: Ne me refuse pas: French Opera Arias - Marie-Nicole Lemieux

In 2000 the contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux became the first Canadian to win the First Prize as well as the Special Prize for Lieder at the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition in Belgium. She has recorded for numerous labels, and now enjoys an exclusive contract with the Naïve label, for which she has recorded the title roles in Vivaldi's operas Griselda and Orlando furioso. Her first recital CD of French mélodies (L'Heure exquise) was much praised by the critics. In 2008 Naïve released a recording of Vivaldi sacred works in which she sings the famous Stabat Mater. This was followed by the same composer's La fida ninfa. In 2009 Naïve released a recital of Schumann songs with the pianist Daniel Blumenthal and a programme of Vivaldi arias with the Ensemble Matheus under Jean-Christophe Spinosi.

The programme chosen for this recording by Marie-Nicole Lemieux is dedicated to the finest arias from the French opera, recorded with one of the finest orchestras in this repertoire and featuring both popular and more specialised works by, amongst others, Massenet, Berlioz, Saint-Saëns, and Bizet.