“This disc was a revelation for me.…it has great beauty and stays in the mind after one hears it. Songs comprise 26 of the 37-individual works on this two-disc set, and they are lovely. Boulanger’s style is similar in some ways to Debussy’s and Fauré’s. The earlier works show a greater influence from those predecessors; later on, Boulanger’s own voice came more to the fore. … it is eminently worth knowing. … Nicole Cabell’s singing of just over half the songs is exquisite: delicately shaded, tonally lovely, and sensitive to the texts. … Tenor Alek Shrader really understands the French style. The usual range of subjects—love, grief, nature, and religion—are all covered in Boulanger’s melodies. Some songs are surprisingly passionate from a composer whom history has painted as a reserved and controlled personality. … The instrumental works, all miniatures, are skillfully crafted (as one would expect from a life-long pedagogue), but also display a spark of ingenuity and inspiration. … Everything about this disc combines to make an enthusiastic recommendation easy.”
Fanfare Gives Enthusiastic Recommendation for Mademoiselle
Posted by Delos Productions on
Categories : Delos Reviews
