Claude Debussy 1862-1918 - Melodies. Soprano: Sandrine Piau. Piano: Jos van Immerseel.

Nave CD V 4932

Claude Debussy studied at the Paris Conservatoire and is known for his romantic and lyrical compositions.

He was a prolific musician and cultured man, who enjoyed the Parisian salons and wrote many of the poems he later set to music.

However, on this CD the music has been set to poems by Verlaine and Mallarme as well as his own Proses lyriques, written between 1892 and 1893.

There are two great composers of the French song repertoire and Debussy and Faure were the masters of the field. Debussy was also renowned for his orchestral works and his interpretation of Pelleas et Mellisande, one of the Arthurian legends.

Sandrine Piau sings these beautiful pieces with elegance, clarity and precision and is to be congratulated for her emotionally restrained recording.

It would be so easy to become overly sweet and cloying when singing these romantic songs. Jos van Immerseel's piano accompaniment is subtle, and controlled and compliments the singer's expertise.

Incidentally, the piano used on this recording is an original Erard grand dated 1897, and so is a work of art in itself.

Owned by the pianist it has been lovingly restored and is of the style that would have been used by both Debussy and his contemporaries.