Véronique Gens & Sandrine Piau - Rivales - Presto Music

It seems there was little actual rivalry involved in the making of this delicious album: Mme Dugazon and Mme Saint-Huberty (the singers to whom these two modern-day French divas pay tribute) appear to have co-existed quite amicably, and Gens and Piau audibly exult in one another's artistry, particularly in the synchronised fireworks of a duet from JC Bach's La Clemenza di Scipione. Chauvin galvanises some scintillating playing, particularly in the stormy Monsigny aria which opens proceedings.