Some opera fans might remember Valerie Masterson as one of the leading sopranos of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company back in the late 1960s and early ’70s, when she delighted audiences and record collectors with her portrayals of Gilbert & Sullivan heroines. Once her operatic career started, it became evident that the timbre of her voice would lend itself beautifully to French opera. Since that time, Masterson has proved memorable in productions of Gounod’s Faust, Charpentier’s Louise, and Massenet’s Manon. She sings arias from those three on this CD, as well as from Bizet’s Carmen, Debussy’s L’Enfant Prodigue, Bizet’s Pearl Fishers, and Massenet’s Cherubin. This recital was taped in 1991 and finds Masterson a mature interpreter, but with a voice that is just starting to deteriorate. Don’t expect perfect singing here; there is the occasional raw top note and a bit of unpleasant vibrato when the voice is pushed. If you can hear through those things, what a gorgeous, rich voice she had and how intelligently she used it to project the text of each aria! The idiomatic, well played accompaniments also are worth hearing, recorded as they are in warm, spacious, singularly realistic, compatible Dolby surround sound, with ideal balance between soloist and orchestra. The booklet has an interesting interview with Masteron, in which she tells of her love affair with French opera.
