Natalie Dessay - Pictures of America (2016)

The album is a journey through music (Great American Song Book, Broadway & Jazz) and Edward Hopper’s art. The art addition to the album includes a booklet containing 21 reproductions of paintings by Hopper. In addition, the songs have been arranged by the most sought-after and best jazz arrangers including Baptiste Trotignon, Pierre Boussaguet, Patrice Caratini and Cyrille Lehn.

In the deluxe version, the first disc contains eleven songs from the Great American Song Book and the second: 8 compositions by Graciane Finzi (inspired by the Hopper paintings), texts by French poet Claude Esteban, recited by Natalie before Barber’s Adagio closes the album.

"I was delighted to once again work with Claire Gibault, who now leads her own chamber orchestra, the Paris Mozart Orchestra, more than twenty years after she first accompanied my Mozart performance at the start of my career as a classical singer.

It all started with a couple of Edward Hopper paintings that inspired the beautiful stories of poet Claude Esteban, which Graciane Finzi in turn illustrated with her delicate and inventive music. Claire asked me to tell the story of these "melologues". For my part, I selected ten other paintings that inspired me to choose a range of songs from what's known as the "Great American Songbook". I asked five incredible musicians to arrange them for the Paris Mozart Orchestra, thereby building a bridge between classical music, jazz, and musicals. I then worked to develop a new voice—a deeper and more intimate sound that would whisper into the listener's ear. It was a voice I had to learn to control, like a small, secretive wild animal."

TRACKLIST
01. On a Clear Day (From “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever”)
02. I Feel Pretty (From "West Side Story")
03. I'm a Fool to Want You
04. Send in the Clowns (From "A Little Night Music")
05. Detour Ahead
06. Something's Coming (From "West Side Story")
07. Autour de minuit
08. I Keep Going Back to Joe's & My Solitude
09. A Place That You Want to Call Home
10. Two Lonely People
11. There's No Business Like Show Business (From “Annie Get Your Gun”)
12. Ground Swell
13. Girl at Sewing Machine
14. Compartment C, Car 293
15. Nighthawks
16. South Carolina Morning
17. House by the Railroad
18. People in the Sun
19. Roofs of Washington Square
20. Adagio for Strings, Op. 11