Bijoux perdus

Belgian lyric coloratura soprano Jodie Devos follows in the footsteps of her compatriot Marie Cabel, queen of the high Cs (not to mention Ds and Es), who inspired composers such as Adolphe Adam and Giacomo Meyerbeer to create operatic roles specially for her. She transports the listener back to 1850s Paris, a city in love with opera in all its forms. Her delightful recital, constructed from showstopping arias and other hits from Cabel’s repertoire, includes a clutch of “lost jewels,” none brighter than the scene with chorus from Act II of Halévy’s Jaguarita l’Indienne (Tracks 4-6) or the spellbinding “C’est un rêve qui s’achève à l’instant” from Thomas’ Le songe d’une nuit d’été (Track 12). Devos gives a thrilling display of the art of French bel canto singing, with its technical fireworks and tenderness, caprice and sweeping dramatic gestures.