Customer Reviews

Gabriel Faure: Melodies

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I wore out two copies of this LP back in the "old days" (1980s) of record players. I was thrilled to find it released in CD. Von Stade's command of the French art song is apparent, and her phrasing, interpretation -- acting, if you will -- and glorious voice bring meaning and texture to this collection of 18 Faure songs. Collard's accompaniment is perfect. You will want to own this CD!

I too owned this recording as an LP back in the early 80s and eventually lost track of it. I was dismayed that it was not available on CD until recently because it really is an excellent collection of Fauré songs. I've never heard Von Stade sing with more subtlety or greater interpretation of text as she does here. Having lived in France for a while as a nanny, she speaks the language and is careful to sing it idiomatically as much as possible. Jean-Philippe Collard is superb on the piano. Von Stade is in prime voice and inspired. Together they create a magical atmosphere for each song. They are not afraid to sing some of these songs very slowly in keeping with the specific mood, slower than any most! I have many recordings of Fauré's songs such as the complete collection with Elly Ameling and Gerard Souzay on EMI. But this recording together with the RCA album of Fauré mélodies performed by French contralto Nathalie Stutzmann and pianist Catherine Collard are the ones I always return to for pleasurable listening.

This disc is the perfect introduction to the songs of Gabriel Faure. American mezzo Frederica von Stade delivers a beautiful and consistent recital of selections, which generally come from the earlier part of Faure's career, when he wrote music that was largely more accessible than later in his career (post-1900). Von Stade sings with ease, has a beautiful voice, is always on pitch and never sounds strained, which maybe indicates that some of the songs have been transposed. The well-known pianist Jean-Philippe Collard provides effective accompaniment. Von Stade has also included a song from Faure's famous "Pelleas et Melisande" incidental music, accompanied by the Toulouse orchestra and Michel Plasson.

I had previously tried to approach Faure's song output through a recording by Gerard Souzay, maybe the most famous mid-century exponent of French songs, and had found them difficult to love, although I understand why Souzay is so widely praised. Von Stade's recital is much more accessible. It contains several of Faure's best-known songs, including "Apres un reve," the "Mandoline" and "Sourdine" songs from the Op. 58 Verlaine set, and "Clair de lune." But it also extends into songs that I hadn't heard and found just lovely, like "Arpege" (track 15), "In the forest of September" (track 17) or the early "At the edge of the water" (track 6). There's a ton to love here. It is one of those recordings that just make you want to listen to it over and over again.

The recording is early digital (1981-2) but is good quality. I {heart} this disc.