An hour of French song art on Radio Romantica. And of course, the beautiful cycle Les Nuits d’Été by Hector Berlioz cannot be missed. This early work by the great romantic is a milestone for French song in the 19th century.
Especially the brilliant orchestration that the composer made of his piano version, has ensured that this cycle has never disappeared from the concert program. The Finnish soprano Soile Isokoski shines in a performance with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by regular conductor John Storgårds, also a Finn. With the English soprano Carolyn Sampson, we arrive in an intimate French atmosphere. She sings La Bonne Chanson by Gabriel Fauré. This quintessentially French cycle, set to texts by Verlaine, takes us to another summer evening on a small stage in Paris or Bordeaux. Finally, enjoy two songs by the lesser-known Charles Bordes and Fauré by the young English duo Sampson/Middleton.
Program details
Hector Berlioz – Les Nuits d’Été, Op.7
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by John Storgårds
Gabriel Fauré – La Bonne Chanson
Carolyn Sampson, soprano / Joseph Middleton, piano
Charles Bordes (photo) – Colloque Sentimentale
Carolyn Sampson, soprano / Joseph Middleton, piano
Gabriel Fauré – Clair de Lune
Carolyn Sampson, soprano / Joseph Middleton, piano
