BERLIOZ: Le Nuits d'Ete; RAVEL: Shererazade; DEBUSSY: La Damoiselle Elue; DUPARC: Chanson Triste, etc - Elly Ameling, Hildegard Behrens

This generously compiled CD brings together two great sopranos – Hildegard Behrens and Elly Ameling – in ravishing French music for the voice and orchestra. The entire Ameling/de Waart recording (Ravel, Duparc, Debussy) is coupled with the Berlioz cycle, the former making a welcome return to the catalogue after a long absence and showcasing the Dutch soprano in her absolute prime, vocally and interpretatively.

‘Classic, competitive and eminently, radiantly desirable … so much splendour at such a splendid price’ Fanfare

‘Asie seldom has sounded more picturesque or fantastic, and Ameling rides its big climax with joyous abandon … One of [La demoiselle élue’s] best peformances on disc … [Ameling] was, and remains, fabulous’ ClassicsToday.com

HECTOR BERLIOZ
Les Nuits d’été, Op. 7

CLAUDE DEBUSSY
La Damoiselle élue

HENRI DUPARC
Chanson triste
L’Invitation au voyage

MAURICE RAVEL
Shéhérazade

Elly Ameling, soprano
Hildegard Behrens, soprano
Janice Taylor, mezzo-soprano
Women of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus
San Franscisco Symphony Orchestra
Wiener Symphoniker
Francis Travers
Edo de Waart