Douce France - Mélodies & Chansons: CD

The first solo song album by the French tenor Benjamin Bernheim. He imaginatively couples famous melodies by three leading lights of 19th-century French Romanticism with famous chansons by three leading lights of 20th-century French popular music. Benjamin is accompanied by his long-standing recital partner Carrie-Ann Matheson. Included are Berlioz’s great cycle Les nuits d’été and Joseph Kosma’s haunting Les feuilles mortes(“Autumn Leaves”) as well as Charles Trenet’s famous Douce France (“Sweet France”).

Track Listing 

Hector Berlioz
Les nuits d'été, H81, Op. 7
1 I. Villanelle
2 II. Le spectre de la rose
3 III. Sur les lagunes
4 IV. Absence
5 V. Au cimetière (Clair de lune)
6 VI. L'île inconnue
 
Ernest Chausson
Poème de l'amour et de la mer, Op. 19
7 I. La fleur des eaux
8 Interlude
9 II. La mort de l'amour
 
Henri Duparc
10 L'invitation au voyage
11 Extase
12 Phidylé
13 La vie antérieure
 
Joseph Kosma
Les feuilles mortes 
 
Charles Trenet
Douce France
 
Jacques Brel
Quand on n'a que l'amour