The biggest advantage here is the inclusion of the sad, poignant Mélisande’s Song, Fauré’s only setting in English, beautifully sung here by soprano Tara Erraught.

Fauré composed Prométhée for a performance in an ancient Greek theatre that, according to Caroline Potter’s booklet note, required some 800 performers including “two military bands, 100 string players and 18 harpists”. Tingaud makes do here with a standard orchestra! The excerpts presented on this disc give a good idea of the music with its Wagnerian influence. The Prélude to Act I’s powerful brass is quite a contrast to the delicate Pelléas et Mélisande Suite. The Prélude to Act II, on the other hand, is quiet; woodwinds and strings depic Pandora’s funeral procession. The Chamber Choir of Ireland makes its only appearance on this disc in Act III’s Des ruisseaux et des sources claires, a chorus of Oceanides water sprites. I found this work the least interesting of the music here.

Three songs that follow the Prométhée music are all gems. En prière is one of the few songs Fauré orchestrated himself. This simple prayer reminded me of the Sicilienne with the scoring of harp and strings. Erraught’s singing is exquisite.