RESPIGHI: “La Sensitiva.” BERLIOZ: “Les Nuits d’ete”;...

RESPIGHI: “La Sensitiva.” BERLIOZ: “Les Nuits d’ete”; and other songs. Janet Baker, mezzo-soprano; City of London Sinfonia, conducted by Richard Hickox. Virgin Classics VC 7 91194-2. Respighi’s setting of Shelley’s “La Sensitiva” (The Sensitive Plant) is an early but typical example of the composer’s voluptuous tone painting, with a vividly colored orchestral accompaniment to a fluid and dramatic vocal line. Dame Janet, Hickox and orchestra offer a nicely paced and luxuriant account--the only one currently available. The same forces provide a less convincing though satisfying reading of “Nuits d’ete,” Baker, though occasionally labored vocally, singing with pointed and many-hued expressiveness, Hickox lending only dry support. This 75-minute disc also includes three Berlioz songs.