Les nuits d'ete, La mort de Cleopatre - Hector Berlioz

BERLIOZ was what one might call a late starter.

While some of the greats began composing almost before they could read, Berlioz took his time about things.

He learnt neither the piano nor the violin but, although he wanted to follow a career in music, his father wanted him to be a doctor and he did as he was told.

Eventually, of course, matters took their own course and the rest, as they say, is history.

The true Romantic in him manifested itself in his music and to call him a Byronesque figure would be to put it mildly.

His Les nuits d'ete is a cycle of six songs to words by Theophile Gautier and it was composed in 1841.

The beauty and attraction of this fine CD is in the fact that the soloist, soprano Veronique Gens, is herself French and this provides us with a simple, uncomplicated interpretation with the words sung with predictable Gallic charm.

This is usually an advantage where classical romance is concerned.

Gens adds a fresh, plaintive, aspect to the pieces and there is an air of nonchalance about the offerings.

But nonchalance does not mean carelesslessness and her engaging style lacks none of the important classical disciplines.

Cleopatras' Death is a dramatic cantata and Gens, with the Lyon National Opera Orchestra, conducted by Louis Langree, conveys to perfection the Queen of the Nile's desperation and death.

The soloist, however, is at her best with the three songs which accompany the main pieces: Zaide, La captive and La belle voyageuse.

The first two are delicate, the last more spirited.

Conductor Langree also seemed more at home with the more lighthearted compositions.

Virgin Classics VC5 45422-2