she must be one of the greatest coloraturas ever. I prefer her live version of Handel's "Tornami" from Alcina to Sutherland's. And she's incredible on Orphee Aux Enfers - not only a wonderful singer, but obviously a great actress and comedienne.

So, if you've not heard her before, give this album a try - ignore the "click" and listen to a truly angelic voice.

So 5 stars for Natalie Dessay and the selections, and a slap on the wrist for the record label and its quality control.

Average customer rating: Great Introduction

Artist Portrait: Susan Graham Manufacturer: Warner Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Gluck | Gluck, Christoph W. | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music San Francisco Symphony Orchestra | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Musical Theater | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Susan Graham - La Belle Époque (The Songs of Reynaldo Hahn) Susan Graham at Carnegie Hall Susan Graham ~ Berlioz - Les nuits d'été Susan Graham - Mozart & Gluck Arias ~ Il tenero momento Poèmes de l'Amour ASIN: B00008KA5L Release Date: 2004-08-10

Tracks:

1. Voi Che Sapete
2. Non So Piu Cosa Son, Cosa Faccio
3. Di Te Mi Rido
4. Mi Lusinga Il Dolce Affetto
5. Mio Bel Tesoro
6. Verdi Prati
7. O Malheureuse Iphigenie!
8. Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
9. Early In The Morning
10. The Wintry Mind
11. O You Whom I Often And Silently Come
12. Comment Le Dedain Pourrait-Il Mourir?
13. Dieu! Que Viens-Je Entendre?
14. This Journey To Christ
15. Who Will Walk With Me?
16. Dead Man Walking!
17. He Will Gather Us Around
18. C'est Ca La Vie, C'est Ca L'amour
19. Yes
20. Les Hommes Sont Bien Tous Les Memes

Customer Reviews:

Great Introduction.......2004-08-25

This is a great introduction at a very reasonable price to Susan Graham's lovely mezzo voice, with selections from several CDs. Be warned, however - this will only whet your appetite for the full albums (for example, her incredible live performance as Ruggiero in Handel's "Alcina" with Renee Fleming and Natalie Dessay and with William Christie conducting Les Arts Florissants - surely one of the most stupendous opera recordings ever made).

Average customer rating: A treasure of French singing from Norman

A French Collection Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Poulenc | Poulenc, Francis | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Satie | Satie, Erik | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Berlioz, Hector | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Poulenc, Francis | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Satie, Erik | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Norman, Jessye | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Jessye Norman Collection: Schubert & Mahler Lieder The Jessye Norman Collection: Brahms and Schumann Lieder Susan Graham - La Belle Époque (The Songs of Reynaldo Hahn) ASIN: B0007XZUEG Release Date: 2005-05-10

Tracks:

1. I. Villanelle - Jessye Norman
2. II. Le Spectre De La Rose - Jessye Norman
3. III. Sur Les Lagunes (Lamento) - Jessye Norman
4. IV. Absence - Jessye Norman
5. V. Au Cimetiere (Clair De Lune) - Jessye Norman
6. VI. L'Ile Inconnue - Jessye Norman
7. I. Asie - Jessye Norman
8. II. La Flute Enchantee - Jessye Norman
9. III. L'Indifferent - Jessye Norman

Tracks:

1. La Vie Anterieure - Dalton Baldwin
2. Phidyle - Dalton Baldwin
3. Chanson Triste - Dalton Baldwin
4. L'Invitation Au Voyage - Dalton Baldwin
5. L'Enigme Eternelle - Dalton Baldwin
6. Kaddisch - Dalton Baldwin
7. Voyage A Paris - Dalton Baldwin
8. Montparnasse - Dalton Baldwin
9. La Grenouillere - Dalton Baldwin
10. Les Chemins De L'Amour - Dalton Baldwin
11. La Statue De Bronze - Dalton Baldwin
12. Dapheneo - Dalton Baldwin
13. Le Chapelier - Dalton Baldwin
14. Je Te Veux - Dalton Baldwin

Customer Reviews:

A treasure of French singing from Norman.......2006-09-24

Jessye Norman isn't as well known for her French repertoire as for most of the other things she sang (and she wasn't helped by a stodgy, overly plush Carmen). Even so, two of these recordings in this budget reissue stand out: the Nuits d'Ete and Ravel Scheherazade, otherwise unabailable. Norman sings both in a rich operatic style, and the resuslts are gorgeous. Colin Davis conducts in a relaxed but effective style, but the real show is Norman's amazing vocal control and luscious tone. Perhaps among operatic versions Leontyne Price is even more thrilling, but Norman, a longtime resident of Paris, has much better French.

The second CD consists of a recital with piano of French chansons, many of them off the beaten track. casual listeners may not respond with instant enthusiasm, and it must be said that Norman's voice is rather huge for this delicate, ephemeral genre of songs. In her way, however, this is a sincere, well executed program--not one of my favorites but worthwhile.

Average customer rating: A great singer is fading away

Gérard Souzay Sings Ravel, Debussy, Chausson, Duparc Manufacturer: Testament UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chausson, Ernest | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Gérard Souzay - Lieder and Mélodies Gérard Souzay Sings Schumann & Wolf Schubert: Lieder Cecilia Bartoli - If You Love Me (Se tu m'ami ), 18th-Century Italian Songs ASIN: B0000AH3DE Release Date: 2003-11-11

Tracks:

1. I. Chanson Romanesque - Gerard Souzay
2. II. Chanson Epique - Gerard Souzay
3. III. Chanson A Boire - Gerard Souzay
4. II. Ballade Que Villon Feit A La Requeste De Sa Mere Pour Prier Notre-Dame - Gerard Souzay
5. II. La Grotte - Gerard Souzay
6. Mandoline - Gerard Souzay
7. Nanny, Op.2 No.1
8. Le Charme, Op.2 No.2
9. Serenade Italienne, Op.2 No.5
10. Le Colibri, Op.2 No.7
11. Cantique A L'epouse, Op.36 No.1
12. Les Papillons, Op.2 No.3
13. Le Temps De Lilas
14. La Vie Anterieure
15. Le Manoir De Rosemonde
16. elegie
17. Phidyle
18. Soupir
19. Chanson Triste
20. Lamento
21. La Vague Et La Cloche
22. Serenade Florentine
23. Testament
24. Extase
25. L'Invitation Au Voyage

Customer Reviews:

A great singer is fading away.......2005-12-08

At about the same time that recording companies were profitably supporting a "rivalry" between Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi, they were stirring up a similarly profitable competition between Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Gérard Souzay. Imagine it, once there was a time in which money could be made from singing lieder!

Souzay, was born as Gérard Marcel Tisserand in 1918. He attended the Paris Conservatoire from 1940 to1945. In 1944, while still a student, he made his professional debut and his first two recordings. He did a limited amount of operatic work, even essaying the role of Don Giovanni, but his true field of operation was song. His opera career is represented on CD by memorable performances of "Manon" (with Beverly Sills) and "Pèlleas et Mèlisaunde," but his recorded songs from 1944 to 1987 number about 750 in at least fifteen different languages. He died in 2004.

I first became aware of Souzay more than forty years ago when a singer-friend suggested I try him when I got weary of Fischer-Dieskau. At the time I wondered how anyone could tire of the great German baritone. Not very long after that, of course, I found that I could bear the sound of the excellent but ubiquitous and damnably too-familiar sound of DF-D no longer. Gérard Souzay was an instant curative. To this day, it is Souzay's voice I hear in my mind when I think of the lieder of Schumann and Schubert. In French art song, Souzay was simply without rival.

I find to my dismay that the memory of this great French performer is fading. Amazon still lists 45 of his titles on CD, but only 22 of them are still in print (or whatever the proper term should be for a recording.) As I write this, only 13 of the 45 titles have attracted Amazon reviews and, worse, only seven of his solo CDs have been reviewed. This is more than dismaying; it's downright ominous. The memory of a wonderful talent seems well on its way to oblivion, to the sad diminishment of us all.

In January 2000, an unnamed Amazon reviewer wrote this of Souzay, "In these performances he surpassed Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau in a number of respects -- sheer style, beauty and range of tone, naturalness, depth of expression". Yeah.

Five stars!

Average customer rating:

Les Cris de Paris: Chansons de Janequin & Sermisy Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Chansons | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Opera & Vocal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B0006MLT34 Release Date: 2005-06-14

Average customer rating: An Enchanting Voyage to Paris

Jessye Norman: Les Chemins de l'amour Manufacturer: Polygram Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Poulenc | Poulenc, Francis | ( P ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Satie | Satie, Erik | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Poulenc, Francis | M to P | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Satie, Erik | Q to T | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Norman, Jessye | Divas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music ASIN: B0000040Y3 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. La vie anterieure
2. Phidyle
3. Chanson triste
4. L' invitation au voyage
5. Deux melodies Hebraiques: L'enigme eternelle
6. Deux melodies Hebraiques: Kaddisch
7. Voyage a Paris
8. Montparnasse
9. La grenouillere
10. Les chemins de l'amour
11. La statue de bronze
12. Dapheneo
13. Le chapelier
14. Je te veux

Customer Reviews:

An Enchanting Voyage to Paris.......2000-03-17

I know, I know, we should never judge a book by its cover, but I just couldn't resist it and bought this CD because the cover photo is just so good. But I was not let down. Ms. Norman has already recorded a vast collection of lieder and it is well known how good she is in that repertoire, but she is also incredibly impressive with melodies. This material is so suited to her style. The Duparc for example, I've never heard 'La vie antérieure' sung more dramatically before, the climatic moment is simply ecstatic! The gems in this collection are definitely the title track and Satie's charming waltz 'Je te veux'.

The terrible drawback is, Phillips did not supply English translation to the lyrics, which is a great shame since some of the songs obviously rely on lyrical meanings so much. But that should not deduct even a single star from the singing, which is worth all the stars shining over Montparnasse!

Average customer rating:

Berlioz Edition (Box Set) Manufacturer: Philips ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Allen, Thomas | ( A ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Bainbridge, Elisabeth | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Romances | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Berlioz, Hector | A to B | Featured Composers, A-Z | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Te Deum | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Vivaldi: The Masterworks (Box Set) Franz Schubert: The Complete Songs Mendelssohn: The Masterworks [Box Set] Bruckner: The Complete Symphonies Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set) ASIN: B000093OSH Release Date: 2003-12-16

Amazon.com

Sir Colin Davis has long been considered the world's finest Berlioz conductor, and over the years, Philips has released all of the composer's major works with Davis at the helm. Now, they're all here, in a 24-CD box, and it is an astonishing achievement. This treasure trove consists of the definitive, available readings of Les Troyens, Béatrice et Bénédict, and Benvenuto Cellini; a wonderfully energetic, passionate Roméo et Juliette; a Te Deum which is huge yet clear and not over-the-top for its own sake; Les Nuits d'été with different singers (of varying ranges in different songs), as Berlioz wanted them performed; the young Dame Janet Baker superb in Herminie and La Mort de Cléopatre; a relaxed, sweet Enfance du Christ; a Requiem which could knock you over; a Damnation de Faust which is both lyrical and exciting; a performance of Lélio which almost makes sense of that strange work; a Symphonie Fantastiquewith atmosphere and thrills; along with 7 overtures, 5 songs, and more. In addition to the moderate price, the packaging is such that the 24 CDs takes up less space than just the earlier releases of Cellini and Troyens together. This is one-stop shopping at its best. --Robert Levine

Average customer rating: Big names but mostly indifferent performances

Panorama: Hector Berlioz Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Requiems | Forms & Genres | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | ( B ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Requiems | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Panorama: Franz Schubert Panorama: Sergey Prokofiev Panorama: Joseph Haydn Panorama: George Gershwin Panorama: Felix Mendelssohn ASIN: B00004W3IN Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

1. Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: I Reveries - Passions - Berliner Philharmoniker
2. Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: II A Ball - Berliner Philharmoniker
3. Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: III Scene In The Country - Berliner Philharmoniker
4. Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: IV March To The Scaffold - Berliner Philharmoniker
5. Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14: V Dream Of A Sabbath Night - Berliner Philharmoniker
6. Le Carnaval romain, Op. 9: Roman Carnival - Berliner Philharmoniker
7. La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24: Hungarian March - Boston Symphony Orchestra
8. La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24: Dance Of The Will-O-The-Wisps - Boston Symphony Orchestra
9. La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24: Dance Of The Sylphs - Boston Symphony Orchestra

Tracks:

1. Reverie et caprice, Op. 8: Reverie And Caprice. Romance For Violin And Orchestra - Arthur Grumiaux - (Violin)
2. Les Nuits d'ete, Op. 7, Summer Nights: Villanelle. 'Quand viendra la saison nouvell' - Regine Crespin - (Soprano)
3. Les Nuits d'ete, Op. 7, Summer Nights: Le Spectre de la rose. 'Souleve ta pupiere close' - Regine Crespin - (Soprano)
4. Les Nuits d'ete, Op. 7, Summer Nights: Sur les lagunes (Lamento). 'Ma belle amie est morte' - Regine Crespin - (Soprano)
5. Les Nuits d'ete, Op. 7, Summer Nights: Absence. 'Reviens, reviens, ma bien-aimee - Regine Crespin - (Soprano)
6. Les Nuits d'ete, Op. 7, Summer Nights: Au cimetiere (Clair de lune). 'Connaissez-vouz la blanche tombe' - Regine Crespin - (Soprano)
7. Les Nuits d'ete, Op. 7, Summer Nights: L'lle inconnue. 'Dites, la jeune belle' - Regine Crespin - (Soprano)
8. La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24: 'Le vieil hiver a fait place au printemps' (Faust) - Stuart Burrows - (Faust)
9. La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24: 'Autrofois un roi de Thule' (Marguerite) - Edith Mathis - (Marguerite)
10. La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24: 'D'amour l'ardente flamme' (Marguerite) - Edith Mathis - (Marguerite)
11. La Damnation De Faust, Op. 24: 'Nature immense, impenetrable et fiere' (Faust) - Stuart Burrows - (Faust)
12. Requiem, Op. 5: IX. Sanctus - Luciano Pavarotti - (Tenor)

Customer Reviews:

Big names but mostly indifferent performances.......2005-11-24

I bought this 2-CD Panorama collection for the 1975 Karajan Symphonie Fantastique, which is supposedly his best stereo version. Certianly the first movement, though as far from France as one can get (Karajan seems to try to be the anti-Munch in his suave, almost bloodless virtuosity) is stunning as sheer execution. But Karajan loses interest quickly. After two listless movements, there is some spark in the final ride to the gallows and witches Sabbath, but by then the whole performance has collapsed from ennui.

Other big names follow to not much better effect. We get Maazel in a rushed, sober Roman Carnival Over., Ozawa in faceless but well played excerpts from the Damnation of Faust, and for enthusiasts of French diva Regine Crespin, an actually classic performance: Nuits d'Ete with Ansermet. Since the same performance can be had on a Decca CD devoted to Crespin, I think it can be skipped here. I actually don't like her way of swooping into notes and missing the intonation slightly, so overall there wasn't much here to attract me. Everything was worth a listen once, and for those who need a primer on Berlioz, this would be a good place to start before moving on to better recordings.

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