Search - Liane, Boheme Bar Trio :: Paris Midnight

A well balanced, lightweight program

F. Behrens | Keene, NH USA | 03/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the past, I have extolled the virtues of three Vanguard Classics releases featuring the Continental-style chanteuse named Liane: (OVC 6037), (OVC 6032) and < Orient Express> (OVD 6027). In all three, Liane was backed up the Boheme Bar Trio in what was a multi-lingual feast of ballads. I simply had to hear an even earlier set named (OVC 6017/18) in which the same delightful mixture of voice and instruments offers up on two CDs no less than "50 French Hits" (as the subtitle puts it) and it is a joy forever. To avoid the problem such programs encounter when they feature a single voice--that is, one has to take it in easy doses lest even the best performance begins to pall--the producers have skillfully interspersed instrumental selections among the vocals; and each of the 64 minute sides is very easy to take. I was surprised, here and there, to hear Debussy and Gershwin woven into the fabric of "La Mer" and other selections, and some might find this a flaw rather than a Good Idea. But to each his own! For those approaching this singer for the first time, do not expect another Piaf. Liane does not share the nasal or throaty deliveries that some of her predecessors give us. In fact, one might almost say that her voice is pleasantly unexceptional in the positive sense that she lets the music sing for itself! Since this set is priced as a 2-for-one, I would certainly urge beginners to start here."

BEWARE - DON'T BUY THIS CD IF YOU WANT COMPLETE LYRICS

F. Behrens | 07/20/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased this album with high hopes. I had purchased other recordings by Liane and really liked her voice and delivery, but this purchase was a big disappointment! The lyrics are not included with these discs (just brief English translations of a few lines). If you take the time to look up the lyrics to the songs (all well-known and performed by major French artists), you'll find that in many instances Liane is only singing the refrain (often repeated a second time). If you were hoping to hear the complete song, too bad!"

Traditional but not "old"

Translator | Owasso, Oklahoma | 01/24/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD took me back to France. I love French music, but I normally buy variété française, a more contemporary sounding music. But I always wanted a CD of the traditional French chanson. From the first song, I got a big grin on my face because I knew that I had made the right choice. I highly recommend it to people who are venturing into buying their first French CD or to French music lovers. You will not be disappointed with this choice."