Search - Elmer Briand, Rufus Guinchard, American Traditional :: La Mer jolie: Chants d'Acadie

Acadia, blessed spirit of the waters...

Ingrid Heyn | Melbourne, Australia | 05/19/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an unusual disc - baroque specialist Suzie LeBlanc has collected some Acadian songs that speak of waters and the shores beside the sea. Not only is the repertoire unique, but Suzie LeBlanc's singing is luminous, haunting and utterly exquisite. Her voice - a lyric shining soprano of great purity used in such a way that one hears every nuance of superbly articulated emotion - is a blessing. Lovers of early music will be familiar with her singing of Vivaldi, Rossi, Mouline, Strozzi, etc.



The same qualities, as well as a wonderful affinity for the fresh charm of these French Canadian songs (Ms LeBlanc is French-Canadian herself), make this recording an enthralling one. I can never listen to Suzie LeBlanc without thanking God for her exquisite contributions to the world of music, and this recording was no exception.



She has just released another very similar recording, called "Tout passe: Chants d'Acadie", in which the focus, while remaining upon Acadian songs, is shifted to reflect the great upheaval of Acadians forced out of their homelands, to wander upon what one could call a type of pilgrimage. That sense of pilgrimage is strongly highlighted in the recording - and once again, Ms LeBlanc's singing and choice of (often extraordinarily haunting) songs combine to produce a CD of great beauty and unforgettable interpretation.



I very highly recommend both this recording "Mer jolie" and its new "companion" CD of "Tout Passe". I have just played both recordings twice over while doing some research, and they are so charming and moving that it will be with reluctance that I move on to the next CD waiting to be heard."