L’extase: Debussy and Messiaen is a new CD from mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená and pianist Mitsuko Uchida.  There are four sets of songs; three by Debussy and one by Messiaen.  The Debussy sets are Trois Chansons de Bilitis which set texts by Pierre Louÿs, Cinq poèmes de Charles Baudelaire and Ariettes oubliées to tests by Paul Verlaine.

To my ear all these cycles inhabit a similar sound world.  It’s very beautiful and languorous for the most part with something just not quite wholesome about it.  We are clearly looking forward to the language of Pelléas et Mélisande.  Only occasionally does something a bit more dynamic happen as in the quite dramatic “La tombeau des Naiades” from the first set and the lively “Chevaux des bois” from the Verlaine settings. The songs do suit Kožená very well.  She sings beautifully and expressively and can float a really lovely high note.  But she does show she can be more dramatic on the odd occasions where it’s required.  The same is true for Uchida who really is quite subtle but can be more forceful on demand.

The Messiaen set is the well known Poèmes pour Mi setting the composer’s own words.  It’s a different sound world.  The tessitura is higher and there’s a distinct mystical tinge to the music that matches texts that conflate human and divine love; even ecstasy.  There’s just a touch of bird song too.  These songs demand a more emphatic approach and they get it without losing any of the beauty of the singing and playing.  t’s quite an impressive performance.

The recording was made at Snape Maltings in April 2024 and it’s pretty good.  The tone and balance are natural and it’s quite detailed even on the CD resolution digital files I listened to.  It’s also available as a physical CD, MP3 and 192kHz/24bit in the usual file formats.  There’s also Dolby Atmos which I’m curious about.  If any reader has experience of that format maybe they could comment about their impressions?  There’s a useful booklet with notes plus texts and translations.

All in all this record is 70 minutes of rather lovely French song very well performed.  It’s due for release on June 6th 2025.

Catalogue information: Pentatone PTC 51877129