Country : Canada (Quebec) Label : ATMA Classique Genres and styles : Classical Year : 2024

Myriam Leblanc / Ensemble Mirabilia – Amour fou

· by Elena Mandolini

Amour fou is an album full of refinement, taking us on a journey through over 800 years of music about love. In this long selection of vocal and instrumental works, Myriam Leblanc (soprano), Ensemble Mirabilia (Grégoire Jeay, flutes; Antoine Malette-Chénier, harps; Mélisande Corriveau, viola da gamba, pardessus de viole) and Ellen Torrie (soprano and baroque guitar) manage to describe love at its most complex. Whether it’s overflowing joy, painful separation or the discovery of budding feelings, each work is interpreted with delicacy and grace.

As the ensemble plays on period instruments, the soft, warm sound quality typical of early instruments is also present, which is entirely appropriate. The result is an intimate ambience, conducive to loving dialogue. We are surprised (positively!) to hear more contemporary songs, such as “Ne me quitte pas” (Jacques Brel) or “Dis, quand reviendras-tu?” (Barbara), also interpreted by these same instruments. At the opposite end of the spectrum from these songs is “Bele Doëtte,” an almost a cappella work dating from the 13th century. The interpretation is almost unsettling, especially as it closes the album.

Listening to this album, you can be sure of another dazzling performance from soprano Myriam Leblanc. Here too, her interpretations are all nuance, subtlety and control. On two tracks, she is joined in a duet by Ellen Torrie, whose voice blends perfectly with that of Myriam Leblanc. We would have appreciated more! The Mirabilia ensemble also stands out for its accompaniments, and we particularly appreciate the few instrumental-only tracks.

Amour fou is a non-chronological musical panorama, illustrating the timeless inspiration that is love, and it succeeds perfectly.

Latest 360 Content

A party with post-punk Brooklynites

A party with post-punk Brooklynites

FIRE! Orchestra at FIMAV: Power Trio Meets Canadian Community of Avant-Garde Players

FIRE! Orchestra at FIMAV: Power Trio Meets Canadian Community of Avant-Garde Players

Blondshell – If You Asked For a Picture

Blondshell – If You Asked For a Picture

Hitting a Fever Pitch at the Ribbon Skirt LP Launch 

Hitting a Fever Pitch at the Ribbon Skirt LP Launch 

Wu-Tang Clan & Mathematics – Black Samson, the Bastard Swordsman.

Wu-Tang Clan & Mathematics – Black Samson, the Bastard Swordsman.

Dalit Hadass Warshaw, Boston Modern Orchestra Project / Gil Rose – Sirens

Dalit Hadass Warshaw, Boston Modern Orchestra Project / Gil Rose – Sirens

Howard Shore/Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France – Shore : Anthology

Howard Shore/Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France – Shore : Anthology

Quatuor Diotima – Boulez : Livre pour quatuor

Quatuor Diotima – Boulez : Livre pour quatuor

LMNL – Rainbow

LMNL – Rainbow

Strat Andriotis – Exits

Strat Andriotis – Exits

Richard Reed Parry – The Actor

Richard Reed Parry – The Actor

Tamara Stefanovich – Organised Delirium

Tamara Stefanovich – Organised Delirium

Galan Trio – Embrace

Galan Trio – Embrace

Jack Van Zandt – A Chaos of Light and Motion

Jack Van Zandt – A Chaos of Light and Motion

Tommy Crane – Reality Curated: Live at Ursa

Tommy Crane – Reality Curated: Live at Ursa

Thomas DeLio – Anti-paysage

Thomas DeLio – Anti-paysage

No Hay Banda – Steven Kazuo Takasugi : Il Teatro Rosso

No Hay Banda – Steven Kazuo Takasugi : Il Teatro Rosso

Vancouver Contemporary Orchestra; Vancouver Chamber Choir – Christopher Tyler Nickel : Mass; Te Deum

Vancouver Contemporary Orchestra; Vancouver Chamber Choir – Christopher Tyler Nickel : Mass; Te Deum

Hypercube – The Force for Good

Hypercube – The Force for Good

PUP – Who Will Look After the Dogs?

PUP – Who Will Look After the Dogs?

Duo AYA – Cycles

Duo AYA – Cycles

Papillon Social Club – Dur de la feuille

Papillon Social Club – Dur de la feuille

Coalescent Quartet – The Wall Between Us

Coalescent Quartet – The Wall Between Us

Subscribe to our newsletter