Two decades after their pioneering 2004 album New French Song, soprano Alison Smart Fisher and pianist Katharine Durran return with a bold and timely sequel. New French Song II presents ten newly commissioned settings of French texts by women and non-binary composers, expanding the art song repertoire with fresh perspectives and luminous creativity.

The original New French Song brought together 20 British composers, each setting a French poem – predominantly Romantic and written by men. This second collection rebalances the picture, offering a rich, contemporary counterpoint. The texts, all by women and non-binary poets, span eight centuries of Francophone literature, from Europe to the Caribbean, and reflect a wide-ranging poetic tradition – from the sensual cadences of Symbolism to the fractured textures of post-Modernism.

The themes are universal: love’s first stirrings, its losses and partings, the solace of solitude, and the healing power of nature. Chosen with care to resonate with younger readers as well as seasoned listeners, these texts speak with clarity and nuance, free from gendered conventions, yet charged with emotional depth.

The composers – among them Deirdre Gribbin, Shirley J. Thompson, Lesley-Jane Rogers, and Gráinne Mulvey – respond with a dazzling range of musical idioms. From lyrical stillness to rhythmic intensity, their settings are at once rooted in the tradition of French mélodie and alert to the sonic world of today. The resulting collection is kaleidoscopic in colour and tone, yet unified by a shared commitment to text, voice, and the art of expressive song.

Two bonus tracks complete the programme: a new song each by Nicola LeFanu and Daryl Runswick, both closely associated with the performers and longstanding champions of new music.

Together, New French Song I & II form a landmark achievement – an ambitious, beautifully realised cycle that now offers a more inclusive and representative vision of what the modern songbook can be. This album is a compelling testament to artistic curiosity, collaboration, and the enduring vitality of song.

For listeners drawn to the intersection of poetry and new music, or for those seeking fresh voices in the classical landscape, New French Song II is a significant and rewarding release.