From the Signum Classics website:
"Malcolm Martineau follows up his acclaimed complete song collections of Duparc, Poulenc and Faure with a double album celebrating the complete songs of Maurice Ravel, performed by a bumper roster of singers: Lorna Anderson, Julie Boulianne, John Chest, Sarah Dufresne, Dafydd Jones, Simon Keenlyside, Paula Murrihy, Nicky Spence and William Thomas. French composer Maurice Ravel known for his musical craftsmanship and clear style drew on elements of baroque, neoclassicism, modernism and later on, jazz in his compositions. His vocal works span 4 decades, from 1893 to 1933. Scottish pianist Malcolm Martineau is recognised at the highest international level as one of the UK’s leading accompanists, performing worldwide alongside the world’s greatest singers and with a discography of over 100 albums, including a number of award-winning recordings."
Artists
Malcolm Martineau - Piano
Lorna Anderson - Soprano
Sarah Dufresne - Soprano
Paula Murrihy - Soprano
Julie Boulianne - Mezzo Soprano
Dafydd Jones - Tenor
Nicky Spence -Tenor
John Chest - Baritone
Simon Keenlyside - Baritone
William Thomas - Bass
Lisa Friend - Flute
Anna Stokes - Flute
Julian Bliss - Clarinet
Matt Glendening - Clarinet
Cara Berridge - Cello
Simon sings Histoires Naturelles on CD1 and Deux mélodies hébraïques on CD2
Track Listing
CD 1
[1] Ballade de la Reine morte d’aimer - Malcolm Martineau, Sarah Dufresne
[2] Un grand sommeil noir - Malcolm Martineau, William Thomas
[3] Sainte - Malcolm Martineau, Lorna Anderson
[4] – [5] Epigrammes de Clément Marot - Malcolm Martineau, Nicky Spence
[6] Chanson du rouet - Malcolm Martineau, Sarah Dufresne
[7] Si morne! - Malcolm Martineau, Nicky Spence
[8] Manteau de fleurs - Malcolm Martineau, Sarah Dufresne
[9] – [11] Shéhérazade - Malcolm Martineau, Paula Murrihy, Lisa Friend
[12] – [16] Cinq mélodies populaires grecques - Malcolm Martineau, Nicky Spence (12-16), Lorna Anderson (12-15)
[17] Noël des jouets - Malcolm Martinaeu, Nicky Spence
[18] – [22] Histoires naturelles - Malcolm Martineau, Simon Keenlyside
CD 2
[1] Vocalise-Etude en forme de Habanera - Malcolm Martineau, Julie Boulianne
[2] Les grands vents venus d’outre-mer - Malcolm Martineau, Dafydd Jones
[3] Sur l’herbe - Malcolm Martineau, Nicky Spence
[4] Tripatos - Malcolm Martineau, Sartah Dufresne,
[5] – [9] Chants populaires - Malcolm Martineau, Lorna Anderson, William Thomas, Paula Murrihy, Nicky Spence
[10] – [12] Trois poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé - Lisa Friend, Anna Stokes, Julian Bliss, Matt Glendening, Julie Boulianne, Sacconi Quartet
[13] – [14] Deux mélodies hébraïques - Malcolm Martineau, Simon Keenlyside
[15] – [17] Trois chansons pour chœur mixte sans accompagnement - Malcolm Martineau, Lorna Anderson
[18] Ronsard à son âme - Malcolm Martineau, Dafydd Jones
[19] – [21] Chansons madécasses - Malcolm Martineau, Lisa Friend, Cara Berridge, Julie Boulianne
[22] Rêves - Malcolm Martineau, Lorna Anderson
[23] – [25] Don Quichotte à Dulcinée - Malcolm Martineau, John Chest
Pre-order from Signum Classics
Buy CD or download individual tracks from Presto Classical
Click here to see a complete list of Simon's CDs
SOUNDBITES
"..The album of chansons has been put together by the pianist Malcolm Martineau, with an array of British singers that will have Paris artist managers choking on their breakfast croissants. Nicky Spence and Simon Keenlyside are the standouts, with sopranos Lorna Anderson and Canadian Sarah Dufresne in close contention...If I had to pick instant favourites, it would be Keenlyside’s Kaddish and the gloriously variegated set of Chansons populaires..."
"After collections devoted to Duparc, Fauré and Poulenc, pianist Malcolm Martineau adds Ravel to the surveys of French song he has curated for Signum, nicely timed for the composer’s 150th anniversary this year. As before, Martineau is partnered by a lineup of mostly British singers, who tackle the songs as if determined to demonstrate that this repertoire should never be seen as the exclusive preserve of Francophone artists....
..baritone Simon Keenlyside finds precisely the right light touch for the epigrammatic Histoires Naturelles.."