Heartfelt Don Quichotte
K. T. D. Lee | London | 05/18/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Boulez's series for Sony is very impressive, not least this amazing set with French orchestral and vocal pieces. All the Ravel pieces are immaculately sung, no faults at all. An earlier issue coupled them with Ravel's famous song cycle Sheharazade, and I was at first a bit hesitant whether to get this or not, not being familiar with Roussel's works, but I have no qualms after listening to it. His Symphony is rich in texture and idiom, and it is here admirably performed and recorded.But the true stars are the Ravels. Gomez is suitably dreamy and languorous, and Norman immpressively enigmatic, where in the first Madagascan song she uses seductive breathy, whispers. But the most amazing performance is Van Dam's, absolutely THE Don Quichotte! Before this I've only ever heard the better known piano versions of these 2 cycles, so I was totally blown over by the beauty of the orchestrations. But more so by Van Dam's singing, fully committed, totally convincing and heart-breakingly sincere. The passionate second verse of the middle Don Quichotte song has to be heard to be believed, and never fails to excite me, so is the exuberant last song.It is such a pity that all these songs are so short, but perhaps they are so great simply because they are miniatures. In their little worlds, they are perfect gems!"