Jules Massenet - Songs (Sally Silver; Christine Tocci; Richard Bonynge)

Information

Composer: Jules Massenet

1. Sérénade d'automne
2. Passionnément
3. L'heure solitaire
4. Nuit d'Espagne
5. Souhait
6. La mélodie des baisers
7. Rien ne passe!
8. La vie d'une rose (Quatre mélodies Op. 12, No. 3)
9. Le poète et le fantôme
10. Puisqu'elle a pris ma vie (Poème d'amour, No. 4)
11. Dieu créa le désert
12. La dernière lettre de Werther à Charlotte (Expressions Lyriques, No. 5)
13. Le sais-tu?
14. La dernière chanson
15. Aux étoiles
16. Chanson pour elle
17. Être aimé
18. Salut, printemps!
19. Le coffret d'ébène
20. Vous aimerez demain (Poème d'avril, No. 5)
21. Joie!
22. L'âme des fleurs
23. Les fleurs
24. Le petit Jésus
25. Amoureux appel

Sally Silver, soprano

Christine Tocci, mezzo-soprano

Richard Bonynge, piano

Date: 2019

Label: SOMM

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Review

I wrote an enthusiastic review of the 2014 collection of Massenet songs, Les amoureuses sont des folles on SOMMCD0151. I noted: “It is such a pity that these lovely songs are not better known. Here is proof, if ever there was need for such, of Massenet’s lyrical invention for the female voice and his richly descriptive and evocative writing for the piano.” This collection adds another 25 songs – out of Massenet’s output of over 200 – which are equally entrancing, equally captivating.

The disc has again brought together the proven talents of soprano Sally Silver and pianist Richard Bonynge (probably best known as the husband of the late Joan Sutherland). Their partnership was forged in an in-depth appreciation and empathy developed from profound knowledge and experience of the operatic stage and the recital room. They are joined in several songs by the equally inspired mezzo-soprano Christine Tocci. It is overwhelmingly sad that this teaming has been brought to an unfortunate end by Sally Silver’s untimely death at the end of 2018. Richard Bonynge pays a moving tribute to her in the pages of this album’s booklet.

The 25 songs here are very varied, and thet frequently emulate Massenet’s operatic style in atmosphere, sentiment and colour. As in my previous review, I have chosen to mention just a few. Let me begin with the title song, the scintillating La vie d’une rose, the bitter-sweet story of a rose. The song expresses a soaring pride in the rose’s morning-fresh beauty, contrasted with a sinking pathos as nightfall brings the inevitable fading of that splendour. Sally Silver colours her voice beautifully and persuasively. She emphasises these dramatic contrasts, and the piano part is simply ravishing, pointing up the drama very well.

Joie is about a little bird that hops and sings in an idyllic spring landscape. The bird’s sweet song proclaims a betrothal. It is a little gem, this one, disarmingly charming. Silver and Tocci clearly enjoy great delight; their voices intertwine joyously against jaunty, bouncy rhythms.

One of the most substantial songs is Aux étoiles (To the Stars), another duet. It is ravishingly beautiful. The voices move lightly, glistening over the loveliest of piano accompaniments, rippling, then growing romantic, then passionate.

One song, sung by Christine Tocci as solo, has a direct reference to one of Massenet’s most famous operas, Werther. It is entitled La dernière letter de Werther à Charlotte (The Final Letter from Werther to Charlotte). The melody reflects the growing dramatic tension as the poet pours out his feelings, leading to a climax darkened by shadowy omens. The drama is heightened by the usage of Sprechtstimme (a term used for expressive utterances between speaking and singing). It is highly effective as coloured and dramatized by Tocci. The piano part following the progressive tension is just as trenchant.

As I was listening and making notes, I found myself ticking songs that appealed. I soon noticed that I was ticking practically every one of them. To make some sort of short list has therefore been supremely difficult.

I must add a word of appreciation for the front-cover artwork of both of these SOMM Massenet albums. The 2014 album had a demure front cover portrait of a young lady in blue entitled The Letter painted in 1879 by Auguste Toulmouche (1829-1890). This album features an oil painting of Charles-Amable Lenoir (1860-1926) that he called The Pink Rose.

 

— Ian Lace

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Jules Massenet (12 May 1842 – 13 August 1912) was a French composer. Born near Saint-Étienne, France, he studied at the Paris Conservatoire under Ambroise Thomas and won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1863. Massenet composed more than 24 operas; his most famous works include Manon, Werther and Thaïs. In addition to opera, he wrote more than 200 songs, a piano concerto, orchestral suites and oratorios. Massenet was also highly influential as a teacher of composition at the Paris Conservatoire. Among his students were Gustave Charpentier, Ernest Chausson, Reynaldo Hahn and Gabriel Pierné.

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Sally Silver is a South African-born soprano who was based in London since 1998. Recognized with the Opera South Africa Prize, she has performed a wide repertoire ranging from Handel to contemporary composers, with particular acclaim for her bel canto and French opera interpretations. Her career includes appearances with leading opera companies and orchestras across Europe, as well as notable concert performances under renowned conductors. Silver has recorded extensively with Richard Bonynge, producing acclaimed recordings of works by composers including Massenet, Balfe, Wallace and Sullivan.

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Christine Tocci is a mezzo-soprano who has performed with leading opera companies across France and Europe. Her recent engagements include appearances with the Netherlands Opera, Opéra de Marseille, Opéra de Toulon, Opéra National de Bordeaux and Opéra de Nice in a wide variaty of roles. She has also appeared in world-premiere productions and collaborated with renowned conductors, including Jérôme Corréas and Lawrence Foster. Tocci's extensive repertoire spans Baroque to twentieth-century opera, with notable roles in works by Mozart, Donizetti, Wagner, Ravel, Offenbach and Humperdinck.

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Richard Bonynge (born 29 September 1930) is an Australian conductor and pianist. Trained in Sydney and London, he made his conducting debut in 1962 and has since led performances at many leading opera houses. He has served as Artistic Director of Vancouver Opera and Musical Director of Opera Australia. Widely recognized as an authority on 18th- and 19th-century bel canto opera and nineteenth-century ballet music, Bonynge has recorded over 50 complete operas and numerous ballets. His distinguished career has earned him several prestigious honours, including the Companion of the Order of Australia.

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