Smith Bettina - Mirages [CD]

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\u2018It is truly in his songs that Faur\xe9 reveals the flower of his genius\u2019, wrote the composer\u2019s former pupil Maurice Ravel. More than a hundred songs written over six decades made Faur\xe9 perhaps the greatest master of the genre French \u201cmelodie\u201d.\r
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The present collection takes us on a journey from Faur\xe9\u2019s first song cycle, \u201cPo\xe8me d\u2019un jour\u201d (1878), to his last, \u201cL\u2019Horizon chim\xe9rique\u201d (1921), via the exultant \u201cLa Bonne Chanson\u201d (1892-94) and the intensely concentrated \u201cMirages\u201d of 1919. The songs have texts by French poets of Faur\xe9\u2019s time; here we find poems of Charles Grandmougin, Baronne de Brimont, Paul Verlaine and Jean de La Ville de Mirmont.\r
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\u201cMirages\u201d concludes Bettina Smith\u2019s project for LAWO Classics of recording all of Gabriel Faur\xe9\u2019s cycles for voice and piano. It was preceded in this series by \u201cF\xeates Galantes\u201d (LWC1116) and \u201cSerres Chaudes\u201d (LWC1008), both together with pianist Einar R\xf8ttingen. Together they have also released \u201cVoices of Women\u201d, with songs of Fartein Valen, Jostein Stalheim and Ketil Hvoslef, composers from Norway\u2019s west coast.\r
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Mezzo-soprano Bettina Smith is from Bergen. After graduating from Bergen Conservatory of Music, she studied with Wout Oosterkamp and Elly Ameling at the Royal Conservatory of Music in the Hague. This was followed by two years at the Z\xfcrich International Opera Studio. With a wide repertory ranging from medieval to contemporary music, Bettina Smith appears regularly as oratorio and cantata soloist, or together with pianists Jan Willem Nelleke and Einar R\xf8ttingen.\r
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Dutch pianist Jan Willem Nelleke\u2019s exceptional qualities as a duo partner have been widely recognised. His playing has been described as \u201csparkling raindrops, rich chords and beautiful interludes\u201d and as an \u201cever alert co-operation with the soloist\u201d.

FAURE: Po\xe8me D\u2019un Jour, Op. 21- I. Rencontre

II. Toujours

III. Adieu

Mirages, Op. 113 - I. Cygne Sur L\u2019eau

II. Reflets Dans L\u2019eau

III. Jardin Nocturne

IV. Danseuse

La Bonne Chanson, Op. 61 - I. Une Sainte En Son Aur\xe9ole

II. Puisque L\u2019aube Grandit

III. La Lune Blanche Luit Dans Les Bois

IV. J\u2019allais Par Des Chemins Perfides

V. J\u2019ai Presque Peur, En V\xe9rit\xe9

VI. Avant Que Tu Ne T\u2019en Ailles

VII. Donc, Ce Sera Par Un Clair Jour D\u2019\xe9t\xe9

VIII. N\u2019est-ce Pas?

IX. L\u2019Hiver A Cess\xe9

L\u2019Horizon Chim\xe9rique, Op. 118 - I. La Mer Est Infinie

II. Je Me Suis Embarqu\xe9

III. Diane, S\xe9l\xe9n\xe9

IV. Vaisseaux, Nous Vous Aurons Aim\xe9s