Description
SKU/Barcode: 774204992422
Jean-Fran ois Lapointe has a colorful baritone with a secure, wide range and the ability to produce both a light, lyric sound and a darker, larger, throatier, more dramatic one. In this recital of songs by Chausson and Duparc, he doesn't seem to be entirely in control of the color, often to distracting effect. His signature role is Pell as, and in many of the songs, most obviously Chausson's Po me de l'Amour et de la Mer, it sounds like he is schizophrenically switching between the fach of Pell as and of Golaud, without any apparent musical rationale for the shifts between a light sound and a heavy dramatic sound. The tracks where he does that are nearly unlistenable, but in the songs where he exercises more control, especially those that are more lyrical, gentle, and restrained, his voice is lovely -- fresh, supple, and light, but able to expand at moments of expressive intensity -- and his interpretations are fully persuasive. Duparc's S r nade, Extase, and Chanson triste, in which his coloring is most nuanced and under control, are particularly successful. Unfortunately, the offending tracks outnumber the pleasant ones, making it difficult to recommend this recital. Pianist Louise-Andr e Baril accompanies Lapointe with sensitivity, and Analekta's sound is clean and well-balanced.