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These two stars, Fleming and Thibaudet, shine big and bright all the way through this selection of 26 songs arranged round a ‘night’ motif. The first compliment that the disc deserves is for the selection itself. The songs are not over-familiar, and they have been arranged with the most lyrical numbers at the start and at the end of the recital – the Faure and Rachmaninov numbers respectively, with Rachmaninov’s yearning lament for far-off Georgia, a kind of land of lost content, making a particularly impressive conclusion. It is also a pleasure to have Strauss, and even more so Debussy, given to us in their less familiar guise of solo song writers, and almost a greater pleasure to be given anything at all by Joseph Marx.
The ‘night’ theme is not interpreted pedantically. Sometimes the nocturnal atmosphere is strongly present as in Faure’s Apres un Reve, but sometimes there is only a passing reference to night as a background, and we even find night-substitutes in the shape of winter in one case and dense foliage obscuring bright sunlight in another. What is really more important is the artistic variety among the songs and their composers. Most of the songs are lyrics of one kind or another, with a few exceptions notably the two Mandoline numbers. I don’t detect any attempt, by either producers or performers, to highlight national characteristics, and that is all to the good. Such differentiations come through of their own accord and to whatever extent the composers intended. What does not vary at all is the sheer quality of these performances.
Renee Fleming has a truly divine voice, and I find her tone absolutely right and proportionate for these solo songs. Where more volume and power are used, by Thibaudet as well, that is because the composer has written the music that way. Once and once only does the style seem operatic to me, and that is in the very final number. Fleming has saved this up quite obviously, and I am completely won over by it. She and Thibaudet are reportedly accustomed to working in partnership, and that shows in the sense of unity that I feel throughout. It does not need underlining that Thibaudet is a great player in his own right, and whether the proper term here is ‘accompanist’ or ‘partner’ he finds just the right level and balance against the vocal line.
The recording, from 2000/2001 in New York, is absolutely fine and unexceptionable, and so it should be by that date. The liner note, by Nigel Simeone with extensive quotation from the artists, is interesting and informative. Altogether, one impression remains – this is a musical experience in a special bracket. Just surrender yourself to it.
他の国からのトップレビュー
DAVID BRYSON
THE STARS AT NIGHT
2015年8月2日に英国でレビュー済みAmazonで購入
madamemusico
Five stars for everything but the sonics!
2001年4月14日にアメリカ合衆国でレビュー済みAmazonで購入
J. McDonald 🏴
Night Songs.
2019年8月15日に英国でレビュー済みAmazonで購入
Robin Hames
Extremely intelligent recording by both of them
2015年2月1日にアメリカ合衆国でレビュー済みAmazonで購入
Diana M. Goffe
Renee Fleming Nocturnes Recommended
2015年2月18日にアメリカ合衆国でレビュー済みAmazonで購入
