Jane Bathori The Complete Solo Recordings

Many of the composers of early 20th-century Paris wrote music with a particular voice and musical personality in mind: that of Jane Bathori. Fortunately, this champion of contemporary music eventually recorded a small portion of her repertoire. Though they date from near the end of her career--1928-30, when she believed that audio technology had finally advanced enough to give high-quality results--these recordings are an invaluable document of an important interpreter of French song.
Aside from her musicality and sensitivity to the texts she sang, Bathori was also noted for accompanying herself at the piano both in concert and on record. On several selections by Debussy, Hahn, Ravel, and others, we hear voice and piano truly at one, shaped by the same interpretive mind. Elsewhere, Milhaud and Tailleferre are the authoritative accompanists to Bathori in their own compositions.
All Bathori's performances here are subtle and intelligent, qualities that the minor imperfections in recorded sound cannot distract from. Debussy's 'Fetes galantes' and 'Chansons de Bilitis' are particularly affecting here, mystical and reserved. The composers of her time were fortunate to have her as an advocate, and it is our good fortune today to have both the music and her recordings of it.