Jacques Offenbach: 6 Fables de La Fontaine; Chanson de Fortunio

Title: Jacques Offenbach: 6 Fables de La Fontaine; Chanson de Fortunio
Description: 2004 Jacques Offenbach: 6 Fables de La Fontaine; Chanson de Fortunio. Musical CD. Bruno Laplante, baritone. Marc Durand, pianist. Made in France. Calliope 4881. First recorded by Arpège in 1979. $10 from FOT Records, Van Nuys, CA, through Ebay, Jan., '10.

This is the first time, I believe, that I have sat and listened to these renderings. They are delightful. The music moves wonderfully in coordination with the text of La Fontaine. The silent moment, for example, in "Shepherd and Sea" comes at the time when the former flock owner has lost everything at sea and must return now to be a hired shepherd. The contrast in voices in "Cobbler and Financier" is also engaging. Likewise, the choice of phrases to be repeated supports well what is going on in the text. Besides the title pieces, there are five other offerings on this 50-minute disc. Winner of the award "Grand Prix du Disque."
Source: $10 from FOT Records, Van Nuys, CA, through Ebay, Jan., '10.
Date: 2004
Subject: Audio-Visual; Compact Disks; Offenbach Fables of La Fontaine; Fables of La Fontaine CDs