Dawn Upshaw's involvement in a production of Olivier Messiaen's opera 'Saint Francois d'Assise' prompted further exploration of his work, as well as that of Gabriel Fauré and Claude Debussy, and ultimately led to VOICES OF LIGHT, a recital disc with the elegance and brilliance of a perfectly cut gem. Messiaen's unique mix of spirituality and sensuousness demands a singer possessed of exceptional expressive abilities as well as vocal virtuosity. Upshaw, a performer acclaimed for her radiant voice and artistic commitment, abandons inhibitions but not technique or musical integrity in celebrating the ecstatic nature of Messiaen's music with impressive accounts of five of his songs, notably "Le Collier," "Amour oiseu d'etoile," and "Résurrection."
Lush, impressionistic harmonies softly illuminate Debussy's nocturnal soundscapes in 'Chansons de Bilitis,' while a sparse musical language gracefully articulates the relationship between earthly desire and divine love in Fauré's song cycle 'La Chanson d'Eve.' The inclusion of a work by Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov may seem out of place among these masters of "melodie," but the darkly colored "Lua descolorida" shows him to be a worthy heir to the tradition. Upshaw's remarkable vocal efforts in these works are enhanced by the outstanding contributions of her long-time accompanist, pianist Gilbert Kalish.