This entrancing pair of CDs is going to give much joy. They contain all of the songs of Emmanuel Chabrier (43 of them) including his 16 settings of Les plus jolis chansons du pays de France, never before recorded. Also included is the hilarious Duet of the usherette from the Opera-Comique and the salesman from Le Bon Marché, and the wonderful Ode to Music for soprano and female choir, the opening words of which provide the title of this set.

As to singers, there are five of them, all obviously enjoying themselves, and a bassoon in Chabrier's setting of L'Invitation au voyage (which would be much better known if his friend Duparc hadn't written his masterpiece just beforehand).

Graham Johnson writes of this music: "There is no one like him, this adorable man, and nothing in French song, indeed in all music, which is quite like his music.” 'Musique adorable' indeed!