01. Le jeune patre breton (Howard Crook- tenor) [4'16]
02. La Captive (Catherine Robbin- mezzo) [8'01]
03. Le Chasseur danois (Gilles Cachemaille- baritone) [3'16]
04. Zaide (Brigitte Fournier- soprano) [3'30]
05. La belle voyageuse (Diane Montague- mezzo) [4'00]
06. Les nuits d'ete - I. Villanelle (Howard Crook- tenor) [2'03]
07. II. Le Spectre de la Rose (Catherine Robbin- mezzo) [6'35]
08. III. Sur les lagunes (Gilles Cachemaille- baritone) [6'50]
09. IV. Absence (Diane Montague- mezzo) [4'49]
10. V. Au cimitiere (Howard Crook- tenor) [5'46]
11. VI. L'Ile inconnue (Diane Montague- mezzo) [3'12]
12. Aubade (Howard Crook- tenor) [4'00]
13. La mort d'Ophelie (Catherine Robbin- mezzo) [6'50]
with Orchestre de l'Opera de Lyon conducted by John Eliot Gardiner
Warner Apex 0927-495832 (recorded April & November 1989; this CD issue 2003)
(flac and scans)
Recording venue: Eglise Sainte-Madeleine de Perouges, Ain
Recording engineer and producer: Yolanta Skura
Of course, there are many wonderful recordings of Les nuits d'ete but this remains one of my favourites - as with Colin Davis, Gardiner's use of a mixture of voices in the different songs seems to work particularly well; as Berlioz intended. The singers are all well chosen and this disc includes all of Berlioz's Melodies for voice and orchestra, including the rare Aubade. Gardiner offers detailed and well-paced accompaniments with great character in the orchestral playing. Unusually for Warner Apex reissues, there is a mammoth and comprehensive booklet with authoritative notes by David Cairns.