[Cover graphic]

2 Compact Discs CDA67133/4

£26.98

This entrancing pair of CDs is going to give much joy. They contain all of the songs of Emmanuel Chabrier (43 of them) including his 16 settings of 'Les plus jolis chansons du pays de France', never before recorded. Also included is the hilarious 'Duet of the usherette from the Opera-Comique and the salesman from 'Le Bon Marché', and the wonderful 'Ode to Music' for soprano and female choir, the opening words of which provide the title of this set.

As to singers, there are five of them, all obviously enjoying themselves, and a bassoon in Chabrier's setting of L'Invitation au voyage' (which would be much better known if his friend Duparc hadn't written his masterpiece just beforehand).

The set comes with the usual exhaustive and absorbing notes from accompanist Graham Johnson who says: "There is no one like him, this adorable man, and nothing in French song, indeed in all music, which is quite like his music.” 'Musique adorable' indeed!

Recorded on 14 15 17 July 2000 and 28 29 March 2001
Recording Engineer
JULIAN MILLARD
Recording Producer
MARK BROWN
Front Design
TERRY SHANNON
Front Picture Research
RICHARD HOWARD
Booklet Editor
TIM PARRY
Executive Producers
EDWARD PERRY
SIMON PERRY
© Hyperion Records Ltd, London, MMII

Duration: 154’59
DDD
Front illustration: L’Intrigue Nocturne by Gaston de Latouche (1854-1913)

——  The Hyperion French Song Edition  ——

EMMANUEL CHABRIER (1841-1894)

Musique Adorable!

FELICITY LOTT soprano
WILLIAM BURDEN tenor
STEPHEN VARCOE baritone
GRAHAM JOHNSON piano

with
GERALDINE McGREEVY soprano
TOBY SPENCE tenor
URSULA LEVEAUX bassoon
POLYPHONY
STEPHEN LAYTON director

Contents:

COMPACT DISC 1 [75'10]

  1. L’Enfant (Victor de Laprade) (1862) [4'04]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  2. Lied (Théodore de Banville) (1862) [3'14]
    sung by William Burden
  3. Sérénade (Auguste de Châtillon) (1862) [2'53]
    sung by Stephen Varcoe
  4. Adieux à Suzon (Alfred de Musset) (1862) [6'32]
    sung by William Burden
  5. Chants d’oiseaux (Victor de Laprade) (1862) [1'20]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  6. Le sentier sombre (anonymous) (1862) [5'47]
    sung by William Burden
  7. Ronde gauloise (anonymous) (1862) [1'55]
    sung by Stephen Varcoe
  8. Couplets de Mariette (anonymous) (1862) [4'32]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  9. Ah! petit démon (Auguste de Châtillon) (1862) [7'02]
    sung by William Burden
  10. Le pas d’armes du roi Jean (Victor Hugo) (1866) [2'52]
    sung by Stephen Varcoe
  11. Ivresses! (Léon Labarre) (1869) [6'53]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  12. L’Invitation au voyage (Charles Baudelaire) (1870) [9'26]
    sung by Felicity Lott, with Ursula Leveaux (bassoon)
  13. Sérénade de Ruy Blas (Victor Hugo) (1873) [2'08]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  14. Sommation irrespectueuse (Victor Hugo) (1880) [6'54]
    sung by Stephen Varcoe
  15. Credo d’amour (Armand Silvestre) (1883) [4'06]
    sung by William Burden
  16. España (Eugène Adenis) (1883) [4'00]
    sung by Felicity Lott
COMPACT DISC 2 [79'49]
  1. Tes yeux bleus (Maurice Rollinat) (1883) [4'16]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  2. Lied (Catulle Mendès) (1886) [2'32]
    sung by Stephen Varcoe
  3. Chanson pour Jeanne (Catulle Mendès) (1886) [4'10]
    sung by Stephen Varcoe
  4. Duo de l’ouvreuse de l’Opéra Comique et de l’employé du Bon Marché (Paul Fuchs and Henry Lyon) (1888) [4'07]
    sung by Geraldine McGreevy and Toby Spence

    Les plus jolies chansons du pays de France
    (1888)
  5. Les Métamorphoses (Chanson canadienne) [2'11]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  6. Entrez, la belle, en vigne (Chanson saintongeoise) [1'11]
    sung by William Burden
  7. Nique nac no muse! (Chanson normande) [1'33]
    sung by Stephen Varcoe
  8. La mie du voleur (Chanson agenoise) [2'19]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  9. Les filles de trente ans (Chanson angoumoisine) [1'29]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  10. Le Déserteur (Chanson poitevine) [2'18]
    sung by William Burden
  11. Les garçons de Bordeaux (Chanson bordelaise) [2'55]
    sung by Stephen Varcoe
  12. Sur le bord de l’île (Chanson champenoise) [4'20]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  13. Que les amants ont de la peine! (Chanson poitevine) [2'44]
    sung by Stephen Varcoe
  14. La mort de la brune (Chanson franc-contoise) [3'54]
    sung by William Burden
  15. La fleur dorée (Chanson agenoise) [1'03]
    sung by Stephen Varcoe
  16. Le flambeau éteint (Chanson nivernaise) [1'31]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  17. La bien-aimée (Chanson angoumoisine) [1'14]
    sung by William Burden
  18. Bergère et chasseur (Chanson poitevine) [1'19]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  19. Joli dragon (Chanson languedocienne) [1'05]
    sung by William Burden
  20. Marion s’en va-t-a l’ou (Chanson auvergnate) [3'01]
    sung by Felicity Lott

  21. Ballade des gros dindons (Edmond Rostand) (1889) [3'06]
    sung by Stephen Varcoe
  22. Villanelle des petits canards (Rosemonde Gérard) (1889) [2'03]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  23. Pastorale des cochons roses (Edmond Rostand) (1889) [5'05]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  24. Les Cigales (Rosemonde Gérard) (1889) [3'36]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  25. Toutes les fleurs (Edmond Rostand) (1889) [4'50]
    sung by William Burden
  26. L’île heureuse (Ephraïm Mikhaël) (1889) [3'12]
    sung by Felicity Lott
  27. Ode à la Musique (Edmond Rostand) (1889) [6'45]
    sung by Geraldine McGreevy with Polyphony
Sleeve Notes

DIAPASON D'OR

'Here is something so joyous and heart-warming that it's difficult to know where to start … anyone with a love of French music and poetry will find this a knock-out pleasure' (International Record Review)

'Adorable indeed … these songs steal into the heart. This is a set made for a lifetime's listening and enjoyment' (The Times)

'I cannot begin to tell you what delights await you on these discs … irresistible gems of melody, wit and tenderness. The enterprise has clearly been a labour of love for all involved' (The Sunday Telegraph)

'Both CDs are packed with gems, most of them rarities … a three-star issue for Chabrier's adorable music, Johnson's de luxe documentation and Lott's delightful singing' (The Sunday Times)

'[A] real treasure of a treasury' (BBC Music Magazine)

'If you like French song this album is a treasure trove' (The Financial Times)

‘there are major discoveries to be made here’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘the splendid group of artists here assembled get to the heart of every piece’ (Musical Opinion)

‘[Chabrier’s] 43 gorgeous songs find ideal interpreters on these two discs; the voices are beautifully limpid and the phrasing is exquisite’ (Classic FM Magazine)

‘Quite a serious treat for aficionados of the great French master especially as the performances by sopranos Lott and McGreevy are totally flawless and delivered with great charm and confidence throughout … Hugely enjoyable’ (AdLib)

‘this superbly-produced set of his complete melodies should be welcomed by all’ (ClassicsToday.com)

See also:
Bizet: Songs
Boulanger: Clairières dans le ciel
Duparc: The Complete Songs
Fauré: 'La Chanson d'Eve' and other songs
Gounod: The 'Biondina' Cycle and other songs
La Procession: 80 years of French song
Poulenc: Voyage à Paris
Séverac: Songs
Songs by Camille Saint-Saëns
Songs by Louis Durey
Songs by Reynaldo Hahn
The Songs of Chausson
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