Debussy Mélodies

VÉRONIQUE DIETSCHY SOPRANO
PHILIPPE CASSARD PIANO

ARIETTES OUBLIÉES/PAUL VERLAINE
C'EST L'EXTASE LANGOUREUSE
IL PLEURE DANS MON CIEUR
L'OMBRE DES ARBRES
CHEVAUX DE BOIS
GREEN
SPLEEN

CINQ POEMES DE BAUDELAIRE
LE BALCON
HARMONIE DU SOlE
LE JET D'EAU
RECUEILLEMENT
LA MORT DES AMANTS

JANE/LECONTE DE LISLE
CAPRICE/THEODORE DE BANVILLE

FETES GALANTES/PAUL VERLAINE
EN SOURDINE
FANTOCHES
CLAIR DE LUNE

ADES 202682 [1992]

Sandrine Piau SOPRANO
Jos van Immerseel PIANO ERARD 1897

Melodies de jeunesse
Apparition 1884 poeme de Stephane Mallarme
Romance 1883 poeme de Paul Bourget
Les papillons 1881 poeme de Theophlle Gautier
Calmes dans Ie demi-jour 1882 poeme de Paul Vertaine
Regret 1884 poeme de Paul Bourget

Ariettes oubliées 1885-1888
d'apres les "Arietles oubliees" in "Romances sans paroles" 1872 de Paul Verlaine
C'est I'extase, II pleura dans mon creur, L'om5re des arb res
Paysages belges: Chevaux de bois, Aquarelles : Green, Aquarelles : Spleen

Proses Iyriques 1892-1893
poemes de Claude Debussy
Dereve,Degreve,Defleurs,Desoir

Trois poemes de Stephane Mallarme 1913
Soupir, Placet futile, Eventail

naive classique V4932 [2002]

Two interesting and recommendable CDs of Debussy Mélodies.

The repertoire is mainly different, with only the Ariettes oubliées offering direct comparison. VÉRONIQUE DIETSCHY's first CD has been a favourite in my collection since I heard her at a notable debut recital in London's French Institute many years ago.

I had to borrow the disc back for this review and it confirmed my memories of a deeply serious artist, strikingly pictured in the cover photo. She has a pure voice, perfectly controlled and using minimal vibrato, and a peculiar rapt intensity which is supported here by very beautiful piano playing (Steinway D). I have been pleased to confirm that it is still available, from French Amazon.

Véronique Dietschy has a more recent Debussy CD ACCORD 722552, which I have not heard, accompanied by Emmanuel Strosser - different songs, none of them included in either of the CDs reviewed here: Dans le jardin; Voici que le printemps; (Les) Angélus; Romance; Noël des enfants qui n'ont plus de maison; Nuits blanches; Regret; (La) Romance d'Ariel; (3) Ballades de François Villon.

Sandrine Piau also understands these songs well, and includes youthful Mélodies de jeunesse. Of particular interest is the accompaniment on a well preserved Erard of 1897 in Jos van Immerseel's collection , restrung recently but otherwise in its original condition. In a detailed note he explains that because it is not overstrung, the different registers have their own character. I always have a penchant for pianos that Andras Schiff described as not "black and made by Steinway", and this is one good reason to acquire this survey of Debussy's songs. If you can only afford one, however, my vote is for Dietschy's.