Turbulent Heart

09/09/2009
Fernando Segura Morillas
Web la Opera (Spain)

From Australia comes another remarkable recording so typical of the Melba label. This is the latest disc recorded by the young Australian tenor Steve Davislim in which he performs beautiful songs from the French Romantic period by the composers Louis Vierne (1870 - 1937) and Ernest Chausson (1855 - 1899).

Accompanied by 'The Queensland Orchestra', led by young French conductor Guillaume Tourniaire, Davislim presents four 'symphonic poems for voice and orchestra’ by Vierne. These are world-premiere recordings, and the 'Poem of love and sea’ by Chausson, is the premiere recording to use the tenor voice for which this setting was originally written. Davislim continues to surprise with the beauty of his voice and his warm baritone colour in his low register. The orchestra is of a very high standard and the very promising baton of Tourniaire captures the essence of these pieces of Gallic Romanticism.

The sound is great, as is customary with Melba. This is a thoughtfully designed SACD that includes an extensive booklet with all the song texts.
Without any hesitation, I recommend this release from Melba with these young artists and these beautiful works.