Description
Henri Duparc's output is slight: no more than seventeen songs survive, but on them rests his reputation as one of the greatest composers in the history of the melodie. He composed them between the ages of 20 and 37, after which he lived for another 48 years without publishing--and hardly writing--another note. Unlike Faure, three years his senior, who by the age of 20 had already produced a fair corpus of juvenile songs, Duparc's first melodies, from 'Chanson triste' on, reveal his fully developed genius. Featuring sixteen melodies, Norwegian mezzo-soprano Ann-Beth Solvang is joined on this new recording by Norwegian tenor Eirik Grotvedt accompanied by prominent Scandinavian pianist John Lidal who is recognised for his versatility and extensive experience both as an accompanist and chamber musician. An active concert singer, Ann-Beth Solvang's repertoire includes works by Elgar, Mahler, Richard Strauss, Berlioz and Wagner. She was awarded the prestigious Wilhelmsen Award in 2026. Tenor Eirik Grotvedt has established himself as a versatile operatic singer, with a repertoire spanning Mozart, Italian bel canto, French opera and contemporary works and in recent seasons, has undertaken notable engagements both in Norway and internationally.
