Victoria de Los Angeles Performs Ravel, Debussy & Duparc (Great Recordings of the Century) [Original recording remastered]

Victoria de Los Angeles (Artist), Maurice Ravel (Composer), Claude Debussy (Composer), Henri Duparc (Composer), Georges Prêtre (Conductor), Paris Conservatory Concert Society Orchestra (Orchestra), Gonzalo Soriano (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Gonzalo Soriano
• Orchestra: Paris Conservatory Concert Society Orchestra
• Conductor: Georges Prêtre
• Composer: Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Henri Duparc
• Audio CD (March 7, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000EF5MI6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #455,313 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-listen from the incomparable de los Angeles, June 2, 2011

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Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Victoria de Los Angeles Performs Ravel, Debussy & Duparc (Great Recordings of the Century) (Audio CD)

Opera singers are well cushioned by PR departments, but one of the favorite words used to describe a diva, "incomparable," fully applies to Victoria de los Angeles. Captured here in two recordings from 1962 and 1965, she delivers these French songs, mostly with orchestra, using a mixture of ravishing tone and feminine vulnerability that no one could resist. At the height of their careers, de los Angeles and Schwarzkopf were the reigning sopranos at EMI, lasting longer in front of the microphone than Maria Callas. Each had her own territory, and de los Angeles' covered art songs from France and her native Spain. No one has been more enchanting in this repertoire ever since.

The orchestrated songs are accompanied by the young Georges Pretre, who subdues his tendency toward rough brashness, lending just enough grit to bring Ravel's Sheherazade down to earth -- not that it matters. De los Angeles, placed close to the microphone, captures our full attention. As with all great stars her voice is instantly recognizable, but she doesn't coast on its innate appeal. She astutely and sensitively dramatizes each song, giving us real characters. It's futile, really, to analyze what she does; her singing strikes your heart immediately. It's enough to say that one of the most lovable singers in the postwar era was also one of the most musical.

EMI's sound, always good, has lost a bit of digital glare in this latest remastering. Gonzalo Soriano is the pianist in the delightful 'Chants poulaires' of Ravel. Here's the full program:

Debussy:

Trois Chansons de Bilitis

Fêtes galantes - Set 1

Noël des enfants qui n'ont plus de maison

Qui N'ont Plus De Maison

Lia's Aria (from L'enfant Prodigue)

Duparc:

L'Invitation au voyage

Phidylé

Ravel:

Shéhérazade

Cinq mélodies populaires grecques

Deux mélodies hébraïques

Chants Populaires

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Disc of French Songs, April 3, 2008

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F. Leto (Tucson,AZ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Victoria de Los Angeles Performs Ravel, Debussy & Duparc (Great Recordings of the Century) (Audio CD)

In my view, any disc of Victoria de los Angeles is self-recommending. Apparently, EMI is re-releasing her back catalog and this budget priced disc is wonderful. It includes songs accompanied with solo piano and orchestral songs. All the songs are beautifully played and sung. I particularly loved the orchestral songs, but that is my bias. The disc is chock full, with over 70 minutes of music. In addition, the sound fantastic, considering it's vintage. I don't need to lecture about Ms.de los Angeles' reputation as an interperter of French, or Spanish, music. In my opinion, she is one of the best. If you are fond of French chanson, buy this budget priced disc. Look for EMI's other recently released discs of her songs, and buy them also. They are equally beautiful. Enjoy.