`Au jardin des aveux” (Ann Murray and Philip Langridge, with Roger Vignoles, piano; Virgin Classics). Handel, Mozart: Vocal duets (Tatiana Troyanos and Benita Valente, with Julius Rudel and the New York City Opera Orchestra; Musicmaster Classics).
Fans of the strangely under-recorded mezzo-soprano Tatiana Troyanos will certainly enjoy the Handel/Mozart CD, which displays her tremendous technical security and agility (as well as her trademark dusky timbre) in a variety of interesting repertoire. Though sometimes thin of tone (particularly in the sublime ”Piangero la sorte mia,” from Handel`s ”Julius Caesar”), soprano Benita Valente does artful things with her music, as well, and blends artfully with her colleague.
Even better is Virgin`s collection of French songs and duets by soprano Ann Murray and tenor Philip Langridge, sensitively accompanied by pianist Roger Vignoles. The British duo (who have been married since 1981 but rarely perform together) bring the perfect combination of elan and refinement to Saint-Saens, Chausson, Gounod, Faure and Messiaen songs, most of them rarities.
As the liner notes point out, the young Faure built on the tradition of melodies established by Saint-Saens and Gounod; this album thus provides a crucial historical bridge in the history of French art song, proving that the vocal music of Faure-and, indeed, that of Debussy, Ravel and Satie-did not appear out of nowhere.
