Contes
Works by Bernard, Hahn, Karveno, Debussy et al
Sandrine Piau (soprano), David Kadouch (piano)
Alpha Classics ALPHA1235 57:20 mins
This beguiling recital by two thoughtful musicians is themed around fairy tales, threading together familiar names and compelling discoveries.
Sandrine Piau and David Kadouch’s album moves from lullabies to dark legends, intimate dreams and expressionist fantasies, seen predominantly through women’s eyes.
The musicians pay tribute to Héloïse Luzzati of the Cité des Compositrices and Palazzetto Bru Zane for their huge investment in repertoire diversification – and the result is one to treasure.
Jeanne Bernard’s Trois chansons de Bilitis open the album with luminous simplicity, the voice radiant and the piano transcending mere hammers and strings with a glorious sound. Reynaldo Hahn’s À Chloris receives a guileless reading, the most attractive version of this well-worn song I have heard, while Debussy’s still more ubiquitous ‘La fille aux cheveux de lin’ yields new colours and lines in Kadouch’s hands.
Among the unfamiliar names, Wally Karveno’s Cinderella-themed La robe de lune is a terrific find, while Louise Didier’s La pluie is an unusual, immersive rediscovery. Ravel’s Cinq mélodies populaires grecques is delivered with unforced charm, nothing over-egged – though I will not forget the perfect, spellbound opening of the love song ‘Chanson des cueilleuses de lentisques’. Strauss’s ‘Wiegenlied’ elicits yet more exquisite piano playing, and Ilse Weber’s lullaby Wiegala closes the album with quiet resolution.
Throughout, the performances show subtlety and imagination. Kadouch draws the finest sounds from the instrument, while Piau pours intense expressivity into her singing. I would have loved a more informative booklet – but this quibble aside, the album is delight.
