Arias from Forgotten Operas

French-Canadian Huguette Tourangeau was born in 1938 and made her debut at the Stratford Festival in Ontario in 1964 when she sang Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro). It was while a member of the Metropolitan Opera touring company that she first came to the attention of Richard Bonynge. Working together they established a great rapport and appeared together in many performances and recordings. Tourangeau's Decca discography includes her participation in complete recordings of Lucia di Lammermoor, Maria Stuarda, Esclarmonde, Les Huguenots, Les Contes d'Hoffmann, and Rigoletto - all with Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge.

A recital of Massenet songs - also with Richard Bonynge - recorded in 1975 was an important release in bringing largely forgotten songs by this composer to a wider public. This album of 'Arias from forgotten operas' was recorded in 1970 and is now made available as an international CD release for the first time. It was previously included, together with the Massenet songs, on the Richard Bonynge release in the Australian Heritage series, a collection that won a coveted Penguin Guide 'Rosette'.