Hyperion’s record of the month for January sees the launch of an exciting new series: the complete mélodies of Gabriel Fauré will be released over four discs during 2005.

This first disc takes its title, Au bord de l’eau, from the famous song which became Fauré’s calling-card, and presents a generous programme of mélodies of an aquatic nature. The songs are performed in the order of their composition (this rationale of chronology within a general theme will be applied across the other volumes of the series to make up four self-contained and individually satisfying recitals), and alongside several perfect miniatures we here encounter three of the major cycles: the five ‘Venetian’ songs (to the poetry of Paul Verlaine), L’horizon chimérique, and Mirages, written for Madeleine Grey in thanks for her advocacy of the cycle La chanson d’Ève.

Graham Johnson has employed a veritable panoply of artists—the very finest interpreters of French song that could be found. Generous commentaries are provided for each song along with the original poems and English translations.