Description:

＜The American mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, known as "Fricka," and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Seiji Ozawa, perform works by Berlioz and Debussy. Summer Nights" is one of Berlioz's most famous songs, composed on six poems by his friend, the French Romantic poet Théolfil Gautier. This work was the forerunner of the field of songs with orchestral accompaniment, which reached its peak with Mahler and Richard Strauss, and is also extremely important in that it dramatically expanded the possibilities of expression in the field of song. Debussy's "The Chosen Maiden" is a cantata with solo voice, chorus, and narrative with orchestral accompaniment based on the poem "The Blessed Maiden" written by D.G. Rossetti, a famous 19th century English painter and poet. Both are masterpieces in which von Stade's beautiful voice stands out. (C)RS