Chants d'Auvergne

Even if they'd done nothing else to deserve it, Concert FM would by now have earned every ounce of the praise I wrote in my last post - at 8pm tonight in Music Alive we had a live broadcast of a concert by the Auckland Philharmonia under Xian Zhang. Brahms' Tragic Overture, Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 6 (Pathétique) and, oh yes - 6 of Canteloube's Chants d'Auvergne, sung by the incomparable Patricia Wright. I'd endure a week of crossover for a treat like this. Warm and golden and gorgeous. That same sense of commitment to text and music that blew me away when I saw Patricia in Nelson singing Bach & Vaughan Williams was in evidence tonight. The orchestra was also sounding excellent, and her voice blended perfectly with it to create the most amazing world of sound, the kind these songs deserve. The songs have been lushly orchestrated, yes, but they're still folk songs at heart, and the balance here was struck perfectly: just the right combination of soaring, dramatic beauty and intimate personability. Kiri Te Kanawa (sorry folks) put me off these songs a bit; Anna Moffo brought me back to them, and Patricia has again confirmed what slices of gorgeousness they can be. And I can't help but think that when I see her sing them (along with some Golijov songs) in Christchurch later this year, it will all be even better.  Can't wait.