Duparc 12 songs

 Day 59

Duparc 12 Songs

Charles Panzéra

Magdeleine Panzéra-Baillot

Duparc had one of the most extraordinary careers of all notable composers. He lived into his 80s but ceased composition completely in his mid 30s. The reasons for this are not completely clear but it seems he had some sort of mental crisis which made it impossible for his to composer again. He probably has the smallest output of any composer of real significance. Essential it amounts to one symphonic poem, a few miscellaneous bits and pieces and a group of a dozen or so songs - the exact number depends on how you deal with some juvenilia and revisions. But this dozen songs are, rightly, regarded as absolutely central to the French song repertory and are the equal of anything by Fauré or the other masters of the genre.

I knew a few of these songs individually but this was my first time hearing the set. What surprised me most was the sheer power and energy of some of the songs.  In my mind French song in general and Duparc in particular suggests dreaminess, yearning and rather limpid textures with plenty of quiet tremolo figures in the piano. There is certainly some of this but elsewhere  there there is fire and unrestrained passion. The piano parts are constantly inventive and there were some really interesting exchanges where the main melodic material moved from the singer to the piano and back.  Duparc’ harmonic language is refined and typically French - only occasionally was one reminded of Schumann or the German school. Duparc certainly had a tendency to move flatwards rather than sharpwards in his harmonic progressions and this certainly helps bring a reflective even melancholy to the more inward-looking songs.

This performance is by Charles Panzera and his wife, who we encountered in the Fauré songs a few weeks ago. The recording shows its age but is a really fine example of that particularly French  baritone sound that has now virtually disappeared.