Listen & tracks
16 works · 52:40
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1 L’été Cécile Chaminade 3:50
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2 L’Invitation au voyage Henri Duparc 4:39
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3 O that it were so! Frank Bridge 2:29
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4 Terra e mare Giacomo Puccini 1:59
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5 Sole e amore Giacomo Puccini 2:00
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6 Chanson d’amour, Op. 21: No. 1 Amy Beach 5:35
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7 Stornello Pietro Cimara 2:55
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8 L’Énamourée Reynaldo Hahn 3:40
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9 À Chloris Reynaldo Hahn 3:02
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10 Notte, P.97: No. 1 Ottorino Respighi 3:20
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11 Nebbie Ottorino Respighi 3:04
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12 Contrasto Ottorino Respighi 1:42
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13 Être aimé Jules Massenet 2:04
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14 Amoureuse Jules Massenet 3:20
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15 Clair de lune Camille Saint-Saëns 1:39
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Three Browning Songs, Op. 44Amy Beach 3 movements7:22
- 16 No. 1. The Year’s at the Spring :58
- 17 No. 2. Ah, Love but a day! 3:12
- 18 No. 3. I send my heart up to thee 3:12
An Australian-Mauritian soprano of increasing acclaim, Alleaume, praised for her “voice of bell-like purity” (Limelight Magazine), is accompanied by pianist Amir Farid. Together they perform much-loved composers including Camille Saint-Saëns, Henri Duparc, Giacomo Puccini, Reynaldo Hahn and Jules Massenet, whose songs explore sentiments penned by poets such as Charles Baudelaire, Victor Hugo, Ada Negri and Robert Browning.
The album’s title Moonlight Reflections takes its cue from Saint-Saëns’s Clair de lune (‘moonlight’). Art song here serves as a reflection on moments in life. The programme moves from summer’s renewal and birdsong to eternal love and the grief of a lost beloved.
Two ensemble works by Amy Beach feature cellist Zoe Knighton and violinist Erica Kennedy.
Liner notes include song texts with translations and biographical notes on the artists.
Reviews
Art songs with insight. Both artists are concerned with some fine music. Most of the material was composed between 1888 and 1913 – 15 tracks in total – while the odd man out that misses these parameters (besides the two extremes) is one of the most famous art songs in the repertoire: Duparc’s 1870 L’invitation au voyage. What do you learn from Amy Beach’s setting of Vicor Hugo’s Chanson d’amour? The American writer had a fine ear for the genre, certainly, best demonstrated in the three choruses of this work, throughout which cellist Zoe Knighton joins her long-time collaborator Farid in weaving some lush lines around Alleaume’s far-ranging part. It’s a persuasive piece, particularly for the care that Beach gave to the supporting material and her differentiations between the verses and choruses. Here’s an opportunity to experience Alleaume’s abilities in an unexpected field. She has appeared in several Opera Australia productions over the last six years and it looks as though her career is set to follow that trajectory. This collection of songs reveals an interpretative ability of some accomplishment, the soprano’s laudable efforts reinforced by one of our most insightful accompanists.
... a charming collection of art song both beloved and less known. Eloquently partnered by Australian pianist Amir Farid, Moonlight Reflections is a showcase of Alleaume’s of lyric instrument and her developing artistry. Of particular interest is Alleaume’s inclusion of Amy Beach’s Three Browning Songs, which feature cellist Zoe Knighton and violinist Erica Kennedy. Beach’s settings are sensitive to the texts, fluent in their piano-writing, and brim-full of expressive melody. Alleaume is very impressive here, demonstrating an attention to the words that further elevates the material. Her bright, bell-like sound and easy vocal production make these go down particularly smoothly, and her evocation of spring, nature, and the changing landscape is powerful and often moving. A very fine debut album from a formidable talent. ★★★★
Moonlight Reflections is a charming and illuminating portrait album of a soprano on an upward trajectory. In the recording studio, the singer must perform without the energy of the audience and support of visual cues, props, costumes and without being able to act. With this repertoire Alleaume explores new ground. Indeed, she brings a sense of the operatic to some of the songs with flourishes and opulent endings. Alleaume tells her tale well and we look forward to more from this talented soprano.
Stacey Alleaume, a multi-award – winning soprano and Opera Australia principal has released her debut album of art songs from the late Romantic period. The choices suit her superb voice perfectly and with such excellent support from the pianist Amir Farid, there are many delights to enjoy on this disc. The opening song on the CD, L’été, by Chaminade, is a veritable showcase for sopranos. It immediately establishes that Stacey Alleaume has a wonderful instrument with a flexible, sparkling coloratura and a truly splendid top register – free and ringing. Then follows Henri Duparc’s atmospheric masterpiece, L’Invitation au Voyage, which requires great dynamic control, a flawless legato line and a very good pianist. The long rising phrases with their wonderful climaxes are here effortlessly achieved by Alleaume and Farid, whose nimble touch captures the exquisite effects of light on water that Duparc created in this extraordinary realisation of Baudelaire’s poem. Alleaume’s French is perfect. This has remained my favourite track on the disc – not only is it a great work but this performance is stunning. Alleaume and Farid are joined by Zoe Knighton on cello and Erica Kennedy on violin in Beach’s lovely Chanson d’amour, Op.21: No.1. With its long passionate phrases so well handled by all, it seemed written especially for these artists, and is another highlight on the disc. The glorious final top note from the soprano is very exciting. Amir Farid’s contribution to the success of this disc cannot be understated – his playing is world-class.
Artists
Stacey Alleaume
soprano
Australian-Mauritian soprano Stacey Alleaume has established herself as one of Australia’s most accomplished performers.
Amir Farid
piano
Amir Farid has been described as a highly creative musician – a pianist of great intelligence and integrity who brings strong musical substance to all that he does, imbuing it with his own experience and understanding, and who distinguishes himself for all the right reasons.
Jules Massenet
composer
Jules Massenet wrote more than thirty operas and a lasting body of songs. On these discs his lyric gift appears in the hypnotic mélodies Être aimé and Amoureuse, and in the long-breathed Méditation from Thaïs for violin.
Giacomo Puccini
composer
Puccini’s operas live on melody that climbs and breaks, on love, jealousy and sacrifice drawn with verismo heat. La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Turandot still fill houses because the drama is already inside the tune.
Camille Saint-Saëns
composer
Camille Saint-Saëns wrote music of classical clarity and Romantic colour: the Organ Symphony’s blazing finale, the glittering Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, the late Clarinet Sonata, and the song Clair de lune that still draws listeners into moonlight and memory.
Amy Beach
composer
Amy Beach wrote late-Romantic art song and chamber music of fluent melody and careful text-setting: Browning songs and Chanson d'amour for voice, a violin Romance that travels easily to other instruments, and larger scores in a Brahmsian vein.
Frank Bridge
composer
Frank Bridge's music ranges from warm Edwardian lyricism and pastoral consolation to the leaner, post-tonal chamber and orchestral works of his maturity. Songs, string quartets and short instrumental pieces remain among the most heard.
Cécile Chaminade
composer
Pietro Cimara
composer
Henri Duparc
composer
Henri Duparc left a handful of late-Romantic mélodies that still define the French art song: long-breathed lines, restless piano writing and an almost unbearable concentration of longing set to Baudelaire, Gautier and Goethe.
Reynaldo Hahn
composer
Reynaldo Hahn is best known for mélodies whose limpid lines and restrained lyricism sit at the heart of French art song. His settings favour clear phrasing, intimate piano writing and a quiet union of music with verse.
Ottorino Respighi
composer
Ottorino Respighi's music moves between the orchestral blaze of his Roman tone poems and a quieter strain of art song and piano writing steeped in older Italian melody. Scene, colour and chant sit close to the surface of the score.
Digital booklet
Digital booklet Notes, texts and credits — read online or download the PDF Download the PDFPerformers
- Stacey Alleaume · soprano
- Amir Farid · piano
- Zoe Knighton · cello · track 6
- Erica Kennedy · violin · track 17
Technical credits
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Recording Engineer
Jarrad Gilson
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Editing Engineer
Jarrad Gilson
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Mixing Engineer
Jarrad Gilson
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Mastering Engineer
Jarrad Gilson
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Venue
Oaklands Recording Studios
Details
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 52 minutes 40 seconds
- Release date
- 9 Mar 2021
- Categories
- Classical, Vocal
- Musical work copyright
- © 2021 Stacey Alleaume
- Sound recording copyright
- ℗ 2021 Move Records
- Catalogue
- MCD 613
- EAN
- 9314574061321
More to explore
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A Little French Cello
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