Customer Reviews

Susan Graham - La Belle Époque (The Songs of Reynaldo Hahn)

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Sometimes hyperbole can ruin the very thing it seeks to enhance, but I find it difficult to come up with enough words of praise for this astonishing album and the two artists who perform on it. Susan Graham is one of the top five opera singers in the world today -- her artistry and sensitivity to the music and text of what she sings is simply unmatched. That's why such an album as this is so extraordinary. Hahn was once a jealously guarded secret by those "in the know" -- he's a delight, and, now that he's becoming more well known, to have an artist of Graham's stature share these pieces is a special event. Listen to the first cut, "A Chloris"; if your heart doesn't melt into goo instantly, then it could be you're a deaf space alien. The whole disc is this lovely. I can't imagine that anyone listening won't be thrilled that they purchased it.

I bought this album on a whim and boy was I ever glad that I gave in to caprice, because this album is exquisite. These songs may not be as important or have the heft of say Schubert, Wolf or Schumann but they are, nevertheless, extremely beautiful and indicative of this more gentle age. The feelings that these songs inspire are that of tenderness and quiet love. This is not cheap sentimentality being passed off as legitimate art. This is the real thing. When music is brought forth with such elegance, grace and beauty, you never feel cheated for one second. My most worthwhile CD purchase of this year, bar none. Susan Graham and Roger Vignoles are perfectly paired, always weaving a gorgeous tapestry of sound that never fails to ignite emotions. An impeccable effort and one that will, no doubt, delight for years to come. Ms. Graham is such a find. Also, I strongly recommend her recording of Les Nuits D'Ete - equally beautiful!

This was only Graham's second solo outing, and for many listeners it confirmed the promise of her début recording of "Les Nuits d'été" -- an unusual accomplishment for a relatively minor project.

I know the songs of Reynaldo Hahn from a number of worthy recordings from other artists -- Rachel Yakar, Martyn Hill, Bruno Laplante, Mady Mesplé, Graham Johnson & Co. (the Hyperion French Song Edition), one-offs on Elly Ameling albums, not to mention vintage recordings by Hahn himself. All the same, this recording was a complete revelation. Her beauty of tone, her ease with the French language (surpassing, I daresay, the much-vaunted Francophony of Felicity Lott), her canny selection of songs, Vignoles's sensitive accompaniment, they all add up. But there's that (ahem) je-ne-sais-quoi that makes something a classic, and this album has it. It captures an era, it creates a time and place that come wafting out of your speakers.

My favorite song on this record is "Si la nuit n'est pas étoilée" -- it is a rapturous melody to a quintessential Victor Hugo text. But there is nary a false note on the entire album. I do recommend, if you can find it, the Ameling album "Serenata," which includes two Hahn songs I haven't encountered elsewhere, "L'amitié" with its faint melancholy and "La vie est belle" with its French élan.

As we know, Graham has gone on to much bigger things, but she retains her commitment to the art of song and to breathing fresh life into French rarities (as in her delightful operetta album). In terms of tone, timbre, and intonation, for my money she has the most beautiful voice in opera today. My only hope is that she doesn't go the way of Ren?e Fleming and become The Voice Beautiful ... she veered a bit in that direction with her recent Chausson record, and I hope she gets back to business and gets her vivid personality back in action in her song performances.

Reynaldo Hahn may not be a familiar composer to most, but after experiencing the magic Susan Graham and Roger Vignoles weave from this collection of Songs, I think he may have found immortality. Susan Graham's voice defies description: she is labeled a mezzo soprano and indeed luxuriates in that range, but she also floats her pliabe voice into the high reaches of soprano territory with seamless ease. This is an album to cherish, to play when things in the world outside don't make much sense. It is restorative! A must for the library: an answer for that meaningful gift.

This is one of the most beautiful vocal recordings I have recently experienced. The songs of Reynaldo Hahn are beautiful gems exquisitly presented by the polished voice of Susan Graham. I have gone back to this recording many times.

This CD is excellent. Graham's sense of style, diction, and musicality are incredible. THIS IS HOW FRENCH MUSIC IS TO BE SUNG. And her voice is clear and beautiful to boot.

I knew Hahn from one song, as many, I think, do -- the sublime Si Mes Vers Avaient Des Ailes. And Graham, from her performances in Mozart at the Metrolitan. Together, they are magic. From the opening notes of A Chloris, this is rapturous music, perfectly performed. (Her accompanist, Roger Vignoles, also needs to be singled out for his excellence.) The most worthwhile CD purchase I made last year, both in revealing new facets of a composer's work, and new appreciation of a singer.

Ms. Graham's mezzo is all the more winning for the quality of girlishness in it, a quality I hope she never loses. And then there's the prodigious intelligence, musical and otherwise, and the elegance of phrasing -- all in all, as they sometimes say in apartment ads, "too many amenities to list." This to me is the finest achievement in French art song since Maggie Teyte.

Ms. Graham's sweet, exquisite voice shines very fine in this excellent, truly beautiful recording. Simply put, it is a "must-have." I knew only a little of Hahn's music prior to buying this recording, but I consider it a prize discovery. I do recommend this treasure of a recording.

This is very wonderful disc because there are many wonderful songs composed by Reynald Hahn. I don't know many of songs except "Si mes vers Avaient des ailes" (If my songs had wings), but all of them are very wonderful and charming. I can't speak French so much, but the sound of French is so beautiful! Susan Graham's voice is beautiful. I can't wait to hear her next lieder/chanson album. This one is very recommentable for anyone who loves beautiful music. It will make you feel so wonderful.

ENJOY!