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. Continue reading →