On the 21st of July, L’Association des amis de l’art de Michel Dupré (The Association of Friends of the Art of Michel Dupré) was created with a view to “make better known the art of Marcel Dupré and to retain for all future times, by fixing it by means of recordings …” and many other related aims. One of its main features is a Box Set containing the Legendary 1957 and 1959 Mercury Stereo recordings played by the master himself, which, as recently as this month, received the French Diapason d’Or. The Box is already sold out, but separates are still available.

There is more recorded material for sale at the Association’s site, mostly featuring Dupré as a soloist, including many of his famous improvisations. However, with a few exceptions (L’oeuvre pour piano, played by François-Michel Rignol), it is all about the organ. Going through the list (here and elsewhere) of available recordings, this time about Dupré as a composer, we note that there, too, is much organ, one or two of his piano compositions and some choral works, but … none of his vocal music at all. To what extent this is a shortcoming of the Association, I leave to its members to decide. For fans of this French composer, MDG’s release of Marcel Dupré’s Vocal Discoveries must be nothing less than a godsend.

The driving force behind these discoveries is Tobias Frank (Kantor and titular of the Steinmeyer-Organ at the Kulturkirche St. Lukas in Munich), who, over the past twenty years, has conducted impressive research into Dupré's brain children. Scholars like him know that weekly music sessions took place at the family home in Normandy’s capital, Rouen, covering much more than the organ. Dupré was indeed, as Frank describes in the liner notes, “a composer of remarkable diversity, whose style developed over the course of his career”. Thanks to the composer's descendants, Frank gained access to these and other unpublished manuscripts, of which we are now the beneficiaries.

The Ensemble Vox ad Hoc (voices for the occasion) is what it says: a group of experienced amateurs, students and professional singers, formed as needed for each project. Its founder and conductor, Tobias Frank, is responsible for the ensemble’s unique character and for the variable structure of this disc's programme. The vocal soloists (Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass) are drawn from the choir, with added pianists (Laurianna Follonier, Sachiko Hara), organist (Aaron Voderholzer) and saxophonist (Christian Segmehi).

I must admit that all names are new to me, and are, therefore, vocal discoveries in the widest sense. However, the important factor is not if I know them, but rather, how they perform. In that department, I can assure prospective buyers that Frank’s ad hoc selection of singers and chosen soloists is well-considered. Besides, there is no choice. It’s this or nothing.

That said, we have here a vibrant mix of singers and soloists that guarantees an attractive and varied programme, beginning with a meticulously played ‘Prelude’ for piano solo by Lauriane Follonier, taken from one of Dupré’s cantatas (La Vision de Jacob) and ending with a lovely ‘a cappella’ sung ‘Souvenir’ in an arrangement by Tobias Frank, a task he shared for most items on the programme with Master Dupré.

As was to be expected, not all is of a similar standard, although one has to dig deep to spot the difference. Nonetheless, some clearly protrude above ground level, like, not surprisingly, ‘Les Normands’ for choir and Piano, in perfect French (compliments go to language coach Geneviève Günter). And another one, I particularly like, is ‘Cantique de Racie’ and also track 8: ‘Soir sur la Plaine’.

My choices are just a sample. Taste is a very personal thing, and I’m sure that others will pick out different items. That doesn’t mean this recital brings ‘something for everyone’. That wouldn’t do justice to a fine collection of vocal arrangements by and from one of France’s best-loved composers and organ players, and, of course, Tobias Frank.

I’ll be pleased to leave further discovery of these ‘Vocal Discoveries' to the listener lucky enough to get hold of a copy.

Blangy-le-Château, Normandy, France.

Copyright © 2026 Adrian Quanjer and HRAudio.net

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