French mélodies have attracted some of the most famous sopranos on record, not necessarily of French background: Victoria de los Angeles, Jessye Norman, Elly Ameling, and Barbara Bonney are some who spring to mind.

Today’s reigning soprano in this repertoire is definitely French: Véronique Gens. She began her singing career in Baroque music, but in 2001 ventured ahead to record Les nuits d’été and Le mort de Cléopâtre by Berlioz. 

Her light voice in those works was in startling contrast to Janet Baker and Régine Crespin, but possibly closer to what Berlioz had in mind. Since then, Gens has fully embraced the 19th-century French repertoire, including Marguerite in Gounod’s Faust. Her most recent recording for Alpha Classics featured a selection of melodies by Reynaldo Hahn, Henri Duparc, and Ernest Chausson, accompanied on piano. With the exception of Duparc, these composers turn up again in the new recital. This time, Gens is accompanied by an orchestra. 

Many composers of the era orchestrated their songs for concert performance. A notable example...