Review

Recognizing the versatility and musical quality of French poetry – and inspired by the German Lied – French composers of the 19th and 20th century made the mélodie immensely popular. The rich and resonant qualities of Michèle Losier’s voice along with the impeccable technique of pianist Olivier Godin suit this repertoire beautifully. The mezzo-soprano’s “deep affection for the works of Massenet, Gounod and Bizet” is clearly evident in her mature and evocative delivery. Deep emotion tempered by tenderness and sensitivity is brilliantly executed in Massenet’s Dors, ami and Élégie.

Remarkable in French art song is the manner in which composers treat the flow and contour of the language, freeing themselves from the strophic and emphasizing subtleties of phrasing and rhythmic patterns that only a native French speaker like Losier can master. And, with experience performing Mercedes in Carmen, she implicitly understands the dramatic qualities of Bizet’s Absence and the playful humour of his La Coccinelle. In the title track by Saint-Saëns, Temps Nouveau, the New Brunswick-born singer conveys her absolute delight in nature and its ever-changing seasons. The interpretations are both warm and highly intelligent.