Andrea Di Paolo - L'AZUR for Soprano and Piano (Radio France) - 2008

Overall I liked it, a little less so the last two minutes with somewhat evocative harmonies that don't blow me away. On the other hand, I found the whispered beginning with sudden ff very effective.

I, on the other hand, appreciate the last 2' more ... the thing that matters to me is that they result in being natural.

Even if this composer perhaps uses too many stylistic elements from the last century... I find it a good piece and I must say that I like it very much.

micamahler wrote:

Overall I liked it, a little less the last two minutes with somewhat evocative harmonies that don't make me go crazy.

The composition is in panels, each aimed at enhancing the content of the text, which must be said....is there and Di Paolo respects it (stanza by stanza). Furthermore, it is a text that I know very well as I also tackled it in one of my Lieder... dedicated to Stéphane Mallarmé.

Only by knowing the text and the poetics of Stéphane Mallarmé deeply can one better glimpse Di Paolo's intentions, particularly in the two endings which I approve of and, agreeing with Xenakis, I like very much... don't I think that evoking in itself is not a problem? And indeed, between 60s-style clusters, Berio-esque effects... one wants to evoke...

...I also find the good use of microphone placement interesting and well-balanced, which can be most appreciated in certain precise moments of the piece.

No, of course it isn't, far from it! It's a matter of personal taste; it creates a certain type of atmosphere that (at least in this situation) moves away from what I like. 'Evocative' wasn't meant to say that it quotes [something], it is perhaps an unsuitable term, let's say dreamy (but yes, I am only talking about my own taste now)