Search - Marie-Joseph Canteloube, Clarie Croiza, Yvonne Printemps :: Songs of France

Famous French Sopranos in Creator Records.

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 06/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Canteloube's "Songs of the Auvergne" have found their way into the repertoire of many singers and into the home collections of many music lovers. There were many decades however when they known only to discerning and determined record collectors, many of whom had contrived with great difficulty to obtain the recordings of eight of them made in 1930 by the singer for whom they were composed, Madeleine Grey. The records and the singer acquired cult status. Here was singing which seemed to suggest a simple peasant girl rather than the much-admired professional singer whom composers such as Faure and Ravel were happy to accompany at the piano. Has any later singer sounded so "earthy" when singing "Passo pet prat"? 21st Century music lovers can now hear and enjoy these and the few other recordings made by this distinctive singer. The original recordings, which never seemed to reproduce cleanly no matter what needle or stylus was used, here sound bright and clear. Grey's other recordings are also included, Ravel songs from recording sessions either supervised by Ravel or where he provided the piano accompaniment. French composer Pierre de Bréville accompanies a second singer here, the soprano Claire Croiza, in one of his songs. This is elegant, beautifully enunciated singing from a singer better remembered today as a teacher of many famous pupils than for the few recordings she made. Singing actress Yvonne Printemps is also represented. I doubt that she ever taught anyone to sing, but at least one French teacher I knew used to tell his Australian pupils that if they wished to acquire a genuine French accent they should listen to her records. So far as I know, everything heard here is a creator recording. I am certain that few subsequent singers have been able to identify so well with the songs, or have represented so well a very special French quality."