The French Song Anthology – Pronunciation Guide

This is a companion to The French Song Anthology, edited by Carol Kimball and Richard Walters, with 60 songs by 24 composers. The diction lessons were recorded by coach, conductor and diction specialist Pierre Vallet. The diction for each song is recorded twice: first recited as an actor would speak it, showing flow of the language and the mood, followed by a slow, deliberate lesson, allowing time for the student to repeat each line. This experienced language coach adapts the “R” in French in the slow versions as recommended for classical singers. He is also very sensitive to liaisons between word sounds in the musical settings.