Editor's Choice
Gramophone Magazine
May 2025

Lorna Anderson, Sarah Dufresne (sopranos), Julie Boulianne, Paula Murrihy (mezzos), Dafydd Jones, Nicky Spence (tenors), John Chest, Simon Keenlyside (baritones), William Thomas (bass), Malcolm Martineau (piano)

Ballade de la reine morte d'aimer, M. 4
Un grand sommeil noir, M. 6
Sainte, M. 9
Epigrammes de Clément Marot, M. 21 / 10
Chanson du rouet, M. 15
Si morne!, M. 16
Manteau de fleurs, M. 39
Shéhérazade, M. 41 (Version for Voice and Piano): No. 1, Asie
Shéhérazade, M. 41 (Version for Voice, Flute, and Piano): No. 2, La flute enchante
Shéhérazade, M. 41 (Version for Voice and Piano): No. 3, L'indifferent
5 Mélodies populaires grecques, M. A 4-5, 9-11
Noël des jouets, M. 47
Histoires naturelles
Vocalise-étude en forme de habanera, M. 51: No. 1, Presque lent et avec indolence
Les grands vents venus d'outre-mer, M. 48: No. 1, Modéré, très agité
Sur l'herbe, M. 53
Tripatos, M. A13
Chants populaires, M. A17
3 Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé, M. 64
2 Mélodies hébraïques, M. A22
3 Chansons, M. 69 (Version for Voice and Piano)
Ronsard à son âme, M. 75
Chansons madécasses, M. 78
Rêves, M. 79
Don Quichotte à Dulcinée, M. 84 (Version for Voice and Piano)

Malcolm Martineau follows up his acclaimed complete song collections of Duparc, Poulenc and Faure with a double album celebrating the complete songs of Maurice Ravel, performed by a bumper roster of singers: Lorna Anderson, Julie Boulianne, John Chest, Sarah Dufresne Dafydd Jones, Simon Keenlyside, Paula Murrihy, Nicky Spence and William Thomas.

French composer Maurice Ravel known for his musical craftsmanship and clear style drew on elements of baroque, neoclassicism, modernism and later on, jazz in his compositions. His vocal works span 4 decades, from 1893 to 1933. Scottish pianist Malcolm Martineau is recognised at the highest international level as one of the UK’s leading accompanists, performing worldwide alongside the world’s greatest singers and with a discography of over 100 albums, including a number of award-winning recordings.

"Martineau, as one might expect, is the most wonderfully accomplished guide through musical and emotional landscapes in which the piano, more often than not, carries equal weight with the voice, deploying a vast range of dynamics and colour." - Gramophone, May 2025