Customer Reviews

Canteloube - Chants d'Auvergne / Victoria de los Angeles

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I recently acquired a large hard drive for my computer and set about loading my favorite CDs for instant listening while working in my home office. In that process I came upon this CD, but do not remember buying it. To be able to quickly jump from track to track, I loaded it and expected to make a quick decision whether to keep it or not, expecting the not. (I believe that I ordered this CD due to the similarity of the title with a CD of Jean Ferrat's that is quite special to me.)
WOW! Was I wrong! So wrong that I don't mind admitting it.
Victoria de los Angeles is one of the greats. Her command of her voice is superb. Her phrasing leaves me breathless. The previous reviewer called her voice too heavy for these songs. While I have not heard the works he/she noted, I did not have that reaction. The selection of works is marvelous. I cannot recommend this CD higher. I recommend it for the true classic connoisseur, for the person who 'just' likes classics, and for the person who likes some classics but not all and needs to hear a recognizable tune.
A last comment, my first thought was that the recording suffered because I (mistakenly) felt that the source of her voice in the recording was too removed from the microphone. I was wrong again. In fact the balance of her clear, soprano voice to the orchestra is perfect.

The only possible criticism of this disc would presumably be that it doesn't offer more of Canteloube's evocative, atmospheric (even if probably over-perfumed) songs of the Auvergne. If you had any doubts about the artistic merit of these songs, Victoria de los Angeles's performances with the Lamoreux Orchestra under Jean-Pierre Jacquillat should put them to rest. True, other interpreters have but more charm and innocence into this music, but no one has captured the beauty and atmosphere better. She perfectly captures the achingly wistful tone without ever making any of it sound overly sentimental or vulgar, and I doubt that there exists a more wonderful version of the famous Baïlèro out there, for instance. Even if you doubt that you will enjoy this music, I urge you to give it a try, and even if you are familiar with and cherish one of the many fine other interpretations, the ones at hand consistently seem to reach higher into the heavens and capture even more variety of color than any other I have heard . The orchestral playing is very fine (ver French-sounding, but that is not a disadvantage in this music) and the sound is generally good although not quite up to current hi-fi standards.

De los Angeles' recording of Cantaloube's settings of the Songs of the Auvergne deserves its place in EMI's Great Recordings series. The songs on this disk represent a great part of the French composer's collection of these wry, often funny, sometimes sad folk songs. Unlike many classic song settings in the major languages of Europe, these folk songs are sung in the dialect of the Auvergne. With repeated listening, those familiar with a major Romance language may soon find themselves drawn into some comprehension of the words. Yet even those who must depend wholly on the printed translation will find themselves captivated by the ability of this Catalan soprano to speak directly to the heart of the listener. Her beautiful tone, her musicianship and her artistic sensibility make this collection timeless. It deserves a place alongside her similar collection of Spanish songs, "The Maiden and the Nightingale," and other classic recordings of the Cantaloube songs by Natania Davrath and Veronique Gens.

The musical quality and singing on this CD are remarkable. However, the content was not expected. I had heard a song from this album at a conference -- hauntingly beautiful -- and I hoped for more of that on the album. But many of the songs have more of an upbeat, dance beat quality to them. Just not quite what I was looking for....

De los Angeles's singing can be wonderful, as in her "On the Wings of Song." I find her voice too heavy for this music. I much prefer the version of the late Netania Davrath. Madline Grey's is also better.