Poulenc - Melodies / Ameling · Gedda · W. Parker · Sénéchal · Souzay · Baldwin

Francis Poulenc (Composer), Dalton Baldwin (Performer), Elly Ameling (Performer), Gérard Souzay (Performer), Nicolai Gedda (Performer), Michel Sénéchal (Performer), William Parker (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Dalton Baldwin, Elly Ameling, Gérard Souzay, Nicolai Gedda, Michel Sénéchal, et al.
• Composer: Francis Poulenc
• Audio CD (January 23, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 4
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002S31
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,195 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Idiomatic, fresh, cleanly recorded, May 11, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Poulenc - Melodies / Ameling · Gedda · W. Parker · Sénéchal · Souzay · Baldwin (Audio CD)

This is a fine set. Dalton Baldwin accompanies each singer with clarity and zest. And who can resist the affectionate singing of the likes of Nicolai Gedda and Elly Ameling? The "melodies" themselves are magnificent--among Poulenc's finest creations. Whether you have other performances of these works or not, I think you'd be pleased with this beautifully recorded set. Certainly the 70's-vintage performances are more individual in profile, more "romantic," if you will, than those conjured by most of the "anonymous" singers of our own age. Recommended with enthusiasm.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost completely wonderful, April 28, 2005

By 

Steve Schwartz (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Poulenc - Melodies / Ameling · Gedda · W. Parker · Sénéchal · Souzay · Baldwin (Audio CD)

Its very considerable advantage lies in its completeness. Poulenc was one of the very greatest songwriters of any era. If you have no Poulenc songs in your collection, start here. The recommendation of Kruysen is a fine one, but only after you have heard this as a basis of comparison. Of Ameling, Senechal, Souzay, Gedda, and Parker, the only disappointment is Parker, who - I'll just say it - sings with his usual bleat. Souzay is a shade past it in vocal quality, but he still understands these songs as well as anybody, with great declamation (and that, after all, is what most of French singing is about). The dryness of the voice is nowhere close to disastrous, as it might have been in Italian opera. Indeed, it lends an air of life lived, without excuses. Gedda is okay. The standouts are Souzay, Ameling, and Senechal. Baldwin accompanies superbly.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indisputable Gallic flair, June 5, 2004

By 

Finnamon "finnamon" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Poulenc - Melodies / Ameling · Gedda · W. Parker · Sénéchal · Souzay · Baldwin (Audio CD)

These performances are piquant and stylistically right on target. Even if Souzay is past his best here, he brings a lifetime of experience to bear and the other performers are wonderful. Ignore the curmudgeon who blasted this set. You will enjoy this tremendously if you love Poulenc.