These performances represent one of the unchallenged peaks in the history of French song on disc. Since the day they were issued in 1963, Régine Crespin’s Berlioz and Ravel have set the standard by which all others are measured, and if you’ve only room in your collection for one version of these pieces, then this is it. Fabulously remastered, the performances have come up sounding like new. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is one of the finest recordings of the human voice ever made. Crespin is perfectly balanced against the orchestra and sounds almost as if she were in your listening room with you–it’s that tangible. Nothing stands between you and her incomparable way with the text of each song. For students of French singing, this disc is a veritable master class! Ernest Ansermet’s contribution is as distinguished as Crespin’s. He knows the music inside out. The Debussy and Poulenc songs with piano are on the same high level as the two orchestral works. Stunning.
