Jean-Philippe Sylvestre / Arvostelut

The second concert of the Orchestre classique de Montréal season, Tuesday in Salle Pierre-Mercure, came adorned with thematic and honorary elements. In musical essence it was a night of Ravel, and as such it succeeded. The biggest success came first: Shéhérazade, the sensuous three-part cycle of 1904, with Juile Boulianne as soloist. Singing from memory, this radiant mezzo-soprano seemed to inhabit the music, modulating from insinuating whisper to full-throated climax (and back) in a completely natural way.