Pianist
Malcolm Martineau
has issued complete cycles of the songs of other composers prior to this one of music by
Ravel
, which made classical best-seller lists in the spring of 2025. How many other accompanists have ever been credited as the primary artist on a group of recorded songs with various vocalists? Regardless, the
set perhaps works even better than the others, with the piano playing a major role in establishing the ideas and setting the moods of these songs. There are no fewer than nine singers, along with several instrumentalists in small chamber settings. All are British. Listeners will have their own favorites, but tenor
Nicky Spence
is at the top of his powers here and excels in the small
Cinq mélodies populaires grecques
, which are the epitome of deceptive simplicity. The songs are presented chronologically, with corresponding notes by
Richard Stokes
, making the physical version of this likely-to-endure release worth the investment. The recordings were made as far back as 2018 but come off as part of being part of the same creative impulse on
Martineau
's part. Ultimately, he captures the peculiar fascination of
's songs, which distill many of the composer's ideas down to four-minute units. A compelling release throughout. ~ James Manheim