Search - Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Benjamin Britten :: Ravel: Shéhérazade - Debussy: La damoiselle elue - Britten: Les illuminations / McNair, Graham, Ozawa

Typically French, Classically beautiful

Tom Williams | Redondo Beach, Ca. | 04/05/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Late nineteeth-century French works might often lack authenticity, but never do they miss the mark for imagination or for the lyrical sense so evident in this "Scheherazade". Like Delibes' "Lakme", the setting is exotic, in the French idiom, and the music, while without any semblance of accuracy from a Middle-Eastern/Arabic standpoint, is the perfect vehicle for displaying some truly beautiful voices. And here, the voices of Sylvia McNair and Susan Graham do not disappoint. This is not involving music, but it is wondrous to lsten to for it's sheer beauty. This is not said to convey any sense of triviality...just that it has a single redeeming quality and that is that it is extremely pleasant to hear. Perfectly chosen voices and Ozawa's careful attention to the "feel" of French music make this a real "must-have" for anyone who likes the creamy-smooth delivery of these two fine sopranos. Graham, in particular, shows that when not stretching,she has the tools to make you glad you came."