Joseph Canteloube's settings of French folk songs prove an unexpectedly good match for the talents of Véronique Gens, a soprano normally associated with baroque-period music. Following on from an earlier acclaimed volume of the Chants d'Auvergne, Gens completes the cycle and also offers a selection of the composer's Chants de France as well as the under-rated Triptyque.
Several factors contribute to a very attractive performance. The singer's baroque and classical precision means that she has a full technical grasp of the songs; her intonation is perfect throughout and she pays close attention to details of dynamics and expression in the score. Also, the fact that Véronique Gens was born in the Auvergne region informs her performance in two respects. The way she deals with the language is wonderfully idiomatic, in contrast to Kate Royal's recent recording of some of these songs. But more importantly, the music seems to be in her blood, which is to say that her interpretation and expression are very natural; she understands the style of the songs. She never sounds strained or studied, and this is music with which she evidently identifies closely.
Nine of the Chants d'Auvergne are included here, most of them beautifully evocative. 'Lo Fiolairé' is about 'The Spinner' and Gens ensures the melodic line is always smoothly woven through. The lullaby quality of 'Pour l'enfant' also comes across very well thanks to the caressing, rocking character that Gens creates through the 's' sounds in the text. Surely nobody could resist her lively performance of 'Tè, l'co tè' ('Run, dog, run') with its onomatopoeic bird trills; similarly, 'Hè! Beyla-z-y dau fè!' ('Hey! Give him some hay') is an amusingly rambunctious song about a donkey, into which Gens throws herself with gusto.
The six Chants de France are even more lovely, if anything. Perhaps the wider choice of songs to arrange gave Canteloube more scope, because to me they have greater depth and are more imaginative. The famous song 'Auprès de ma Blonde' regains its wit and charm in this performance after its appropriation as a popular brass band and drinking song. 'Où irai-je me plaindre?' is utterly seductive, not least because of the lavish orchestration; the same goes for 'Délicieuses cimes' with its sweeping flute scales, beautifully imitated by Gens' lovely tone.
However, the three songs that comprise the Triptyque are on a different level altogether and are amongst the most intoxicating French chansons I've ever come across. The songs come from 1914 and are imaginative settings of poems by Roger Frêne. 'Offrande à l'été' reminds me a little of the style of Richard Strauss' orchestral songs, with vocal climaxes followed by a complementary blossoming of the orchestral texture and a magical grasp of chromatic harmonies. The glints of the moonlight in 'Lunaire' are evoked through gentle violin chords and interjections from the woodwinds harp; the song lies very nicely in the middle of Gens' voice and allows her to concentrate on the words. 'Hymne dans l'aurore' is the longest song on the disc and the range of colours created by Canteloube has to be heard to be believed. The orchestration is astoundingly full, while the singer has to grow from a restrained beginning to a dramatic climax after about four minutes. This is the highlight of the disc and every technical and expressive aspect is seen to by Gens.
The Orchestre National de Lille and conductor Serge Baudo provide an accompaniment that is both sensitive to the demands made on the singer by the composer and aware of the magic contained in the orchestration. Sometimes they could be even more lavish in tone, however.
And if I have one small criticism of Gens it is that other singers in this repertoire sound more distinctive and give these songs a chilling edge lacking here. Even Kate Royal, for all her diction problems and less 'French' approach, brings out this spine-tingling quality. But that's not to undermine Gens' CD, which is stylistically authoritative, a bargain - and an utter delight from start to finish.
Véronique Gens: Canteloube Songs is available now.