Francis Poulenc dreamed of a great vocalist who would sing his melodies like la Tosca: that is, with a great, operatic voice. Jessye Norman's voice certainly fit the bill. This album is dedicated to French melodies, and it tells of Norman's love for France – a love which was mutual – and of her knowledge of the French repertoire.
In this well-selected programme, Jessye Norman offers a kind of sampler of French melody, starting with Henri Duparc and his successful synthesis of German Lied and French melody. There follow two Hebrew melodies that illustrate Maurice Ravel's breadth of mind, before we end on the very Parisian melodies of Poulenc and Satie. This is a record of pure delight, all the more so as the American singer, discreetly supported by Dalton Baldwin, makes the words effortlessly intelligible, with a diction equals a great many French singers. A treat. © François Hudry/Qobuz