Benjamin Godard initially avoided the term 'mélodie' for his vocal pieces, publishing them under vague titles like '30 Morceaux de chants' or 'Fables', and only started using 'mélodie' in his titles from 1889.
Performer Biography
Tassis Christoyannis, the baritone on this album, is considered one of the finest interpreters of his generation, known for his musicality and acting skills, and has performed major roles across Europe and in New York.
Composer Biography
Benjamin Godard, a child prodigy on the violin, studied composition at the Paris Conservatoire and was a prominent figure in French musical life in the early years of the Third Republic.
Composition History
Benjamin Godard published 162 mélodies during his 30-year career, making him one of the most prolific composers of French art songs, surpassed only by Massenet.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Benjamin Godard was a prolific setter of Victor Hugo's poetry, with 23 scores, making him one of the great poet's most frequent musical interpreters, alongside Liszt and Saint-Saëns.
Composition History
Benjamin Godard's mélodies (French art songs) are so little known that they are rarely mentioned in books on the subject, despite him being one of the most prolific composers in this genre.
Composer Biography
Benjamin Godard's extensive catalogue of about 150 works includes six operas, orchestral pieces, several concertos, chamber works, and a prolific output of songs and piano music.
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