Mary Bevan expands on the idea of illuminations with this album of French songs, featuring works by composers including Britten, Ravel, Debussy and Fauré. The album centres around Britten’s setting of Rimbaud Les Illuminations, originally written for soprano Sophie Wyss in 1939, but often sung and recorded by tenor. Rimbaud’s poetry has an unusual depth with evocative language, hauntingly beautiful and jarring at times, blurring reality and surrealism.
The album features three world premiere recordings: Charbrier’s lost string orchestra arrangement of Tes Yeux Bleus, Robin Holloway’s new arrangement for piano quintet of Debussy’s Quatre Mélodies de Verlaine, and Augusta Holmés’ arrangement of Sérénades for piano quintet.
Tes Yeux Bleus and Chansons Triste feature in our playlists Weekend Classics and Art Song.
