Sabine Devieilhe cements her reputation as one of the most exciting sopranos on the scene with this disc exploring how French composers of a century and more ago were fascinated by ideas of the exotic and by mysterious women – preferably both. Lakmé is her favourite operatic role, and the greatest hits of Delibes’ opera get luxuriously good performances here, including the Flower Duet, for which Devieilhe is joined by mezzo-of-the-moment Marianne Crebassa. In scenes including Berlioz’s Mort d’Ophélie and Debussy’s Romance d’Ariel she is sensitively supported by pianist Alexandre Tharaud; otherwise, in arias by Messager, Stravinsky, Thomas and Massenet, she joins with conductor François-Xavier Roth and his ensemble Les Siècles. Delage’s Quatre Poèmes Hindous, in which the well-travelled composer makes a Western chamber ensemble sound unnervingly like sarod, sitar and Indian flute, are especially beguiling. Devieilhe is mesmerising, sounding deliciously clear and radiant, and sings with a sensuality that seems absolutely innate.
