Susan Graham - Un Frisson Français - A Century of French Song (2008)

Unlike collections that focus on a single composer, or sets of songs by various composers, this CD featuring soprano Susan Graham and pianist Malcolm Martineau includes one song each by 22 French composers, spanning almost a century. Arranged in groups according to style, essentially, but not strictly chronologically, the songs form a compendium of compositional trends from the 1860s to the 1930s, with one selection from the 1960s. They range from the romantic mélodies of Bizet and Franck to Poulenc's monodrama "La Dame de Monte Carlo." In additional to all the composers one would expect to find represented, there are real finds by the largely forgotten Emile Paladilhe and Alfred Bachelet. The warmth of Graham's voice is well suited to these songs, and she brings them a velvety legato. She is equally at home in the serenely lyrical songs, like Hahn's "À Chloris," and the more dramatic, narrative songs like Caplet's "Le Corbeau et le Renard," and the amusing, faux-spooky "Dance Macabre" by Saint-Saëns. Martineau provides a subtle and supportive accompaniment. Onyx's sound is clean and vibrant, with a good sense of presence.