Album: Nora Gubisch, Alain Altinoglu, Ravel: Mélodies (Naïve)

 

Andy Gill
Thursday 16 August 2012 16:07 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Ravel effected an understated formal revolution in vocal music, the pieces performed here by mezzo-soprano Nora Gubisch with pianist Alain Altinoglu being notable for their commitment to textual interpretation rather than sheer operatic grandeur.

Thus, in his “Histoires Naturelles”, the settings reflect Jules Renard’s prose-poem portraits of birds and insects, be it the peacock in “Le Paon”, ; the sleek, stately glide of the swan in “Le Cygne”; or the recurrent piano chirps of the grasshopper in “Le Grillon”, “winding up his tiny watch”. Elsewhere, the international source material in the “Deux Mélodies Hébraiques” and “Cinq Mélodies Populaires Grecques” is harmonised with notable economy.

Download: Le Paon; Le Cygne; Kaddisch

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in