Customer Reviews

Canteloube: Songs Of The Auvergne / Chants D'Auvergne

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

 

 

Upshaw's youthful, silvery voice is never so well used as to playfully explore the smooth, innocent joy of Canteloube's simple peasant songs. Simple, yes, and transporting to days when simple pleasures served the soul. Intricate, lush arrangements, carefully developed by Nagano, make even the simplest lyrics enchanting. The CD includes complete printed support (so often missing these days) -- biographies, musical analysis, and most important, the libretto -- in Italian, French, German and English. What sublime fun! Compare to the von Stada CD for a more strident rendition of these songs.

When Dawn Upshaw finds her niche in music, whether that be in opera, lieder or crossover, she is radiant. For those who have had the good fortune to hear her with Richard Goode in a program of lullabies then you owe it to yourself to add this treasure to your library. Canteloube's haunting Songs of the Auvergne have seduced many sopranos as they have become parceled out to us on the recital stage in smatterings. But few sopranos can explore this terrain with the innate grasp of the meaning of the music like Dawn Upshaw. Here Upshaw, partnered with great sensitivity by Kent Nagano, brings us a large selection, many familiar songs and some not so familiar. This little recital is music to float on clouds and drink in the sensuous simplicity of the countryside below. Highly recommended - for those who know the cycle well and for those eager to learn about a new performing staple.

Excellent production. The "Songs" create a mood like no other music.