Melba Recordings

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Turbulent Heart

01/01/2010
Revue Des Deux mondes (France)
Jean Luc Macia

... the recording of Steve Davislim, the remarkable young Australian singer, merits our attention for two reasons. On Turbulent Heart he subtly performs Chausson’s extremely beautiful Poème de l’amour et de la mer, a work normally the preserve of female singers. Above all, he gives us four extremely rare pieces by Louis Vierne, the visually-impaired chief-organist at Notre Dame in Paris from 1900 to 1937. There are many recordings of his grand works for organ, but hardly any at all of his vocal or orchestral works. So, here we have Pysché, Eros, Les Djinns and the poignant Ballade du désespéré, each showing a most unexpected Romantic invention. The sovereign fluidity of the vocal line, the refinement of the orchestration, the dramatic tension building over each page: all of these justify this resurrection. And Davislim demonstrates singing that is radiant, masterly, lyrical and dramatic, underpinned by impeccable French diction. Accompanied by the Queensland Orchestra directed by our compatriot Guillaume Tourniaire, he offers us a rare and enchanting recording.