Composer: Gabriel Urbain Fauré
Performer: Cyrille Dubois, Tristan Raës
Number of Discs: 3
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Aparté
Catalogue: AP284
Release: 2022
Size: 3.37 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
01. Mai, Op. 1 No. 2
02. Le Papillon et la Fleur, Op. 1 No. 1
03. Puisque j’ai mis ma lèvre, Op. Posth.
04. Tristesse d’Olympio, Op. Posth.
05. Dans les ruines d’une abbaye, Op. 2 No. 1
06. Les Matelots, Op. 2 No. 2
07. Chant d’automne, Op. 5 No. 1
08. Rêve d’amour (S’il est un charmant gazon), Op. 5 No. 2
09. L’Absent, Op. 5 No. 3
10. L’Aurore, Op. Posth.
Cinq mélodies “de Venise”, Op. 58
11. I. Mandoline
12. II. En sourdine
13. III. Green
14. IV. À Clymène
15. V. C’est l’extase…
16. Les Présents, Op. 46 No. 1
17. Clair de lune, Op. 46 No. 2
18. Soir, Op. 83 No. 2
19. Prison, Op. 83 No. 1
20. Larmes, Op. 51 No. 1
21. Au cimetière, Op. 51 No. 2
22. Spleen, Op. 51 No. 3
23. La Rose (Ode anacréontique), Op. 51 No. 4
La Bonne Chanson, op. 61
24. I. Une sainte en son auréole
25. II. Puisque l’aube grandit
26. III. La lune blanche luit dans les bois
27. IV. J’allais par des chemins perfides
28. V. J’ai presque peur, en vérité
29. VI. Avant que tu ne t’en ailles
30. VII. Donc, ce sera par un clair jour d’été
31. VIII. N’est-ce pas ?
32. IX. L’hiver a cessé
CD 02
01. Au bord de l’eau, Op. 8 No. 1
02. Ici-bas !, Op. 8 No. 3
03. La Rançon, Op. 8 No. 2
04. Sylvie, Op. 6 No. 3
05. Tristesse, Op. 6 No. 2
06. Aubade, Op. 6 No. 1
07. Chanson d’amour, Op. 27 No. 1
08. La Fée aux chansons, Op. 27 No. 2
09. Aurore, Op. 39 No. 1
10. Fleur jetée, Op. 39 No. 2
11. Le Pays des rêves, Op. 39 No. 3
12. Les Roses d’Ispahan, Op. 39 No. 4
13. Nell, Op. 18 No. 1
14. Le Voyageur, Op. 18 No. 2
15. Automne, Op. 18 No. 3
16. Notre amour, Op. 23 No. 2
17. Les Berceaux, Op. 23 No. 1
18. Le Secret, Op. 23 No. 3
19. Le Plus Doux Chemin, Op. 87 No. 1
20. Le Ramier, Op. 87 No. 2
21. Shylock, Op. 57: I. Chanson
22. Shylock, Op. 57: III. Madrigal
23. Dans la forêt de septembre, Op. 85 No. 1
24. La Fleur qui va sur l’eau, Op. 85 No. 2
25. Accompagnement, Op. 85 No. 3
La Chanson d’Ève, op. 95
26. I. Paradis
27. II. Prima verba
28. III. Roses ardentes
29. IV. Comme Dieu rayonne
30. V. L’aube blanche
31. VI. Eau vivante
32. VII. Veilles-tu, ma senteur de soleil ?
33. VIII. Dans un parfum de roses blanches
34. IX. Crépuscule
35. X. O mort, poussière d’etoiles
CD 03
01. Lydia, Op. 4 No. 2
02. Chanson du pêcheur (Lamento), Op. 4 No. 1
03. Hymne à Apollon, Op. 63
04. Le Bourgeois gentilhomme: Sérénade
Poème d’un jour, op. 21
05. I. Rencontre
06. II. Toujours
07. III. Adieu
08.Le Don silencieux, Op. 92
09. Chanson, Op. 94
Le Jardin clos, op. 106
10. I. Exaucement
11. II. Quand tu plonges tes yeux dans mes yeux
12. III. La Messagère
13. IV. Je me poserai sur ton cœur
14. V. Dans la nymphée
15. VI. Dans la pénombre
16. VII. Il m’est cher, Amour, le bandeau
17. VIII. Inscription sur le sable
18. Nocturne, Op. 43 No. 2
19. Noël, Op. 43 No. 1
20. En prière
21. C’est la paix, Op. 114
Mirages, op. 113
22. I. Cygne sur l’eau
23. II. Reflets dans l’eau
24. III. Jardin nocturne
25. IV. Danseuse
26. Après un rêve, Op. 7 No. 1
27. Hymne, Op. 7 No. 2
28. Barcarolle, Op. 7 No. 3
29. Sérénade toscane, Op. 3 No. 2
30. Seule!, Op. 3 No. 1
31. Arpège, Op. 76 No. 2
32. Le Parfum impérissable, Op. 76 No. 1
L’Horizon chimérique, op. 118
33. I. La Mer est infinie
34. II. Je me suis embarqué
35. III. Diane, Séléné
36. IV. Vaisseaux, nous vous aurons aimés
From Papillon et la fleur to L’Horizon chimérique, Gabriel Fauré has created some one-hundred melodies which have transformed this French art form into the very pinnacle of musical expression. Many musicians get caught up in the technicalities of his original works, often forgetting to perform, not just recite. Written for a plethora of voices and commonly transposed for convenience, Fauré’s melodies are never recorded solo. Yet this is the gamble that was taken—and successfully at that—by tenor Cyrille Dubois and Pianist Tristan Raës (who have been playing music as a duo for around fifteen years).
Several tweaks were needed to undertake such a project. In collaboration with the Palazzetto Bru Zane (Centre de musique romantique française), the pair made a series of difficult choices with regards to transpositions. These decisions were vital in respecting the tonal sequences between the opuses and during the cycles, without betraying Fauré’s harmonic plans. It was also necessary to select the order of the opuses, whose character has developed somewhat over a period of sixty years.
The complete works offered here (which are one of the most significant events of Spring 2022), consists of three recitals, each mixing styles and periods. Cyrille Dubois who expertly blends the style of lyrical song with French chanson, whilst injecting just the right amount of old-fashioned nostalgia. He’s supported by Tristan Raës’ fluid and bright piano. The French tenor’s perfectly controlled timbre does the text real justice, rendering it effortlessly intelligible.
This delightfully simple and direct approach transports Fauré’s vast body of work into the 21st century, making it perfectly relevant to the contemporary. This recording will undoubtedly hold a special place in the hearts of those who will commemorate the centenary of the great composer’s death in 2024.
Little can be as momentous for a work as its encounter with an extraordinary interpreter. Here, Fauré has found his voice in that of Cyrille Dubois.
A bright, clear timbre and impeccable diction undoubtedly contribute to the remarkable complicity that we witness, but its secret lies above all perhaps in the French tenor’s singular ability to convey an atmosphere, evoke an emotion, a feeling, a mood – in short, bring out all the poetic qualities of the music.
In this ambitious project, Cyrille Dubois and his long-standing recital partner, the pianist Tristan Raës, take on the complete art songs – mélodies – of Gabriel Fauré: over a hundred settings of texts by poets including Paul Verlaine, Victor Hugo, Théophile Gautier and Charles Baudelaire, but also Armand Silvestre, Charles Van Lerberghe, Jean de La Ville de Mirmont, and many others.
For the very first time, all of the composer’s songs are performed here by one singer. And never have Fauré’s vaporous, muted dreams been more transparent.
In the run-up to the centenary of his death, may this happy event further the composer’s fortunes, and contribute to a renewed awareness of his modernity.