Search - Sanford Sylvan, Gabriel Faure, Lydian String Quartet :: L' Horizon Chimerique

Sanford Sylvan and David Breitman

Ettienne | FL, USA | 06/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As I said before, Sanford Sylvan is one of the best lyric baritones in America, he is brilliant. This recording also shows his clean tone and sensitivity in music, but with a much mature tone. He's beautiful voice is filled with great emotion and he handles the text with good intelligence. He has great dynamics and the timbre in his voice ranges from a light to a strong rich tone. He is regarded as being "at the top of all contemporary Fauréans" (Diapason - Feb 1997). Breitman also shows great musicianship--he is both a great accompanist as well as a great concert pianist. His solo pieces are well interpreted, a joy to listen to as well. I truly recommend this wonderful recording! I also recommend his 1991 recording entitled "Beloved, That Pilgrimage"I hope he makes another wonderful solo recital recording soon."

Has an American singer made a better French album?

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 12/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For anyone who loves art song, the pickings are slim among Americans who have mastered the German lied, but they're even slimmer for French chansons and melodies. Sanfored Sylvan joins a select company (Jan DeGaetani, Dawn Upshaw, Kathleen Battle, Susan Graham, and a handful of others) with this delightful and moving album of Faure. It is centered on two song cycles basically unknown to most American music lovers, La Bonne Chanson from 1892-94 and the even more osbscure l'Horizon Chimerique from 1921. The earlier cycle has evocative string accompaniments to augment the pianist -- in this case, David Breitman, who proves to be sensitive and able. The later cycle has imbedded in it some of the composer's most inspired and passionate songs.



Among male singers, Faure was more or less owned by Gerard Souzay for three decades beginning just after the war. Sylvan's voice, like Souzay's, is a light, flexible baritone with overtones of a tenor, but if the older singer was to the manner born in French song, Sylvan is warmer and more expressive emotionally. That makes a difference here, since Faure can wear out his welcome if the singer is too refined and exquisite. Sylvan manages to sound (reasonably) French while avoiding any hint of preciousness. Therefore, this album is doubly rare, since it can be recommended wholeheartedly to the general listener."