Chants d'Auvergne, Vol. 2 Naxos 8.570338
- Composer: Joseph Canteloube
- Conductor: Serge Baudo
- Orchestra: Lille National Orchestra
- Artist: Veronique Gens
Since his death in 1957, Canteloube has become widely known for his many folk-song arrangements, particularly the enchanting Chants d’Auvergne. This second Canteloube disc featuring Véronique Gens, herself native to the Auvergne region, completes the Naxos cycle of the complete Chants d’Auvergne accompanied by full orchestra. It also includes two rarely performed works: excerpts from Chants de France, another anthology of folk-songs subsequently harmonised and orchestrated, and the Triptyque, three exquisite settings worthy of being ranked alongside the greatest songs by Chausson and Ravel.
Chants d'Auvergne, Vol. 2 Review
Soprano Véronique Gens and conductor Serge Baudo are ideally paired in this CD of selections from Canteloube's folk song arrangements, Chants d'Auvergne and Chants de France, as well as his original composition Triptyque. Both performers bring an innately Gallic sensibility to the songs – a strong sense of lyricism; a predilection for warm, lush tone; and rhythmic suppleness. It's their ability to sustain this rhythmic freedom and fluidity without ever letting the energy slacken, their ability to breathe together, that's perhaps the most striking element of their collaboration. This repertoire sits perfectly for Gens' pure, radiant, and totally secure voice; she floats over Canteloube's richly evocative orchestrations. The songs of Chants d'Auvergne never cease to delight with their musical warmth and wit. In Chants de France, he sets more familiar French folk songs, and the resulting cycle is less well known, possibly because the source material is melodically simpler, mostly more restrained, and less colorful. His arrangements are lovely, but are somewhat less flamboyantly quirky and rambunctious than in the Auvergne songs. “Réveillez-vous!” is especially appealing, the highlight of the set. Canteloube's original Triptyque, set to poems by Roger Frêne, is musically more sophisticated in its harmonic movement; the songs demonstrate the composer's gift for writing soaring melodies and reaffirm his mastery of brilliant orchestration. Orchestre National de Lille-Région Nord – Pas-de Calais plays fervently and expressively and sounds far more accomplished than its regional name would suggest. Stephen Eddins – All Music Guide