Ravier Liturgie pour un Dieu mort
Many treasures, and a few duds, rescued from the archives of French Radio
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Francis Poulenc
Genre:
Vocal
Label: INA Mémoire Vive
Magazine Review Date: 7/2003
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 50
Mastering:
ADD
Catalogue Number: IMV015

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
(La) Voix humaine |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer French National Orchestra Jane Rhodes, La Femme, Mezzo soprano Jean-Pierre Marty, Conductor |
Composer or Director: Erik Satie, Charles-François Gounod, Darius Milhaud, Maurice Ravel, Manuel Rosenthal, Henri(-Pierre) Sauguet, Claude Debussy, Albert (Charles Paul Marie) Roussel, Francis Poulenc
Genre:
Vocal
Label: INA Mémoire Vive
Magazine Review Date: 7/2003
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 78
Mastering:
Mono
ADD
Catalogue Number: 262018

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Au rossignol |
Charles-François Gounod, Composer
Charles-François Gounod, Composer Henri Sauguet, Piano Paul Derenne, Tenor |
(Le) Soir |
Charles-François Gounod, Composer
Charles-François Gounod, Composer Henri Sauguet, Piano Paul Derenne, Tenor |
A une jeune Grecque |
Charles-François Gounod, Composer
Charles-François Gounod, Composer Henri Sauguet, Piano Paul Derenne, Tenor |
(3) Mélodies, Movement: Daphénéo (Wds. M. God) |
Erik Satie, Composer
Erik Satie, Composer Henri Sauguet, Piano Paul Derenne, Tenor |
(3) Mélodies, Movement: La statue de bronze (Wds. Fargue) |
Erik Satie, Composer
Erik Satie, Composer Henri Sauguet, Piano Paul Derenne, Tenor |
Chansons de monsieur Bleu, Movement: Le Marabout |
Manuel Rosenthal, Composer
Henri Sauguet, Piano Manuel Rosenthal, Composer Paul Derenne, Tenor |
Chansons de monsieur Bleu, Movement: La Souris d'Angleterre |
Manuel Rosenthal, Composer
Henri Sauguet, Piano Manuel Rosenthal, Composer Paul Derenne, Tenor |
(4) Poèmes de Léo Latil, Movement: Le rossignol |
Darius Milhaud, Composer
Darius Milhaud, Composer Henri Sauguet, Piano Paul Derenne, Tenor |
(4) Poèmes de Léo Latil, Movement: La tourterelle |
Darius Milhaud, Composer
Darius Milhaud, Composer Henri Sauguet, Piano Paul Derenne, Tenor |
(Les) Soirées de Pétrograd |
Darius Milhaud, Composer
Darius Milhaud, Composer Henri Sauguet, Piano Paul Derenne, Tenor |
(6) Mélodies sur des poèmes symbolistes, Movement: Le chat (wds. Baudelaire) |
Henri(-Pierre) Sauguet, Composer
Henri Sauguet, Piano Henri(-Pierre) Sauguet, Composer Paul Derenne, Tenor |
(6) Mélodies sur des poèmes symbolistes, Movement: Le chat |
Henri(-Pierre) Sauguet, Composer
Henri Sauguet, Piano Henri(-Pierre) Sauguet, Composer Paul Derenne, Tenor |
Neiges, Movement: Au bord de la cheminée |
Henri(-Pierre) Sauguet, Composer
Henri Sauguet, Piano Henri(-Pierre) Sauguet, Composer Paul Derenne, Tenor |
Neiges, Movement: Fenêtre ouverte le soir |
Henri(-Pierre) Sauguet, Composer
Henri Sauguet, Piano Henri(-Pierre) Sauguet, Composer Paul Derenne, Tenor |
Neiges, Movement: Invasion |
Henri(-Pierre) Sauguet, Composer
Henri Sauguet, Piano Henri(-Pierre) Sauguet, Composer Paul Derenne, Tenor |
Neiges, Movement: Les gens distraits qui vient |
Henri(-Pierre) Sauguet, Composer
Henri Sauguet, Piano Henri(-Pierre) Sauguet, Composer Paul Derenne, Tenor |
Histoires naturelles |
Maurice Ravel, Composer
Henri Sauguet, Piano Maurice Ravel, Composer Paul Derenne, Tenor |
(5) Poèmes de Charles Baudelaire, Movement: Receillement |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer Henri Sauguet, Piano Paul Derenne, Tenor |
Jazz dans la nuit |
Albert (Charles Paul Marie) Roussel, Composer
Albert (Charles Paul Marie) Roussel, Composer Henri Sauguet, Piano Paul Derenne, Tenor |
Deux Mélodies, Movement: (Le) Bachelier de Salamanque |
Albert (Charles Paul Marie) Roussel, Composer
Albert (Charles Paul Marie) Roussel, Composer Henri Sauguet, Piano Paul Derenne, Tenor |
Toréador |
Francis Poulenc, Composer
Francis Poulenc, Composer Henri Sauguet, Piano Paul Derenne, Tenor |
Composer or Director: Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Arthur Honegger, Charles (Arnould) Tournemire, Edgard Varèse, Gabriel Fauré, Claude Debussy
Genre:
Vocal
Label: INA Mémoire Vive
Magazine Review Date: 7/2003
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 78
Mastering:
DDD
ADD
Catalogue Number: IMV020

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Ariettes oubliées, Movement: C'est l'extase (1887) |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer Hans Rosbaud, Piano Teresa Stich-Randall, Soprano |
Ariettes oubliées, Movement: Il pleure dans mon coeur (1885-88) |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer Hans Rosbaud, Piano Teresa Stich-Randall, Soprano |
Ariettes oubliées, Movement: L'ombre des arbes (1885) |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer Hans Rosbaud, Piano Teresa Stich-Randall, Soprano |
Ariettes oubliées, Movement: Green (1886) |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Claude Debussy, Composer Hans Rosbaud, Piano Teresa Stich-Randall, Soprano |
(3) Mélodies de Verlaine, Movement: Le son du cor |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Bernard Kruysen, Baritone Claude Debussy, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano Francis Poulenc, Piano |
(3) Mélodies de Verlaine, Movement: L'échelonnement des haies |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Bernard Kruysen, Baritone Claude Debussy, Composer Francis Poulenc, Piano Francis Poulenc, Piano |
Fêtes galantes, Set 1 |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Bernard Kruysen, Baritone Claude Debussy, Composer Jean-Charles Richard, Piano Jean-Charles Richard, Piano |
Fêtes galantes, Set 2 |
Claude Debussy, Composer
Bernard Kruysen, Baritone Claude Debussy, Composer Jean-Charles Richard, Piano Jean-Charles Richard, Piano |
(4) Chansons pour voix grave, Movement: Un grand sommeil noir (wds. Verlaine) |
Arthur Honegger, Composer
André Collard, Piano Arthur Honegger, Composer Irma Kolassi, Mezzo soprano |
Sagesse |
Charles (Arnould) Tournemire, Composer
Bernard Plantey, Bass Charles (Arnould) Tournemire, Composer Henriette Puig-Roget, Piano Henriette Puig-Roget, Piano Henriette Puig-Roget, Piano Henriette Puig-Roget, Piano Henriette Puig-Roget, Piano Henriette Puig-Roget, Piano Henriette Puig-Roget, Piano Henriette Puig-Roget, Piano Henriette Puig-Roget, Piano Henriette Puig-Roget, Piano Henriette Puig-Roget, Piano |
(2) Songs, Movement: Prison (wds. P. Verlaine) |
Gabriel Fauré, Composer
Gabriel Fauré, Composer Guido Agosti, Piano Suzanne Danco, Soprano |
O triste, triste était mon âme |
Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Composer
Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Composer Roger Boutry, Piano Suzanne Danco, Soprano |
Spleen |
Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Composer
Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Composer Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Tenor Olivier Greif, Piano |
Sur un vieil air |
Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Composer
Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Composer Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Tenor Olivier Greif, Piano |
Epithalame |
Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Composer
Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Composer Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Tenor Olivier Greif, Piano |
O mes morts tristement nombreux |
Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Composer
Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Composer Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Tenor Olivier Greif, Piano |
Paysage vert |
Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Composer
Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Composer Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Tenor Olivier Greif, Piano |
Dansons la gigue |
Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Composer
Charles (Marie Anne) Bordes, Composer Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Tenor Olivier Greif, Piano |
(Un) grand sommeil noir |
Edgard Varèse, Composer
Edgard Varèse, Composer Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, Tenor Olivier Greif, Piano |
Composer or Director: Charles Ravier
Genre:
Vocal
Label: INA Mémoire Vive
Magazine Review Date: 7/2003
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 57
Mastering:
Stereo
ADD
Catalogue Number: IMV018

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Liturgie pour un Dieu mort |
Charles Ravier, Composer
(Anonymous) Ensemble Charles Ravier, Conductor Charles Ravier, Composer Gérard Iglesia, Guitar Guillemette Laurens, Mezzo soprano Jean Chapeau, Electronics Maurice Bourbon, Baritone Maurice Bourbon Male Voice Ensemble |
Composer or Director: Guillaume de Machaut, Anonymous, Johannes Brahms, (Marie Eugène) Henri Duparc, Robert Schumann, Joseph Haydn, Gabriel Fauré, John Dowland, Franz Schubert, Heinrich Isaac, Claudin de Sermisy, Hans Sachs, Claudio Monteverdi
Genre:
Vocal
Label: INA Mémoire Vive
Magazine Review Date: 7/2003
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 62
Mastering:
Stereo
Mono
ADD
Catalogue Number: IMV016

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Douce dame jolie, pour Dieu |
Guillaume de Machaut, Composer
Guillaume de Machaut, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Joel Cohen, Lute |
Le lai des amants |
Anonymous, Composer
Anonymous, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Joel Cohen, Lute |
Appris ai qu'en chantant plour |
Anonymous, Composer
Anonymous, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Joel Cohen, Lute |
Silberweise |
Hans Sachs, Composer
Hans Sachs, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Joel Cohen, Lute |
Innsbruck, ich muss dich lassen |
Heinrich Isaac, Composer
Heinrich Isaac, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Joel Cohen, Lute |
Tant que vivray en eage florissant |
Claudin de Sermisy, Composer
Claudin de Sermisy, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Joel Cohen, Lute |
Mon coeur se recommande a vous |
Anonymous, Composer
Anonymous, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Joel Cohen, Lute |
Madrigals, Book 7 (Concerto: settimo libro de madr, Movement: Se i languidi miei sguardi (Lettera amorosa) |
Claudio Monteverdi, Composer
Claudio Monteverdi, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Joel Cohen, Lute |
(The) Second Booke of Songs or Ayres, Movement: Fine knacks for Ladies, cheap, choise, braue and new |
John Dowland, Composer
Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Joel Cohen, Lute John Dowland, Composer |
(The) Third and Last Book of Songs or Aires, Movement: What if I neuer speede |
John Dowland, Composer
Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Joel Cohen, Lute John Dowland, Composer |
(The) Spirit's Song |
Joseph Haydn, Composer
Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Joseph Haydn, Composer Rose Dobos, Piano |
(Der) Wanderer an den Mond |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Rose Dobos, Piano |
Minnespiel, Movement: No. 4, Mein schöner Stern! (T) |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Robert Schumann, Composer Rose Dobos, Piano |
Myrthen, Movement: No. 24, Du bist wie eine Blume (wds. Heine) |
Robert Schumann, Composer
Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Robert Schumann, Composer Rose Dobos, Piano |
(6) Lieder, Movement: No. 1, Therese (wds. Keller) |
Johannes Brahms, Composer
Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Johannes Brahms, Composer Rose Dobos, Piano |
(3) Songs, Movement: Automne (wds. A. Silvestre: 1878) |
Gabriel Fauré, Composer
Gabriel Fauré, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Rose Dobos, Piano |
(2) Songs, Movement: Le plus doux chemin |
Gabriel Fauré, Composer
Gabriel Fauré, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Rose Dobos, Piano |
(Les) Jardins clos, Movement: Dans la nymphée |
Gabriel Fauré, Composer
Gabriel Fauré, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Rose Dobos, Piano |
Herbst |
Franz Schubert, Composer
Franz Schubert, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Rose Dobos, Piano |
Extase |
(Marie Eugène) Henri Duparc, Composer
(Marie Eugène) Henri Duparc, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Rose Dobos, Piano |
Chanson triste |
(Marie Eugène) Henri Duparc, Composer
(Marie Eugène) Henri Duparc, Composer Hugues Cuénod, Tenor Rose Dobos, Piano |
Author: rnichols
To get the latter over with first. Charles Ravier’s Liturgie pour un Dieu mort was broadcast in June 1981. The accompanying note calls it ‘one of the great moments in the history of radiophonic music’. Not being a specialist in that field, I can’t judge the truth of the claim, but the total experience did not overwhelm me. At just under an hour, the work, almost entirely at a mp dynamic or below, seemed to me to be wilfully unstructured and much too long. My notes contain the phrase ‘shivers of sound, plainsong with plonks’. Ravier wrote the vocal part for Guillemette Laurens’s ‘rough, animal, sensual’ voice, but hardly took advantage of this. Maybe I was in the wrong mood, and t hose of a more meditative disposition might like to explore further.
A disc entitled ‘Verlaine and his Musicians’ was an enterprising idea, and the not-so-splendid element is happily small, comprising some ham-handed accompanying of Bernard Kruysen from the pianist who is not Poulenc and, most blatantly, four of Debussy’s Ariettes oubliées mangled by Teresa Stich-Randall. Did anyone listen to these before including them? Her entry a bar early in ‘C’est l’extase’ is only the starter for a banquet of sentimentality – in all, an object lesson in how not to sing these songs. Here my notes contain the word ‘blancmange’. These disappointments aside, we are reminded what a lovely singer Kruysen was in French repertoire, possibly the most stylish of all non-French singers (I just about forgive Poulenc his false major chord at the end of ‘Le son du cor’), and with Suzanne Danco and Irma Kolassi we are treated to the real thing. Danco’s singing of Fauré’s ‘Prison’ is a high point, with Guido Agosti supplying telling but unobtrusive effects of piano colour. It’s good, too, to have seven songs by Charles Bordes who is not otherwise featured in the current British catalogue: this music repays repeated listening, even if the piano is rather too loud at times.
The remaining three discs all provide the authentic French experience in their different ways. Any soprano singing La Voix humaine has to contend with the 1959 version by Denise Duval, for whom Poulenc wrote the work. He ‘discovered’ her singing at the Folies Bergère, and she was never a truly operatic soprano with all that term entails. Jane Rhodes on the other hand was a notable Tosca and a formidable Salome, with which she made her Met début in 1962. Poulenc does stress that the singer must sound young, and here again Duval has the edge, recording the work in her mid-thirties against Rhodes’s mid-forties. But once all that has been said, this is an immensely powerful reading, and given strong, colourful orchestral support. The dog episode is omitted.
Paul Derenne and Hugues Cuénod were the two tenors in the vocal ensemble directed by Nadia Boulanger that brought Monteverdi’s madrigals into the mainstream repertoire. Neither had a great voice, nor made any pretence of having one. But, like Pierre Bernac, what they lacked in vocal prowess they made up for in artistry. Cuénod gives us a mixed bag from his enormous repertory, ranging from Machaut and Anon up to Brahms and Duparc. Hearing him sing Brahms’s ‘Therese’ is a slightly curious experience – as though one of the cello sonatas were being played on a viola da gamba – and perhaps Cuénod’s Duparc would not be a first choice for similar reasons. There are a few technical problems, too, notably occasional flat intonation. But I particularly relished his Dowland, in delicious, 1930s English pronunciation (‘shall’ comes out as ‘shell’), and his diction and phrasing in the Fauré songs are also impeccable.
Derenne, sticking to the French repertoire, achieves an even higher success rate. The close recording allows us to admire the clarity and evenness of his production, as well as the sheer beauty of his tone. The opening ‘Au rossignol’ is a miracle of control, and an lesson at the other end of the scale from Stich-Randall’s Debussy. There’s variety, too, as in the wonderfully nervous diction he adopts for Ravel’s fusspot cricket in Histoires naturelles. Sauguet was no piano virtuoso, but his playing is of course musical to the nth degree, and his Six Songs on Symbolist Poets display the sensitivity and humour typical of this underrated composer. All in all, the liberation of the INA archives is to be warmly welcomed.
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