Oiseau Bleu- Chansons de Massenet, Delage, Beydts, Gounod

Darynn Zimmer (Artist, Performer), Charles McCracken (Performer), Jonathan Spitz (Performer), Todd Levy (Performer), Louis Beydts (Composer), Maurice Delage (Composer), Charles Gounod (Composer), Jules Massenet (Composer), Ransom Wilson (Conductor), Solisti New York (Performer), Bart Feller (Performer), David Smith (Performer), Diane Lesser (Performer), Gaît Sirguey (Performer), Ahling Neu (Performer), Ellen Payne (Performer), Erica Kiesewetter (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Darynn Zimmer, Charles McCracken, Jonathan Spitz, Todd Levy, Solisti New York, et al.
• Conductor: Ransom Wilson
• Composer: Louis Beydts, Maurice Delage, Charles Gounod, Jules Massenet
• Audio CD (November 24, 2009)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New Albion Records
• ASIN: B000000R42
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #505,313 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superb rendition of neglected French Songs, December 7, 1998

By 

C. S. Adams (Asbury Park, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Oiseau Bleu- Chansons de Massenet, Delage, Beydts, Gounod (Audio CD)

This disk contains some exquisite art songs by Massenet and Gounod, many of which I have never seen in other French art song collections. They are interspersed with the songs of two 20th century composers, Louis Beydts and Maurice Delage. Beydts's music is quite lyrical and tonal, reminiscent of the later songs of Reynaldo Hahn - the real jewel is his "L'Oiseau Bleu" (also the title of the CD). Delage's is slightly more modernistic - I think his subtle French wit is lost a bit on me. The high point of this disk is Zimmer's performance of the Massenet songs. It is no wonder the most singers have ignored these songs, the lyrical melodic lines that soar thru the upper register must be quite a feat, and Zimmer makes them sound effortless. She sings Massenet with the same technical brilliance as Beverly Sills and with incredible clarity of tone and warmth.

3.0 out of 5 stars Some lovely singing, but...., April 24, 2010

By 

A. Lehman - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Oiseau Bleu- Chansons de Massenet, Delage, Beydts, Gounod (Audio CD)

Given the rarity of some of these songs, you'd expect that the record label would include a bit of info on them and the composers, especially Louis Beydts, who appears to not be widely known or recorded.

Well, there is nary a word about the artists, the composers, or the music, much less texts or translations - surely a disservice to the talented soprano and her accompanists, and most certainly a lack of regard for the consumer. Presumably cost-cutting lurks in the background.

Luckily the internet provides where New Albion Records does not. Otherwise I would never have known that Delage's charming Maktah is a lullaby for a baby seal "Asleep in the arms of the slow-swinging seas!"

I'm pleased with the music though; Ms. Zimmer's singing is a definite delight. She gets 5 stars.