Nicholas Phan & Myra Huang - Clairières: Songs by Lili & Nadia Boulanger (2020) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

On "Clairières", Grammy Award-nominated tenor Nicholas Phan and pianist Myra Huang pay homage to Lili and Nadia Boulanger, two exceptional composers of the 20th century who have often been overlooked in favour of their male counterparts. At the heart of the album is Lili's song cycle "Clairières dans le ciel". Alongside are a selection of songs set to poetry by the sisters' contemporaries Verlaine, Maeterlinck, Jammes and Samain.

Grammy Award-nominated tenor Nicholas Phan and pianist Myra Huang pay homage to two exceptional composers of the 20th century who have often been overlooked in favour of their male counterparts Lili and Nadia Boulanger. Nadia is the better known of the two, primarily for her tutelage of such great composers as Aaron Copland, Philip Glass and Astor Piazzolla, but was a highly respected composer during the years of the Belle époque. Her younger sister Lili was the first female Grand Prize winner of the Prix du Rome; her compositional legacy was cut short by her death at the age of 24. At the heart of this release is Lili's innovative, 13-part song cycle "Clairières dans le ciel". Alongside are a selection of literary songs set to poetry by the sisters' contemporaries Paul Verlaine, Maurice Maeterlinck, Francis Jammes and Albert Samain.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR NICHOLAS PHAN

"one of the most beautiful young lyric voices around" Opera News

"Phan's singing is both sultry and refined" WQXR-NYC (on Illuminations, AV2382)

"There are so many jewels here Phan's sheer sensitivity is a delight. An absorbing disc and an ideal introduction to the joys of lieder." TheArtsDesk.com (on Gods & Monsters, AV2368)

Tracklist:
1. Versailles (3:05)
2. Heures ternes (2:49)
3. Reflets (2:45)
4. Attente (1:53)
5. Cantique (2:04)
6. La mer est plus belle (2:43)
7. Soleils couchants (2:38)
8. Clairières dans le ciel: I. Elle était descendue (1:44)
9. Clairières dans le ciel: II. Elle est gravement gaie (1:38)
10. Clairières dans le ciel: III. Parfois, je suis triste (3:15)
11. Clairières dans le ciel: IV. Un poete disait (1:51)
12. Clairières dans le ciel: V. Au pied de mon lit (2:13)
13. Clairières dans le ciel: VI. Si tout ceci n'est qu’un pauvre rêve (2:07)
14. Clairières dans le ciel: VII. Nous nous aimerons tant (2:50)
15. Clairières dans le ciel: VIII. Vous m’avez regarde avec toute votre âme (1:42)
16. Clairières dans le ciel: IX. Les lilas qui avaient fleuri (2:42)
17. Clairières dans le ciel: X. Deux ancolies (1:30)
18. Clairières dans le ciel: XI. Par ce que j’ai souffert (2:23)
19. Clairières dans le ciel: XII. Je garde une médaille d’elle (1:34)
20. Clairières dans le ciel: XIII. Demain fera un an (6:28)
21. Soir d'hiver (3:23)
22. Lydia (2:53)

Personnel:
Nicholas Phan (tenor)
Myra Huang (piano)